Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-03
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON

II
" matter of common remark
that in this crisis the South is
the most war-minded section of
the country. 1t is curious con-
dition considering that the South
stands to lose heavily in export
markets for two principal sta
ples-cotton and tobacco.
OF course, it is gaining Just
now in the spread of war indus
tries Of that temporary shot in
the arm can be called gain. But
il is gaining less relatively than
several other sections which are
not so belligerent.
In a short hunting trip in
South Carolina. there was an OPP
portunity TO discuss this phe-
nomenon with citizens of one OF
the principal war states of our
past history. In the Middlewest
a common remark is:
"Oh. that region has always
been hell-bent for bate. 1t got
us into most of our wars"
Even here in South Carolina
there is some talk of the hot
blooded southern spirits"
DUT il isn't true that the
ID South took the lead toward
every war. 1t wanted, the War
of 1912 when England didn't.
1t was the tom-tom beaten for
the Mexican War. 1t precipi-
tated the War Between the
States" as they insist on CALI
ing it in these parts.
But there are understandable
reasons for all of these. The
Mexican War was expected to
add a vast territory to the slave
holding South and it was only
part of very old scheme that
haunted all our early hlstory-to
create a great cotton American
empire south far into Mexico.
All the southern communities
were vitally interested in sea-
borne commerce. and those new
ones in the West, like Kentucky
and Tennessee. simply had to
keep open their access TO the
Gulf of Mexico through the
mouth of the Mississippi. Those
incentives are enough to explain
southern interest in our only
war against Mexico and our Sec
ond war with England.
The Civil War speaks for it.
self. II started with a declara-
ton of independence as sincerely
uttered against the North as
was the one of 1776 against King
George. Almost nobody now re-
proaches the South for what il
considered its war for liberty.
DUT the South was not re-
ID sponsible for our war with
Spain and, as to our entrance
into World War |. the southern
position was almost complete
reversal of its belligerence to-
day
Both tho South and tho Mid
die West entered that war re-
luctantly. Notwithstanding that
the economic conditions were
very different and then both of
these predominantly agricultural
areas were promised an almost
boundless. if temporary, pros
perity by engagement in war.
A very wise South Carolinian.
whose family relationships link
him closely with the whole his
tory of American war as they
have concerned the South. con-
tributed what seems to be the
true answer:
''In the South you cannot Op-
pose the policies OF a Demo-
cratic president and administra-
ton and continue In the high
regard of your neighbors. 1t isn't
any s1avish knuckIing to any In
dividual. 1t Is a community re-
membrance of ancient wrongs
and a community Of mutual in
terest in present rights"
WOODROW WILSON and his
w Democratic Party had con-
ditioned southern Democratic
opinion TO neutrality and sud-
denly switched. 1t eventually
followed his war efforts as ar
IDENTIFY as any section and more
ardently than most. but it took
more time.
Franklin Roosevelt. through
out the development of this
crisis, has conditioned that opin-
ion to belligerence. Most OF the
South feels that it has gained
greatly under the President. 1t
is willing to overlook any harm
it has taken because of benefits
received
1t is more loyal to him than
ever, and since it has always
been a community of hero-wor-
shippers. perhaps the question
of its war-mindedness is COM
pletely answered