Evening star., 1942-09-30
Democrats Counter
Ganneh Prediction
OF November Gains
Johnson Says Party Will
Keep House Control os.
COP Chief Hits BuneIine
~ the Asxoris,ed Press

COP Chief Hits BuneIine
ey the Associated Press.
A Republican prediction that the
party would win control of the House
in the November elections was coun-
tered today by Democratic spokes-
man who expressed the belief that
Democrats not only would retain
their majority but might increase it
slightly
The Republican speaker was Frank
e. Gannett, assistant chairman of
the Republican National Committee,
who told q party dinner at the Will
lard Hotel last night that the coun-
try was in an awful mess" from
bungling of the war effort and new
presidential threats to undermine
the Constitution and added
IF the voters in November will
elect A Republican House, as I be-
lieve they will, then we can check
the New Deal follies, get rid of the
ineficiency in our Government,
prosecute the war more vigorously
and hasten that happy day when
our boys will come back home"
Johnson Answers.
Representative johnson Of Okla
homa, head of the Speakers Bureau
Of the Democratic Congressional
Campaign Committee, meanwhile
told reporters:
We're hopeful OF getting back at
least as many members as we now
have. Perhaps we can pick up
seat or two.
"I don't think there's the re-
motest possibility Of a turnover
which would give the Republicans
majority in the House"
Mr.. Gannett. addressing 90 MEM
bers of the COP National Executive
Committee and Republican members
of the Senate and House. declared
the public was losing confidence in
the management of the war. 1t is
the fault of the "higher ups on the
home frent," not the men in uni
form. he said, and demanded that
the failures be thrown out" and
men OF ability and experience put
In their places. 49,
Urging his party to demand a
Centralized or unified" command for
the armed forces. Mr.. Gannett said
the Army and Navy were still jealous
of each other and the top men in
each branch were not giving ade-
quate recognition to air power.
Mr.. Gannett said the "old-time
jealousy and rivalry between Army
and Navy still prevails" with each
trying to claim credit for any
achievement"
Air power deserves equal rank
with the Army and Navy" he said,
land one great military leader, one
great strategist. should command
these three forces so they will CO.
operate in every minute detail"
Threat to Constitution.
He said the latest threat to the
Constitution was found in the off
cial impcrtinence" of the Presidents
September message, where Mr..
Roosevelt said: In the event that
Congress, shall fail to act, and act
adequately, I shall accept the
responsibility. and will act"
Mr.. Gannett called this a revolu-
tionary procedure and urged Demo-
Gratis and Republicans to unite ''as
they did on the Supreme Court pro-
posal" and defeat this latest effort
to undermine our Constitution"
Discussing the Governments han
ding of war news, Mr.. Gannett. a.
Rochester IN. " publisher, said
important news about the war Is
held back needlessly and the public
is fast losing confidence in Govern
nent reports This policy is also
, destroying confidence in the press
though our newspapers are doing all
they are permitted to do to keep the
public informed"
The public has never been told
all the truth about the Pearl Harbor
disaster" and news of the loss OF the
aircraft carrier Yorktown was pub
lished in London weeks ago and lons
before it was given out here, he
added.
How much more bad news is be.
ing withheld from us?" he asked
I'VE Americans are not children
We can take bad news"
Mr.. Gannett said freedom Of th'
press also was being threatened. ane
that important news was being "helt
back needlessly."
Question Of Morale.
"I maintain that to win this war
we must keep the people informed
and thus stregthen their morale,
he declared, adding that for lonl
time there had been "a deliberat
plan by the administration to smear
weaken and destroy our newspaper
because they have dared to criti
else New Dealism."
THE radio" he continued, lis un
der control because it is licensed
Freedom of speech over the air
being increasingly restricted. TIL
next step is to control the press.
THE pending supit against tn
Associated Press has this OBJECTIVE
If the A. p, ccan be made a publ
utility, then there will be remove
the last barrier in the way of put
ting all wire service under som
Government commission. Then Go,
eminent control tightens and free
dom of the press perishes.
Already, I am sorry to say, it
fast disappearing under the pre-
text that war demands control
Chairman Joseph M. Martin. j
Of the Republican National Commi
tee, declared yesterday that tt
light vote in the recent primari
was detrimental to the nation
welfare" and must be remedied
the coming elections.
In a statement issued after a ro'
tine session of the party's Exec
tive Committee, Mr.. Martin said ,
patriotic citizen could minimize Il
Importance of personal participate
In the November voting becau
every vital element of Democrat
=