Evening star., 1942-02-06
Roosevelt Asks
War Supportin
New Congress
Urges Election Of
Defense Buckers
Regardless Of Party
By JOHN C. HENRY.

FTeSlQeuC HOOSeVelG UOQdy
called for election Of a wartime
Congress. regardless of political
party, that will back the Gov
ernment and has a record of
such support.
The President thus entered the
1912 congressional campaign,
touched of within the past two
weeks by declaration of Democratic
National Chairman Edward j. Flynn
and Republican Chairman Joseph
w. Martin.
Mr.. Roosevelt's comment, made at
a press conference this morning, was
prompted by questioning as to
whether he Endorsed the opinion Of
Chairman Flynn that election of a
Congress hostile to the President
would be a major disaster in war
time.
Immediate Interpretation Of the
Flynn statement was that he con-
sidered Democratic candidates the
only safe support for the Presidents
wartime program.
Wants War Supporters.
Today the President told ques-
TONERS that he had not read or
heard the Flynn speech and that
he did not know what had been said
on the political question. Informed
Of the chairman's statement, Mr..
Roosevelt then said he believed the
easiest way to state the problem
would be to say that when the
country Is at war we want mem
bers of Congress, regardless of party,
who will back up the Government
of the United States and who have
a record OF backing 1t up-regardless
of party.
The President repeated the ex-
preston regardless of party" as If
implying he was not concerned with
the political affiliations of the can
didates.
The latter portion of his remarks,
however, that a record OF support
Is desirable. indicated that some
Of the pre-war isolationists in both
the House and Senate, and Of both
parties, are likely to receive little
campaign assistance from the ad-
ministration.
The Presidents political comment
high lighted a conference covering
a wide range Of topics. t
'-PIeased by Loan to China.
III response to questioning, Mr..
Roosevelt said he expected quick
beneficial results from the $500 ,000,-
600 loan to China. Aside from the
psychological effect, he explained
that the loan will assist the Chinese
government in stabilizing its own
currency and In purchasing mill
tary supplies.
As another questioner reported
complaint that all American cargo
shipping is not being most efficiently
utilized, Mr.. Roosevelt said he would
make inquiry, but pointed out that
speed requirements in moving ma
teriaE often prevent holding ships
until a full load can be assembled
at every port.
The President, who explained to
his conference he had been stay
ing in for a couple of days with
cold, was scheduled today to meet
with Laurence A. Steinhardt, Am
bassador to Turkey and former en-
voy to Soviet Russia. Appointment
of q new Ambassador to Moscow
will be made soon, Mr.. Roosevelt
said.
The President planned to have
lunch with Admiral Ernest j. King
and Gen. George c. Marshall, Navy
and Army chiefs.
Meets Labor Group.
Following his press conference,
the President met for more than an
hour with the new board composed
of three members each from the
c. I. o. and the A. F. L. This group
was set up to effect complete CO.
operation of organized labor in the
war effort.
Both President William Green of
the A. r. L. and President Philip
Murray of the c. I. o. pronounced
the initial meeting Of the board
most satisfactory when they left the
White House. Further meetings will
be arranged at the convenience of
the President.