Evening star., 1942-10-29
Rayburn Asks Election
Of Victory minded
Congress Candidates
Legislators War Record
Defended BY Speaker
In Forum Address

In Forum Address
Speaker Rayburn Of the House,
speaking on the National Radio
Forum last night, urged the Ma
tion's voters to choose a victory
minded Congress in next Tuesdays
elections and declared that "the
significance Of your choice will not
escape our Allies or our enemies"
The National Radio Forum was
arranged by The Star and broad
cast over Station WMAL and the
Blue Network.
AS trustees Of the Nations tight
ing men, many Of whom will be
prevented from using their fran
chise by practical difficulties, we
must not neglect to vote, Mr.. Ray
burn said.
"As trustees OF their freedom,
as we'll as our own," he continued,
I'VE have a special obligation to
choose a Congress which will help
bring their gallant efforts to a
speedy and victorious conclusion"
The Texas Representative cau-
toned against voices of political
confusion, seeking to capitalize self
ishly upon your unselfish determina-
ton to win this war and win 1t soon."'
Warns Of Promises.
They will court you with prom
ises of counterfeit currency, tires
tor all, taxes for the other fellow,
rivers of gasoline, mountains OF
sugar, and victory without fight
ing" he said.
They will promise you higher
prices for what you sell and lower
prices for what you buy, higher
wages for those who receive them
and lower wages for those who pay
them, higher taxes and lower taxes,
bigger armies and smaller armies,
eight.ocean navies and air armadas
all before Christmas. Beware of
them.
I'VE in Congress may honestly
and sincerely disagree as to how the
victory may best be won. But those
who sing to you that it will be
cheap or easy bring you only the
bitterness Of broken hopes"
He observed that the best repre-
sented districts are those wise
enough to select a man of energy,
intelligence and integrity and re-
elect him year after year" A man
of this type and character, he said,
serves more efficiently and effec-
lively the longer he Is returned by
his people.
War Record Defended.
Citing the war record of Congress,
the Speaker asked that it be Judged
in the light of reason"
Il beg you to search our record
and to search your own minds and
hearts," he requested.
Are not our weaknesses your own
weaknesses? How often have we
faltered where you have stepped
surely? Is not our strength like
wise your strength? Has not our
progress, our achievement, our
understanding, grown much as yours
has done?
Have we not all together-your
Congress, your President, and you.
the people-moved forward in wis
dom and in ever more understanding
and devotion to the common cause?
Do we not today as last year and
the year before, represent your will
for victory, your hope for freedoms
future, your faith that, out Of this
ordeal of fire, America shall, with
the mighty help of Divine Provi-
dence, emerge the leader of free,
triumphant, better world?"
Some will say that Congress is too
subservient to the executive or the
wishes of special blocs, Mr.. Rayburn
said, replying that neither accusa-
ton is fair to Congress as a whole"
Points Out Critics Mistakes.
Excessive meddling by Congress
in the details of war administration
would subvert the wise distribution
of constitutional power and would
impair the efficiency of Government,
he said.
He further contended that "too
many critics mistake the delibera-
tions of the Congress for its deci-
sions."
They hear the farmers problems
explained and his point of view pre-
sented and they Jump at the conclu-
sion that Congress is controlled by
a farm bloc" he said. They hear
the workers difficulties explained
and his case argued and they say
that Congress is dominated by union
labor"
1t is out of the airing of conflict
ing opinions in hearings, debates,
and conferences, Mr.. Rayburn con-
cluded, that "a peoples Congress
comes to decisions that command
the support of free and democratic
people"
Measures Enumerated.
Very few measures emerging from
Congress were not improved as a
result of discussion, debate, and
amendment, he said.
The Speaker pointed out that
many of the most constructive war
measures, including legislation on
selective service, accumulation of
the rubber stockpile, and the Smaller
Plants Corp, originated in Congress.
The Congress, he said, has given the