The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-11-28
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Rep. John Coffee must be
q puzzled man today, but not
more so than rank and file
members of Washington Com
monwealth federation.
The federation, generally tabled
~ the left wing" of the Demo
cratic party in this state. has over
and over shouted loud and long
In behalf the "sanctity" Of cam
psign pledges.
In line with the federation's
policy at that time, Coffee, during
the last campaign, promised never
TO cast q vote which would shove
this country toward war. Loudest
of the cheers for his stand came
from the federation's leadership.
The federation then was against
British imperialism and its al
lies. against American involvement.
against Nazis and Fascists, against
american fascists who seek war
and certain consequent Dictator
ship and, above all, against
WAR.
But, last summer of a sud-
den, the war took on a holy
hue in the eyes of federation
leaders.
There was no secret why-Ger-
many had attacked Mother Rus
STA.
The federation hoisted the ~
for Victory" banner Of Imperial
Britain. and its weekly newspaper
has been clamoring since for
American intervention in the war
more loudly than any other pub
lication in the Northwest.
And 30, this week. the fedora
ton turned its guns on John Cof-
fee than whom WCF has had no
better friend or confederate In
public office.
In its official publication,
the federation takes Coffee to
task for abiding by the very
anti-war pledge which it, more
than any other political force,
demanded that he embrace.
Coffees ballot against the
amendments to the Neutrality act,
now is described by the fedora
tons publication in this wise:
The vote which seused cheers in
Berlin and put smiles on the seess
o. the Hse,sss. heovers, li"dbessss
end othe, potential American Qv"-
line. did not represent the sentiment
Of the people Of M. ceffss's dis
triet."
1t may be true that Coffee's
vote did not represent the
sentiment of the majority IN
this Sixth Congressional dis
trict.
But this is true beyond a doubt :
1t did represent the sentiment oil
Washington Commonwealth feder-
alton leadership until the day Hit
Ter attacked Russia.
And it did represent observance
Of such a sacred" campaign
pledge as WCF leaders have
uouthed about so many times IN
recent years.
II is not Coffee who needs
to explain his vote. To those
who agree with him and TO
those who disagree IT is plain
that he abided by his cam
paign promise.
/, is not Coffee who needs to
.xplain. but an explanation IL IN
order from Commonwealth fed
Grafton leaders.
They might. as frankly as pos
sibIe. answer these questions;
Why did Hitlers attack on Rus
sis suddenly transform the war IN
your eyes from a orswl among
capitalists and imperisiists to a
.holy crusade for human nights
(And don't forget that Red kus-
STA had just attacked and over
run all or parts Of six smaller
countries - Finland. LztviA. "a
tonia. Uthuania. Poland and ko-
mznia.D
What has become Of the "Cf
fundamental that c II P II 2
pledges are sacred contracts Win
the people >" Remember when
YOU tried to impeaeh a member Oh
the state senate because, YOU SAID,
h. had violated campaign
pledge:)
Yes, indeed. the congress
man NAV be wrong, but ne
need not apologize for insin-
cere and inconsistent inteilee-
tual gymnastics in this case:
WCF. in my opinion. should