Evening star., 1941-02-04


production and legislative action.
The average Senator or Repre-
sentative, faced with a major DO
ltlcal measure, is apt 10 maneuver
Tor balance e-of-power position. to
remain 'uncOmmitted" or with what
is solemnly termed IAN open mind"
hand would be a better word
until he learns what there is in it
for him.
This is ell perfectly respective.
almost institutional by now. The
Senator or Representative is not in
the market for bribery but in the
natural course of events there are a
number Of things which he has al
ready sought from the Government
OF which he is a part: Federal
Judgeship. a new Post Office in his
district. the Ousting Of political
opponent from the Federal service.
assurance of personal advancement
to the governorship or a vacant
Senatorial post There NAV be a
bill he wants passed. All OF these
things are the currency Of the politi-
cal market place and since politics
IS human nature in action it is
inevitable that there should be
trading in even the most urgent
issues.
Trading Involves Delay.
Trading involves DELAY. involves
holding out for higher price,
whether in the form of profit mar
gins on defense contracts or con-
ceSsions in the legislative field
AS result. the Congress is erec-
lively prevented from giving a swift
decision on any important piece of
legislation. In domestic affairs, this
means that many urgently needed
measures are automatically deferred
until desperate situations arise-but
We agree that this is part Of the
price we are prepared TO pay for
the privilege Of self government.
In issues of foreign policy. how
ever, delay is one luxury we can
not afford. At least We cannot sf-
ford delay in the face Of the stream.
lined, split-second timing Of the
axis. A senatorial fibuster is no
defense against Blitzkrieg and
a full-dress committee hearing is
no answer 10 the merciless logistics
Of total war.
The Crisis Is Now.
SO It Is with the aid-to- Britain
bill. The one thing We cannot afford
in this connection is delay and in
decision. The crisis is now. the
need is now, tomorrow may be too
late and the day after tomorrow
we may find ourselves looking back
on today as lost gold mine Of
minutes and hours which We let slim
from our possession
That there is division over the
aid-to-Britain bill is natural. The
vast majority of US are entirely
willing to adopt this measure, pretty
much as written. Some Of us want
1t amended so as to Safeguard" il
against theoretical dangers. A few
want it beaten. either because thev
fear it will drag us into war" or
because they really want the axis
to win.
Unoer the circumstances. the
American people as a whole have
the right to demand that Congress
act swiftly and decisively in dis.
posing OF this legislation. AS indivi-
dualS, we have the right to urge
Congress TO pass. amend or defeat
the aid-to-England bill, but as a
Nation we say to Congress:
You are our representatives. It
is up to you to act immediately.
Time is Of the essence. For the
sake of America and for the sake
OF the world, We call on YOU to com.
plete your action on this bill before
Lincoln't birthday at the --latest,
earlier if possible. We do not tell
you to pass it, we do not order YOU
to defeat it, We do not insist that
you amend it. We simply say, For
Gods sake! gentlemen of the Con-
gleSS show that a democraticallv
elected Legislature has the courage
and capacity for quick decision.
Show that you realize that It is
impossible to f1libuSter a world war
or to coin a world revolution into
patronage and post Offices. You are
our servants. We pay you to repre-
sent our will. Now our will is that
you set aside talk for DELAYS sake.
debate for the purpose of saootar-,
and act. act, act-now!"
(Released by Consolidated News
Features, IncD