Evening star., 1942-08-13


naturally stimulates the defenders
r the candidate to redouble tnelr
efforts. While it bestirs the isola-
tionists themselves to vote for
candidate who shares their views,
it doesn't particularly disturb the
other side which. for lack of better
term, is called ''interventionist,"
though at this late date it is diff
cult to know just what 1T means,
Stree Japan did the intervening and
attacking and America simply was
forced into war of self-defense.
The hypocrisy of the isolationist
issue was perhaps nowhere better
illustrated than in New York City,
where Representative Marcantonio,
who voted against preparedness
measures before last summer and
was as pronounced an isolationist
as could be found in the House, not
only won the Republican nomina-
ton but the Democratic and the
American Labor party nomination.
Roosevelt Appraisal Shrewd.
Mayor La Guardia, who has been
as outspoken foe of the Axis
powers as anybody since the issue
came into public debate, publicly
Endorsed Mr.. Marcantonio, In other
words, a labor radical seemed more
important to the constituency than
the punishment of a pre-Pearl Har- !
Dor isolationist
Here and there isolationists on
the Democratic side lost out, but |
most OF the Republicans won re-
nomination. There Is hardly any
explanation for this on the merits |
of isolationism or anything else re-
lated to our war effort. Probably |
President Roosevelt made the |
shrewdest appraisal about congress
sional elections in 1898 when he in
sisted that they were local and did
not really manifest any national
trend. Most everybody hereabouts
on the Republican side thought it
was then 4 case of sour grapes.
When Mr.. Roosevelt, however, not |
only won third term for himself |
In 1940, but actually assisted the
Democratic party in reducing the |
Republican gains Of 1898 by sub
stantial margin, it was apparent |
that he was about right.
There will be many appraisals
made on the basis of the primary
elections. Republicans will take
heart and insist that the country
Is not as ready to support the ad-
ministration as it was two years
ago and that dissatisfaction with
he conduct of the war will elect
OF more Republicans in November.
n an off year election, on the other
and, when there is no presidential
tntest. it is natural that local is
SIS and personalities should count
nre than other factors.
Incumbents Have Edge.
bout all the election returns thus
far1ave indicated is that the in
c'lnent members in the main may
expe reelection. They have had
an ooortunity to run errands for
their onstituents and to do thou
sand nd one chores, and if the
ONCE I a member of Congress has
been WI managed, under our mod
ern potical system, the chances
are thenan in Office will win his
nominatn and election over and
over aga.
In TIM like these, the discon-
tent is nc likely to take the form
Of a discssion of theoretical or
academic ter the war issues such
as may beconnoted by the word
isolationism II there's discomfort.
1t will be an economic nature.
With wages Ugh and employment
opportunitiesiumerous, the major
ity Of voters e little Of national
nature to be ggrieved about that
can be attributi to individual Rep
resentatives or5enators.
II, on the cler hand leaders
everywhere ha undertaken to
dramatize issuesn a national basis
for the primarieand if party lines
had been shark drawn, much
more significance ould be attached
to Tuesdays resus. 1t has been
presumed in mar quarters that
the Democratic igh command
would attempt sucla move in the
autumn campaign, 1T such a step
might prove boonrang. If the
Democrats let well nough alone,
they'll increase thei membership
in Congress because boom times
usually rebound to te benefit OF
the party in power.
Reproduction RIGHTS teserved)