Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-08

Let Democracy Work
THE United States Senate is approaching final vote
L the so-caled leaseend bill which purports to
be measure authorizing and empowering the American
government to extend military assistance certain
tons at war.
The Senate debate on the measure has been arduous
and at times inhammatory
It has also been instructive. and thus useful
The principal Qualification that has resulted from
the long debate concerned with wider and better under
standing of the broad provisions and implications of the
bill itself.
THE early conception of the laid to
Britain program has been disclosed to be incom-
pete and almost entirely erroneous.
It goes immeasurably beyond the requirements of
extensive assistance to Great Britain
1t commits the United States to deliberate acts and
policies which, under recognized international law and
by any application of and practically,
are unreserved ACTS OF WAR.
In this alone the measure is at odds with and
thus violation the attitude and desire of the
American people-for the frequently surveyed and de-
ciared opinion of almost 90 per of the American
people is OPPOSED TO WAR
DUT the implications and provisions of the measure,
u apart from the original concept of aiding Great
Britain not thus exhausted
1t completely changes the character and nature and
form of the American system of government
1t virtually abolishes the Congress of the United
States as a legislative and policy making branch of
government and in such small the Congress
retains those functions they would be exercised almost
exclusively for the understanding of executive de-
csons and actions.
1t conveys such powers to the President of the
United States that he would virtually without check
or restraint from any remaining or existing authority
Y T. / be is
Il challenge of these implications and effects of the
lend-ease bill from its supporters.
They content themselves with the assurance that,
while the presidential powers established by the bill
admittedly dicatorial the President be relied upon
not to WELD them arbitrarily or in dcatorial fashion
They seem to think it is possible, under President
Roosevelt to have the machinery of dictatorship with
out having dictatorship in fact.
Such proposals and prospects give grave concern
to every lover believer in the democratic processes
and institutions and principles which the firm SUBJ
stance of our American life.
Do we not confess the weakness and futity of
American democracy if dves ourselves of it at the
first sign of emergency and crisis?
Is not the ability and capacity of any form of gov
eminent to survive and overcome emergency and crisis
the real test of its worth?
IF DEMOCRATIC institutions and processes are only
L reliable in periods of calm and to be discarded
under every passing shadow of danger for the toaaran
processes profess to and do dread and oathe is it
not falacious and foolish practice to be democratic
at all?
1t is not the American people who have lost
fdence and faith in democracy and willing to
TESS its nadequacy forego its benefits.
Is the American Congress skeptical of democracy
and unrepresentave of the American people, that it
be persuaded influenced to undermine and destroy
the very principles which distinguish support us as
free and sovereign people?
I EFT the American people utilize the few remaining
l. days and hours of this historic and crucial debate
TO impress their Will and convictions upon the United
States Senate.
We may be in very last hours of PEACE if the
lendlease bill is enacted.
We may indeed be in very last hours of DEMOC-
RACY AND FREEDOM if its sweeping provisions for
dictatorship not eliminated
croal. IL,