Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-07
Roosevelt Spoiled Child
BY AMOS r. E. PINCHOT
Counselor at Law, New York City

BY AMOS r. E. PINCHOT
Counselor at Law, New York City
THERE are many and to my mind, conclu-
i sive reasons why America should not
enter the European war. Most of them have
been widely debated, on the radio and in the
press.
But there is one reason that has received
comparatively little attention.
War, under any circumstances, is des-
perate undertaking. 1t is an undertaking that
requires courageous and calm leadership, and
at least some measure of the strength, firm
ness and patience that Washington gave his
country in the Revolutionary War and Lincoln
in the Civil War.
But to go to war under the leadership of
an overweight man, hungry for power, sur
rounded by flatterers and Eyes men, and
unable to stand opposition without flying into
a tantrum like a spoiled chld-as the Presi-
dent did in his outburst against Senator
Wheeler at recent press conference-would
be a pretty terrible proposition
Though the President is skillful politi
clan and remarkable speaker and vote
getter, he is one of the worlds worst
executives. In eight years, with all the power
and money Congress gave him. he has solved
no major problem, least of all the problem
of defense, which he has fumbled and delayed
almost beyond belief
l hate to think what he would do in case
of war. 1t is question whether the enemy
or the Presidents incompetence and poor
Judgment would be the greater danger.
The Presidents prescription in every
critical situation has been to ask for more
power and money. And the more he got, the
worse he bawled things up, and the more
deeply he entrenched himself politically.
Which is exactly what he will do if this bill
goes through.
May l predict that, if Congress is silly
enough and cowardly enough to pass Bill 1776
in anything like its present form, we will
have a dictatorship on our hands for years to
come
The truth is that armed Intervention,
which the bill authorizes, is no more, in fact
far less needed for our defense than before
the election, when the President was fitting
about the country pledging and repledging
himself before high heaven to keep US out of
war. y
Apparently the stronger England gets,
and the more remote Hitlers invasion be-
comes, the greater the panic at Washington,
and the broader the powers demanded by Mr..
Roosevelt.
The terms of the Presidents lend-lease
BILL empowering him to shunt the United
States into war overnight without warning to
the people or action by Congress, sufficiently
indicate where our present course leads The
bill is less defense measure than one to pro-
mote war and dictatorship.
If it were a defense bill, it would provide
time limit 1t would let the dictatorship
lapse with the crisis. But fear propaganda
has done its work. Today many of the Ameri-
can people are confused, blind and crazy, re-
duced to the condition of frightened sheep.
Otherwise they would not stand for this
monstrous document, which, as Congressman
Vorys says, is bill to appoint Roosevelt
executor of dead republic.
1 think we should ally ourselves with no
nation, but swiftly extend to England all pos
sbe aid that can be offered under our laws
and Constitution, and without sacrificing home
defense.
The people of America are rightly deter
mined to help Britain. But they should not
do this by, in effect, abolishing Congress and
giving one man thrice the powers that were
adequate for Wilson in the former World War.
The exfent IF aid to britain and the