The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-09-26
. Clapper
House COP Declaration
Put Party Behind War
IsoIsiionisis Threatened
To smbsrrsss Everyone
Nc Appessemeni TO Be
Tolerated. Says Platform
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER

NASHINGTO>-Ths campaign
platform adopted by the Repuo-
iean members OF the house rep
resents an attempt so save the
party from the embarrassing po-
sition into which some Of its $50
lationists threated TO lead 1t.
The declaration is intended to
put the Republican party fully be-
hind the war. and against appease-
ment. a negotiated peace or any
thing except military victory.
Work on this declaration was
begun some weeks ago through
the inspiration of Republicans who
had long supported the Roosevelt
administrations general foreign
policy. They were concerned with
the pre-Pearl Harbor attitude Of
some in the party and felt that
the minority party could not make
effective its criticisms of the con-
duct of the war unless 1t took
pains to make these criticisms
constructive in support of the war.
The inspiration for this did not
come from those holding official
positions in the Republican party
organization so much as it came
from men like Representatives.
Hope of Kansas and Wigglesworth
of Massachusetts, and also from
some other Republicans who have
shared the views Of Wendell Will
kie.
Also significant is the postwar
attitude taken in the Republican
congressional platform. The dec
laration stated that the Repub-
lican party members recognized
that the United States has an obli-
cation and responsibility to work
with other nations TO bring about
world understanding and CO.
operative peace. The resolution
stated, however, that in SO doing
we must not endanger our own
independence, or weaken our
American way of life or our sys-
tenn of government.
The language. as is usual with
most political platforms. is suffi-
GENTLY vague for a man to in
terpret 1t almost any way he
chooses. SO 1t does not mean too
much as a specific commitment.
Nevertheless the purpose of the
men who took the lead in this ac-
ton is to insure that the Repub-
lican party goes ahead in the role
Of loyal opposition, seeking COM
plete victory and durable peace
through international cooperation.
They found language sufficiently
broad so that almost all of the
Republican membership of the
house pledged itself to the prin-
ciples as stated.
That is a large gain. II insures
that no individual having other
ideas can USE the Republican party
for his purposes. However. it does
not insure that each individual
Republican candidate is going to
measure up to the intent of the
platform and those who drafted
II. Although the party as a whole
adopts a satisfactory statement of
& ener principles, scrutiny Of
each candidate continues to be de-
sirable. Men Of different minds
will try to take cover under this
large umbrella. In fact in this
weeks sessions of the house some
Republicans who signed this dec
larstion, which denounces exploi-
tation Of the war by any group or
special interest, are supporting
legislation to give another parity
boost for agriculture.
Washington newspapermen will
be particularly interested in one
section Of the declaration which
warns against undue censorship.
The Republican platform insists
on the night TO criticize. Il de-
mands that the people be given
all information consistent with
military requirements. but warns
against using censorship as COW
er 10 hid failures Of military and
civilian officers. Particularly the
Republicans denounce unnecessary
censorship.
With the progress of the war
this question becomes more
troublesome. We are having our
first experience with total var
and there Is increasing confusion
as to the line between necessary
military censorship and matters Of
public policy deserving free dis
cussion.
Mr.. Clspper IL heard on KNo
Mutual broadcast Mondays and