Evening star., 1941-10-12
Neutrality
Continued From First Page ;

States. Attempts made in the
House to delete from the bill aid
for Soviet Russia were even more
overwhelmingly turned down.
Speaking over the radio Mr.. Ben
der said that 'the proper function
of the Republican party is no longer
mere opposition. These are times of
grave international crisis.
Fortunately, the Republican party
has a precedent to guide its course
In these difficult times"
Mr.. Bender referred to the atti-
tude of the Republicans during the
last World War and Immediately
preceding it. He said: I'VE were a
party in opposition then. But never
did we forget that the one test of a
party in opposition must be the
test of loyalty. We placed allegiance
to the destiny of our country above
allegiance to our party. We did
not find petty faults. We did every
thing we could to achieve the funda-
mental goal l. winning the war.
Theodore Roosevelt and Charles
Evans Hughes led movement
which won for the Republican par
ty the approval and support Of the
American people.
Party Co-operated.
what course did we steer in the
troubled waters of 1917 and 1918?
We Joined whole -heartedly in every
effort to finish the battle. We sub
stituted cooperation for opposition.
We did not yield our right to criti-
else the conduct of public affairs,
but We subordinated negative criti-
cism for positive assistance.
The Republican party today must
adopt precisely the same position.
Not for one moment would I urge
the membership of our organization
to give up its rights to point our
errors, to denounce bungling, to
condemn extravaganza.
"On the major job-the develop
ment of defense for our country
which will make us invulnerable,
we must recognize the need for
complete unity. Whatever we may
think of the present national ad-
ministration We must put these views
aside. We must not permit per-
sonalities to determine American
policies"
This call for cooperation by Mr..
Bender was regarded by members
of the House and others as far more
than a mere straw showing which
way the wind Is blowing. 1t was
interpreted as a recognition that
the foreign situation has become
increasingly more serious-and that
the country is in no frame of mind
to regard with indifference the at
titude of any political party which
fails to support measures OF ma
tional defense-a policy which is
directed by the administration in
power.
In Line With Willkie.
Mr.. Bender's speech was much
in line with the recommendation
of Wendell L. Willkie, the G. o. P
titular leader, in view of his presi-
Dental nomination last year.
The American people, Mr.. Bender
Sdlu, nave llle IiSllt W OtlIldIlQ
craftsmanship and foresight in time
of international stress" He was
referring to the Democrats as well
as the Republicans, but, he con-
tinued, this is more than a chal-
lenge to the Republican party. 1t
is an opportunity to assume a new
role in history, to play decisive part
in the advancement of our repub-
lic."
I'VE shall demonstrate our pre-
paredness best by a showing Of real
national unity. The time for par
tisan opposition is past. Today we
are a united people, with Republi-
cans no less than Democrats Joined
in the cause of assuring American
freedom"
House leaders and the Foreign Al
fairs Committee have oiled the
wheels for quick action on the ad-
ministration's armed ship bill. The
committee is to hold two days Of
hearings, beginning tomorrow morn