Evening star., 1942-02-03
The Political Mill
FIynn's Call for Democratic Congress Viewed
By 6. O. P. as Invitation to Bottle

Cne growing c0nVlCtl0n IN tne
country that the United States
could not remain isolated. Mr..
Flynn makes the point that if the
Republican leadership had pre-
vailed the country would have
been in deplorable state when
war did come.
To this Republicans reply that
the country was in no readiness
for war-despite the fact that
billions of dollars had been ap-
propriated last year for national
defense, with their votes going
along. Furthermore, they insist
that for the Democratic 1eader1
ship to revert now to the failure
of Republicans in Congress to
vote for lease-lend and other
measures proposed by the Presi-
dent in line with his foreign pol
icy. merely serves to bring to the
fore again the old bitterness be-
tween the isolationist groups and
the interventionist groups. What
Is needed now. they say. is unity
Of people and purpose to win the
war. II the Democrats wish to
make that kind Of attack, they
add, 1t Is their belief 1t will react
against thenl-not the Repub.
icans. That is a question, how
ever. which the elections them
selves alone can answer.
The upshot Of the Flynn
speech. following that of Mr..
Martin, is clearly the beginning
Of political campaign that may
become one of the most brisk be-
fore it closes. In the course of
his speech, Mr.. Flynn remarked
that lit is plain to every one that
the Republican party is not as
much interested In winning the
war as it is interested in con-
trolling the House Of Representa-
tives." That, in the opinion Of
Mr.. Martin, removes all wraps
from the G. o. P. in the coming
fight.
Brick Bats to Fly.
1t is idle to think in any case
that there can be a campaign for
political elections without a fight.
Brick bats will be thrown by both
sides. Both sides will claim that
they wish above all things to win
the war against the Axis powers.
Both sides will claim that they,
and they alone, can really do a
frst-class job at winning the war.
As for their own private and par
ticular war, they will attend to
that, too.
Chairman Flynn also has an
nounced plans for raising some
much-needed cash for the Demo-
cratic war Golfers. Instead of
holding the usual Jackson Day
dinners at which the Democrats
subscribe anywhere from $100 a
plate to IS, 50 and 81, a series
Of dinners will be held February
23, when George Washington's
birthday will be celebrated, and
President Roosevelt will deliver
another "hreside chat" He point
ed out that the Democratic Ma :
tional Committee has debt of
about 5000 900 still on its hands,
growing ont Of the last campaign.
And he called the coming con-
gressional election perhaps the
most important In our country's
history"
Mr.. Flynn took occasion in his
address to recall that the Presi-
dent in the summer of 1910
had appointed two distinguished,
Republicans, Secretary OF War
Stimson and Secretary of the
Navy Knox, to his cabinet, and
that he had appointed others
engaged in the war effort, among
them former Secretary of War
Patrick j. Hurley, now Minister
to New Zealand. TT is a real
coalition Government" COM
mented Mr.. Flynn. If that is SO,
retort the Republicans, why all
the fuss about electing Repub-
licans to Congress?"