The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1941-10-09
Can a War Be Won
Without Fighting?

Whittier are we drifting?
That is the favorite question posed
by all the good, old-fashioned ora
tors.
What is the answer today? Is it
into war?
Sitting here in my office looking
down over a busy street in the CAPT.
tai I wonder. I see the slim tip of
the Washington monument in the
distance. I see the gentle hills OF
Virginia beyond. Between the hills
and a ilmy fringe of trees the peace
full Potomac is flowing. I can i'm
agine, when I close my eyes, equal
ly peaceful scenes across the ma
ton: Busy corners in midwest
towns. the hurrying crowds in Den
vera mile up with Pixies Peak
and sister mountains trimming the
horizon-the soft bay at San Diego,
the wide sweep Of Lake Michigan,
palmetto-fringed squares Of the
South, steep streets Of Seattle, the
neat white houses Of the Southwest
still bearing the gentle mark Of their
Spanish heritage.
Are these quiet places to send
their sons to die in some far coun-
try?
I think not. Perhaps this is a
wishful thought. But let me repeat
to you a conversation that took place
as I walked home from a recent
news conference at the White House.
Three Of US came down the wind
ing drive and out onto historic Penn
sylvania avenue.
Another American-owned ship had
been sunk. The President had spo-
ken very earnestly, very emphati-
cally. He had spoken about new
measures Of defense, about resisting
attempts Of a group who were try
ing to gain a foothold to dominate
the Western hemisphere.
1T looks" said one Of the men,
like a declaration Of war"
I glanced up quickly to see what
the other member Of our threesome
would say. Like me, he had fought
in n raj and covered two.
NO." he said, Il believe that
Franklin Roosevelt wants to 60 down
in history as the President who won
a war without having to fight it."
I smiled because I agreed.
That mans comment is not pom
tifcaL. But it is typical Of at least
one group Of observers here in the
capital. Perhaps they are right. I
hope so. I still believe so.
This is a topsy turvy world.
Legion's Attitude
Take. for example, the more bel
lgerent attitude of the American Lee
gion. The Legion has always been
strong for defense. (You would be,
too, if you have yer been in a fight
ing unit.) But heretofore it has al
ways been against foreign entangle-
ments. 1t has always been against
foreign wars. At its convention in
September, however, the Legion vot-
ed to support the Presidents shoot
on-sight" naval policy with all it i'm
plies.
Why the change?
AS a former soldier and legion
naire I had my ideas. But I heard
them best expressed by a man who
knows the Legion better than I do.
He said, with the philosophy of an
old soldier:
1--WE have started shooting. You
can't shoot and argue at the same
time without spelling your aim"
But this does not mean to me
that we r going to war tomorrow.
It simply means that the President
has more backing in carrying out
his policy of beating Hitler without
fighting a war. OF course, there
will be naval engagements, but the
President puts these in the cate.
CORY of the early battles in our his.
tory between the navy and pirates
and p~rivateers.
There are 81, 500, 900 persons
nearly one-fourth of the nation-en-
rolled in Americas army of educa-
ton this year, from the elementary
schools to the universities and night
schools, the United States Office Of
education reports.