The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-10-13
. Clapper
Public Confused by
Attitude of Roosevelt
Contradictions and
Inconsistencies iurf
Reseniine of Criticism
Doesn't Help President
BY RAYMOND CI.APPER

a1AAteE A-A1a31s AA6a~H ANaA1EAtL
Roosevelt viii have opportunity To
shake out a number Of conclusions
and give the public a new sense
of steady and firm leadership
which has been missing of late.
Perhaps it Is not so around the
country generally, but there has
never been so much questioning
about Mr.. Roosevelt's Leadership
as you hear around Washington
now. I don't mean the usual stuff
from those who have complained
about everything since 1888.
Friends of the administration are
asking questions now. They can't
understand some of the things
Mr.. Roosevelt says and does or
doesn't do. his seeming confusion
and his contradictions.
Take the astonishing press con-
ference that he held when he re-
turned from the recent cross
country trip.
Mr.. Roosevelt dashed out at
congress for its tendency to in
vestigate military and technical
production matters about which,
so Mr.. Roosevelt said, II never
could have any understanding Of
the facts.
That was a blow aimed at the
Truman committee. You can find
much to complain about in this
congress, but the work Of the
Truman committee is one Of the
few bright spots. Months ago the
Truman committee exposed the
bungling of rubber and war pro-
duction and helped force creation
of the war production board.
The Tolan committee Of the
house has been investigating man.
power shortage for months. II
some of its recommendation had
been carried out by the executive
branch when they were made we
would be part way toward ade-
quate handling Of this national
labor crisis.
That is the kind Of thing Mr..
Roosevelt seems to be resenting.
He just let go his blunderbuss at
congressional Investigations as II
he didn't like any of it. Actually
he should be thankful that some
of this stuff was caught as early
as it was, because it saved the
war effort and the reputation Of
the administration from explo-
sions.
Mr.. Roosevelt seems to be re-
senting not only criticism but any
suggestion from whatever source
that all is not perfect with the
war effort. His own officials, who
had been making speeches along
the tough line" adopted by the
office of war information, were
sharply rebuked at the press con-
ference. The president said they
ought TO button up their mouths.
Apparently their only offense was
to take the official administration
line that we can lose this war-not
having been tipped off that Mr..
Roosevelt had suddenly decided
the line must be that we are "a
TO e5 per cent perfect.
His querulous remarks about
press and radio comment are OF
no particular general interest ex-
cept that they again showed his
irritation at criticism OF the war
effort. That was after the press
and radio had given him the
strongest possible support IN Try
ing to get snti-inflation legisla-
ton through congress.
In foreseeing the danger that
the Axis meant to the United
States, Mr.. Roosevelt was a true
prophet. His voice sounded the
danger warning TO the democratic
world during the Munich years.
His foresight in cutting through
legalistic jungles to get rifles and
other equipment TO England after
Dunkirk was a courageous con-
tribution, not only to England but
to our own security. For had Eng
land gone down in the summer
Of 1910, our situation might by
now have been appalling TO con-
template.
His vision and practical states
msnship in the destroyer-base
deal, in devising lend-lease. in
occupying Greenland and Iceland.
IN starting war preparations with
out waiting for the Pearl Harbor
that WAS almost certain TO come
IN one form or another, rendered
service to this nation that viii
inevitably place him among our
greatest presidents.
We need now from him the same
high, clear. direct leadership that
he gave then OF late he seems 20
have begged down In detail and
10 have lost his grip on the essen
tals- Creation Of the office Of
e % n mic sterilization was a
broad. constructive act. and II is
10 be hoped that Mr.. Roosevelt
viii follow il BY leading the coun-
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