The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-10-22
. Clapper
National Elections issue
Is One of Good Men Only
IsoIstionisi Policy One
OF the Forgotten Ideas
Open Mind. Capacity TO
Learn. Our Salvation
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER

BY RAYMOND CLAPPER
WASHINGTON - From a ma
tional point Of view only one issue
seems to have appeared in the
elections now just two weeks
away. That is the issue of good
men.
No real national policy issue has
developed. Everyone running for
office wants to win the war. Diff
ferences as to measures concern
ing the war are minor. None is
of sufficient Importance to pro-
vide a decisive test Of whether a
man should be elected or defeated.
Although the isolationists were
wrong, can't see that as con-
elusive test except in the case Of
a few hopelessly ossified, congeni-
tally ornery persons who don't
deserve to be in public life be-
cause they are too stupid or too
stubborn to learn.
Except for those, I think we
have to bear in mind that most of
us have had to learn as events
have taught us. Most of us were
isolationists longer than we should
have been. Most of US have
learned better now. So 1 can't
see an arbitrary issue there. 1
think the isolationist test has
failed to take with the country
because everybody has had TO
learn. Everyone has had to change
his mind. AL of us were too inno-
cent.
The thing that is going to be
most needed is-the open mind,
the capacity to learn, the inde-
pendence to act as changing Cir
cumstances make new policies nee
essary. 1t is pretty much mat
ter Of sizing up your man and
deciding whether you want to put
your affairs in his hands, whether
you trust his judgment in facing
new emergencies.
Nobody can draw blueprints
now. We don't know much about
the shape of things to come.
Wen have to meet the future
largely on a catch-as-catch-can
basis. The next congress will need
men who can do that, men who
won't 60 at these new questions
with too many preconceived no.
tons. We can always make theo-
ries Of an old world fit into the
fluid currents of a new world.
You have to send men to WASH
ington who can't possibly tell you
today what they will do about
something tomorrow, because they
can't know what it is they will
be called upon to consider. If
they are intelligent, independent,
able to make decisions without
worrying too much about their
reelection chances. That is about
all you can ask. Indeed, well
be a very lucky nation if we can
get that kind of congress.
I've been speaking about men.
mean women, too. Women will
be important in this election be-
cause so many men will not be
on hand to vote. They have an
especial responsibility this time.
Women have had the vote for %
years but they haven't produced
political leaders. Few women of
real distinction have been elected
to congress. Most of them have
inherited their seats from their
husbands.
Mrs. Edith Rogers of Massachu-
sets is one of them, and she has
become a most able and import
ant member of the house, a credit
to the minority side. If the men
had showed the intelligence that
she has shown, congress would not
nave suffered so much criticism.
Congress needs more women like
that who can stand on their own
feet.
Clare Luce, running as a Re-
publican in Connecticut, would
oring fresh dash of intelligence
TO the house. She knows this
world. She has been over it time.
and again. Women like that ought
to get into politics and get elected.
Government, and the shaping Of
Americas place in the world, are
never going to be the simple bust
ness again that they once were.
II you think Washington is a mad
mousse, the whole world is a mad
house, and it will take the best
Drains We can send TO Washing
Ton to make any sense out Of
things from now on.
But you viii have to get out
and vote or you may be stung.
A hight vote means that the ma
enine' not you, will control. II
you want good people. you will
nave to vote them in yourself.
Mr.. ClapPer Is heard on KMO
autuAl broadcast Mondays and
Thursdays at D. m.