Evening star., 1941-02-13

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again in my 80
years of service David Lawrence.
as Washington correspondent, I
have heard by letter and other
wise the constant pleas of the peo-
pie, urging elected and appointed
officers of the Government to forget
politics and deal with public ques-
tions on their merits. Again and
again as men in Congress who voted
wet or dry, as the case may be, but
who had personal convictions to
the contrary, seemed to Stultlty
themselves IN the. minds of thought
full constituents, I have heard the
apologize defense offered-that 1t
is the way of politics and that the
END justifies the means.
But the demand for objectivity
and disinterestedness even at the
cost of a career in politics has not
ceased and more than any other
factor it led to the upsurge of sem
timent for Wendell Wilkes noni-
nation last June. Here was man
who did not come out of the ranks
of the politicians and who could
be expected, therefore, to deal forth
rightly and honestly with questions
as they arose. The impact of a
political campaign with its multi
tude of speeches and the difficulties
of learning about lot of issues all
at once put Wendell Willkie at a
disadvantage. He made mistakes,
but these did not cost him the
election. Too large group of
voters saw IN the Republican party
an isolationist bloc which would
hamstring cooperation with Eng
land. Today that same handicap
comes out clearly as the Republican
party appears divided.
Could Have Played Game.
Mr.. Willkie, seeing the opposition
and thinking only of another nomi-
nation in 1914, could have trimmed
and compromised and floundered
and taken no position at all. Ac-
cording TO the rules of politics, that
would have been wise strategy and
splendidly selfish. 1t meant taking
no risks or chanceS-the customary
advice followed by politicians.
But Mr.. Willkie made the most
important decision a public man
can make-a decision sincerely to
sacrifice possible political advance
inert and stand by his convictions.
The real reason why so many
persons in political life are afraid
to be courageous is because they
value the political job ahead more
than they do anything else. Their
minds are focused more on the
prize and the maneuvers supposedly
needed to attain it than on the
record they make before the dis
cerning minorities of the electorate,
Who see through the sham and in
sincerities Of political behavior.
Mr.. Willkie said to friends last
December that he felt the aid-to-
Britain issue was the biggest thing
before the country and that If 1t
would increase his opportunity to
persuade his fellow citizens of that
point were he to renounce now any
ambition for the 1914 nomination,
he gladly would do so at once. And
some day he will, for he has dis
covered something bigger than pub
lie Office, bigger than prestige Of
being a President of the United
States-he has discovered that truth
and obedience to conscience can be
evaluated and honored by the peo-
pie even as they reproach oppor-
tunism and the tricks of modern
politics.
Finds Public Appreciative.
The former Republican presiden-
tial nominee was amazed when in
his preconvention campaign there
was such an outpouring of letters
in his behalf. He was puzzled by
1t. He said he was sure 1t was
impersonal and that he must be
ahead of a trend" When he was
defeated last November, that same
outpouring of letters continued. He
had been beaten for office. but he
was still the leader Of millions who
looked upon him as a natural
spokesman of the inarticulate, help
less individual citizen who for years
has been trying to tell the politicians
that maybe there is such a thing
as an independent, intelligent and
understanding vote which is tired of
platitudes and hypocrisy and wants
the fresh air of courage and con-
viction to come into the discussion
Of public questions.
What contrast Mr.. Willkie made
in that committee room. All the
artifices of politics and personal
attack were used against him to
no avail. He stood his ground. He
laughed off the words spoken in
the heat of the campaign. The
people had chosen Mr.. Roosevelt.
That phrase-"He's my President
now"--from Mr.. WILKES lips was
American sportsmanship and nom
partisanship combined. With the
world afiame and American boys
already in the training camps, the
problem is not political but how to
keep war from our shores. Some
will disagree with Mr.. WILKES be-
lief that aid to Britain will help to
keep us out of war, but few can deny
that an extraordinary example Of
self-sacrifice and courage has just
been given to Congress by private
citizen, who has risen above the in
trigues OF politics and the malice OF
personalities to speak the true voice
of a multitude Of his fellow citizens.