The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1942-07-30
R&s Collins Cites
Rford In Congress
Idvoters Here
-orge Crowd Hears
Fongressmon's Speech
n Duront Monday

Congressman Ross Collins, sena-
totl candidate crossed into North
N Mississippi and asserted here Mon
a night that surprise was the ele-
nJnt enabling the treacherous Japs
t dsuccessfully attack Pearl Harbor
Were Their planes sunk our ships
alH destroyed our planes on the
gPund. Eight hours later they des-
tPyed most of our planes in the
Hilippines-on the ground. What a
r different story it would have
Aen had my pleas for underground
fingers, made a number of years ago,
pen listened TOP
The candidate continued by say
hg that IF this war is won, and
verify believe it will be won, the
Flying F~ortressses and weapons yet
pnheard of will be responsible. It is
weapons that count in modern war.
and not numbers of marching men.
Every time a manpower army has
met a mechanical force, the man.
power army has bitten the dust, no
matter how small the mechanical
It will ever be thus"
Rep. Collins told Of the great re-
program which has been
underway for almost two years in the
United States, saying such a PR
gram "is necessary because the coun-
try failed to heed the warnings
made repeatedly ten and twelve years
ago." and read from speeches he
made upon those occasions in the
House. ~
4 firmly believe that had we a.
dopted modern methods and modern
technique we would have escaped
this horrible war, and perhaps other
Of our allies would have done 50, il
they had armed in the right way At
the right tims.-
The candidate told his audience he
favored . bill under which the Fed
erai Government would put up $40
per month for old age assistance, re.
gardless Of how much or little each
state was able to provide for this
worthy cause.
In advancing his reasons for be-
ing war senator. Rep. Collins told
OF his almost singlehanded fight to
modernize and mechanic the armed
forces and Of how he had made =
deep study Of military weapons and
technique. making myself the only
mar in the race with the experience
demanded by the present crises.
4 have spent fifteen years of my
life preparing myself for just such al
emergency as we face today and l
predict that an overwhelming mum.
Der Of Mississsippians will endorse
on August 25th."
He declared that II have the quail
hications and experience Of a war
senator right nov It is no reflection
upon my opponents to say that no
other man in the campaign does have
it, and no other man can acquire it in
time necessary to cope with the e.
mergency."
The veteran congressman who al
so served ably for eight years as
Mississippi's attorney general. cited
figures to show he was among the
leaders in the fight for preparedness.
The official figures. over a period
eleven years, revealed Presden.
Roosevelt and the War Department.
had requested funds agsreeatmx
$125. $685. 900. 900 from the Military
Appropriations Committee of which
Mr.. Collins is an outstanding men,
Der and former chairman.
"Our committee voted $135, 642,-
or an increase of almost ten
dollars over and above the a.
mount requested. And, mind you, the
increase was voted each year without
exception" he told his audience.
sas,A H>1 NAI:1l.~ A..