Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-12-16
It's Now Time
To Lay Aside
Personalities
A Defense ofAmericars
Who Opposed War 4
BY wESTBROOK PEGLER

AHleIlcdns tndt tnere is 10 De
neither profiteering nor SELF
seeking in this war and that
those many patriotic citizens
who honestly and bravely OPP
posed President Roosevelt,s war
policy up 10 the time of the
blow at Pearl Harbor are to be
granted amnesty. so TO speak,
by the majority who agreed with
-AiHa-eii-atong! amnesty, or
course, is not the right word,
but i mean that they are not TO
be nagged or impugned and I
think you will get the idea.
A man was within his rights.
even performing his duty as
citizen, in opposing every one
OF the Presidents war policies
until the very last hour Of peace
II he was so minded, and there
were among those isolationists
many fine Americans whose DO
sltlon was maintained through
out the long dispute only by
strong moral courage under fire.
Some OF them did use very
incorporate language in their
opposition, but that, too. is an
American privilege which, Incl
dentally. was exercised with
equal enthusiasm by many OF
their adversaries in the fight.
FURTHERMORE, the genuine
isolationist was consistent h
which cannot be said of those Nj
who called this war Of British
imperialism and fomented the
strikes al North American.
Allis-Chalmers and Aluminium
up 10 the, day when Hitler
struck Russia and coined the
slogan, The Yanks are not
coming
These were the Communists,
both imported and domestic,
who now pass for patriots be-
cause they endorse the war but
gave that endorsement only be-
cause Russia was attacked
AS between the genuine Amer
lean who opposed Intervention
and held his position until
the japanese attack, but then
changed for patriotic reasons,
and one who followed the party
line! the American certainly de-
serves the greater respect and
trust
No American in Russia would
be allowed 10 agitate for the
freedoms which constitute
AmericaniSm. and while Com
muniSts. enjoy the right 10 agi-
tate here. the tumult Of war
should not be- permitted 10 OBJ
Scure the fact that although
they are among US they are not
Of US.
They arc now confronted with
an inviting opportunity 10 make
progress, for they will turn 10
with enormous zeal in the gen.
eral war effort and any alarm
sounded by such as Martin Dies,
for example. will be denounced
as disruption.
DROFITEERING by industry
seems 10 be out of the ques-
ton except by act so plainly
criminal As 10 invite quick pun
lShment because industry has
been TO "A large degree COM
mandeered and the process
spreading rapidly
In very little time war viii I've
the principal industry Of the ma
ton under government direction
and many enterprises which are
not essential 10 the war effort
Will submit quietly to euthanasis
in the interests of national
safety.
Business has been accused OF
half-heartedneSS up 10 now but
mainly AZ an embarrassed retort
10 the education which the
public was receiving in the
matter Of union organization
and conduct And where re-
luctance TO undertake certain
works under certain proposed
conditions caused delays in the
expansion or conversion of big
plants, foresight and concern for
freedom on the home front were
as much responsible as greed.
THERE will be political fixers
who will profiteer on war
orders in the guise Of lawyers
and contact men but IN many
cases they arc a necessary evil
like the parasitic agent in Holly
wood. Their personal acquaint-
ance in Washington and knowl-
edge Of the industrial war
scheme enables them to save
time in negotiations and their
profits will be taxed heavily.
Anyway, when il is all over most
Of them will 60 broke like the
flash millionaires of the other
war.
In this situation the Washing
ton mind continues 10 think OF
American labor as the members
ship of the two big, rival unions
which. altogether. number not.
more than about 100000 men,
bers. as compared 10 the vast
II. -.