Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-21
johnson Sings
Praises of
L-aGuardia
Voters Must Re elect
Him., General Says
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON

THE election or DEL e a I OF
u Mayor LaGuardia in New
York City is a matter of national
concern not merely because the
office is about second in impor-
lance in the United States, but
because the real issue is between
one of the most excellent indie
pendent governments in our time
and a return to old-time machine
politics.
Perhaps I write with too much
close personal experience with
the little dynamo of decency and
governmental genius to be
wholly objective, but I never
wrote anything with more conf
dence in its correctness.
Older and more experienced
commentators than / have said
that he is the best mayor New
York ever had, but from my
somewhat limited observation. l
don't know of any mayor of any
city and q might add any civil
administration any where whose
record can challenge his in ex-
cellence-prudence, courage, de-
spisal of partisan influence in
his job, fiscal soundness, unre-
hitting work and energy, an
experts knowledge of every as
pect of his responsibility and a
complete performance of ii. They
don't combine in any one man
once in blue moon.
IF IT were not for the high
Il character of the men who
oppose him, or are silent, he
would win hands down. Governor
Lehman, Charlie Poletti, his
opponent O'Dwyer are above re-
proach-excellent men.
But this in itself is. 1 think,
his greatest tribute. They are
the candidates or opponents of
the democratic machine. which,
in the city means Tammany.
There wasn't chance TO beat
him with any political hack.
His very record forced tenn
porary decency even on his
enemies.
Fiorello has no machine and
practically no organized partisan
support. He simply stands there
on his own uneQualled- record
and the confidence of the people
in him. 1t should be enough, but
it may not be so. Machine
politics can be stronger than any
individual.
The little flower, thus stand
ing alone, has been strong and
the recipients of his strength
are the people who are not
silent. Without his support. Mr..
Roosevelt would not have car
ried the state against Willkie.
With his support, Tom Dewey
would have been governor over
Lehman. He succe ssfull y
stumped the country for RooSe-
welt.
IN THIS emergency, LaGuardia
Il can't do otherwise than re-
spond TO calls of government TO
these lesser and shadowy serv-
ices. but anybody who thinks
that anything can make him
neglece~his duties as mayor of
New York City doesn't know
him. To him, more than TO any
other man l have know. "a pub
lie office is public truSt% II
is more than that. ii is a religion.
r l know all his peppery short
comings better than most people.
They don't deserve a paragraph.
He is sound at heart and they
have no ultimate effect on his
efficiency.
l don't know why I get 50
steamed up on this subject |
owe nothing TO him nor he 10
me and / have no personal in
tefest in New York politics, but
il does seem TO me that there
is a real test of our American
democratic system here and
that, If he is defeated, which
don't expect. il would be one Of
the scurviest demonstrations of
both partisan political and mu-
nicipal ingratitude in our annals.
AS far as one humble citizen
Is concerned il would make me
feel:
"Oh hell, there amt no jus
tice and what's the use ?"
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