Evening star., 1941-01-15
Roosevelt Angri|y
Denounces Critics
|0f War Aid Bill
'PIow Under Americans
Accusation by Wheeler
Draws Bitter Reply
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

A new classic in political vitupera-
tion was on the record today, FIRST
ma jor development in an anticipated
bitter congressional fight over the
pending aid-to-democracies legisla-
ton.
Departing at a press conference
late yesterday from a reluctance to
comment on proposed notifications
of the measure, President Roosevelt
punched out at criticism of the bill
in its present form by an angry
charge of untruthfulneSs and lack
of patriotism against certain spokes-
men Of the opposition.
Specifically, the subject Of his
attack was an accusation made first
by Senator Wheeler, Democrat, Of
Montana to the effect that the legis-
lation as proposed would lead the
Nation into war and to a point of
blowing under every fourth Amer
ican child"
Lashes at Critic.
Leading into his reply by chal-
lenging his press conference to pro-
duce any bill which would not be
labelled a blank check" measure,
Mr.. Roosevelt then continued:
THAT is not an answer at all to
those who talk about plowing under
every fourth American child, which
I regard as the most untruthful, as
the most dastardly, unpatriotic thinG
that has ever been said.
You may quote on that"
THAT really is the rottenest thin
that has been said in public life
in my generation"
Earlier in his conference the Pres
ident had refused comment on pro-
posed revision of the bill to limit
time of its authorization, saying
that to comment on one suggestion
would simply lead to a chain Of
requests for reaction to other pro-
posals.
His press conference replies tn
questions are not quotable excert
in special cases where explicit PEI
mission is given.
Wheeler Takes Responsibility.
Although the President did not
name Senator Wheeler as the targe.
of his excoriation. the Montanan.
on being informed of the White
House remarks. Immediately as
sumed responsibility for the "plow-
ing under" phrase.
Observing that the Chief Executive
appeared to have lost his tempe.
the Senator recalled that in a radio
address last Sunday night he had
referred to the pending legislation
as "the New Deals triple A foreigi.
policy-to plow under every fourth
American boy" He added last nigh
that he hoped his fears would prove
untrue and that there would be NJ
American casualties because of tn (
administrators war minded foreie.I
policy"
Il can think of nothing more ur-
patriotic the Senator told news-
men on Capitol Hill after the inc
dent, than to try to fan the pas
sions of the people Of this country
to the point where they will accerJ
a program that will send American
boys to be killed upon foreign battle
fields.
Steps Toward War Charged.
Il am not unmindful that the
President has said no American boys
will be sent abroad, but I submit
to the American people that every
speech the President has made since
election has taken this country
one more step closer to the present
foreign war. hope his utterances
will not intimidate the people from
expressing their opinions"
This BILL" he continued, sis a
violation Of The Hague treaty and
international law. When you vio-
late international law, as it is sug-
gested that we do in several ways
In this measure. you run the risk
of direct involvement in war"
German press comment also has
raised the point that the pending
legislation is in violation of interna-
tional law and The Hague conven-
ton.
An angry and sharply worded re-
mark by President Wilson, directed
at a Senate group opposing his pre-
war policies in the 1914-18 era, paral-
lelled Mr.. Roosevelt's words yester-
day.
On the earlier occasion President
Wilson denounced a group headed by
the late Senator Henry Cabot Lodge
OF Massachusetts, as "a little band Of
Wlllful men," implying that their
willfulness was in disregard of the
interests of the Nation.