Evening star., 1941-08-20

tfle 4dSCISt lOed OF were totally ull-
aware of the dangers in a Hitler
victory. At no time have the ad-
ministration men here taken the
trouble to examine the real reasons
for the intense opposition which
prevails in the Middle West against
the Presidents policies.
Until now the subject has been
academic but an administration
which has achieved a reputation for
political insight is not likely to
brush aside as inconsequential
vote of the House of Representatives
which reveals majority of the
members Of both parties in a GER
tain section to have voted against
the President.
In II States in the Middle West
the vote on the extension of the
draft bill was 100 against to Is in
favor of the proposal. This means
that rs out Of rs Republicans in the
same II States voted against draft
extension and that 25 out of AZ
Democrats did likewise. The States
are Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota,
Michigan, Missouri Illinois, Indiana
and Ohio.
Were Overwhelmingly Against.
Every delegation from each of
these II States was recorded over
whelmingly against draft extension.
Lest it be thought that the opposi-
ton was confined wholly to the
Middle West, it will be found on ex-
smining the State-by-State voting
that the New York State delegation
divided % against, TO 81 for the
measure. Nor was the lineup
partisan for it revealed IL Demo-
Gratis and nine Republicans in favor
of the bill and 10 Democrats and II
Republicans and one American
Labor Party member against it.
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massa-
chusetts, Wisconsin were among the
populous States that showed a ma
Jority against the President.
Translated into electoral votes.
there were enough States which
showed a majority against the
measure so that a presidential cleo
ton adverse to the administration
would be recorded.
Why did the 203- to-202 final vote
show such an amazing opposition to
a recommendation which had the
Endorsement of the chief of staff of
the Army as well as the President?
Some of the voting was, of course,
political and for the purpose of ca
tering to pressure groups back home.
But this does not explain away the
whole trend Members of Congress
had plenty of time to appraise the
situation and they did not i'm
pulsively come to the conclusion
they did.
Falls on Deaf Ears,
The administration must be pre-
pared to look at unpleasant factors
# it expects to carry through Sue
cesSfully grave international
emergency that affects the United
States. 1t must recognize that many
Of its arguments about the dangers
that face America have fallen on
deaf ears in the Middle West and
this is largely because there exists
o oeep-Seated distrust of the PreSi-
dent and his advisers.
This distrust arises from the fact
that misuse of public power exists
in Washington and reaches out into
the Nation. The distrust springs
largely from the fear that the war
situation is being used as camou-
flage to put over scheme of State
Socialism and there are millions of
citizens in America who do not be-
lieve in either Fascism or Commun-
ism or State Socialism or New
DealiSm.
II it be unjust to say that the
administration has ulterior purposes
ttlu lltdIlS " uSt lllt tIBtllty
wrongfully, then it is equally ac-
r,rate to say that not a single word
or deed of reinsurance has come
from the Government since Septem-
Der 1899 to allay the fears.
The men in power control in key
agencies are mostly radicals. Con-
servatives have been brought in for
window dressing here and there but
1t Is common gossip in Washington
that they have no power or au-
thority and the moment the Presi-
dent essays to give them real posi-
tion, the sniping against them be-
gins from New Deal quarters.
Sees Unity Sabotaged.
Mr.. Roosevelt has not wanted to
clean house, yet the radicals who