Evening star., 1942-02-12
6. 0.P. Speakers Call
For Halt in Waste
While P|edging Unity
400 at Lincoln Day
Dinner Heor London,
Murtin and Watson

PleQgeS OF unity IN Cne war cuOr
were coupled by Republican leader
in Lincoln Day addresses here las
night with demands for elimination
of waste and mefficiency" and
suggestion that the United State
might well" be prepared to chang
leaders"
Alfred M. Landon, former Gov
enor of Kansas and Republican can
didate for President in 1886, sale
that while all Americans are givint
President Roosevelt "wholeheartet
support in his prosecution of th'
war" there Is deep concern" at "oul
unpreparednesS" and a growing
anger at the weakness in admins.
tration Of war funds"
In this great national effort" HI
suggested, I'VE might well take
leaf from the book OF our English
cousins. Their determination to wiz
ultimate victory never changes. Bu
they do change leaders, in the flelc
or at home, whenever bunglhf
management of their wars en-
dangers military success"
400 Attend Dinner.
Mr.. Landon, Representative Jos.
eph w. Martin, jr., House minority
leader and chairman of the Repub.
lican National Committee, and for.
mer Senator Watson of Indiana
spoke at a Lincoln Day dinner ir
the Mayf1ower Hotel, sponsored by
Republican members of the Senate
and House and the District League
of Republican Women. More than
400 persons attended.
In this fight against the Axis
for the preservation of freedom
and our way of life Mr.. Martin
declared, Republicans will continue
vigorously to support the President
We will always put country ahead
of partisanship."
He added, however, that I'VE in
sist upon the inalienable right of a
free people to offer constructive ap-
praisal of the war effort" He sug-
gested that "prodding from patriotic
men and women of all parties may
help bring victory to our cause"
Mr.. Watson insisted that being
loyal during the war did not mean
"blindly following the administra-
ton" and said that while Repub-
licans did not intend to play pol
itics" during the crisis I'VE do not
think it would be fair for the DEM
ocrats to take advantage of the
great surge Of patriotism to aug
ment their party power"
Refer to MacArthur's Plight.
Enthusiastic applause greeted
references by both Mr.. Landon and
Mr.. Watson to the fight being Waged
by the army of Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur against the japanese in the
Philippines, which were coupled
with criticism of the administra-
ton.
I'VE know" Mr.. Landon said.
that the flag would be flying over
all Luzon if those courageous SOL
diers had been furnished the air
equipment they had a right to ex-
pect."
Remarking that Gen. MacAr-
thur and his gallant troops never
will be sufficiently praised" Mr..
Watson said How we wish they
had been properly supported In
that conflict"
All the three speakers said there
could be no doubt of ultimate vic
tory in the war, but Mr.. Landon
said that at best it may be "a long,
long time" until that Is achieved
and indirectly blamed President
Roosevelt for IAN appalling amount
of downright wishful thinking in
this country"
The American people" he said,
"listen for the voice Of our President.
He has not made clear the stagger-
ing sacrifices ahead Of us. Be-
cause Of a lack of frankness, we are
not sufficiently aware Of what is re-
quired of us.
The New Dealers are treating the
war as Just another political alpha
bet project"
Would Expose Inefiiciency.
In calling for exposure and elm
ination of waste and inefhciency
wherever they exist" Mr.. Landon
said that in time of war the kind OF
politics that, because Of party, de-
fends incompetencey is treason"
patriotism is not confined to
political faiths" he continued.
past differences sink into insig-
nificance. For the immediate task
we are facing, there Is only one
party in the United States, the party
of patriotic, loyal American men and
women determined to win this war
and to perpetuate the republic"
He listed results" demanded by
the people as adequate production,
definite certainty that defense funds
are not wasted or misused, preven-
ton of all war profteering and an
end to personal rivalries and jeal-
ousies"
In outlining the function OF the
Republican party, he said that by
leadership of public opinion it has
very definitely the duty Of pulling
and pushing and showing the ma
tional administration along the road
to vigorous war production, while
preserving fundamentals of our form
of government and our way of life" )"
The G. o. P.'s duty also requires
'1oyal support for all policies that
will tend to bring success to our
common cause" he said, as well as
honest and fearless discussion and
impartial criticism Of mistakes and
ineffciencies on the part Of the ad-
ministration."
Urges Imitation Check.
AS specific measures, he urged re-
duction of every non-military ap-
preparation by least Is per cent and
elimination as undesirable hazards
now" of all the "inflationary
policies" which he described as
''holdevers" from early days OF the
New Deal.
Mr.. Landon expressed confidence
that the Presidents blue print Of
war production" can be accom-
plished, declaring that those in the