Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-11-07
Marcan+onio
Left Our of
Vote Record
Ounderhead Publication
Mystery TO PeeIer y
By WESTBROOK PEGLER

the house oil Alfred n.
Knopf turned out a book called
THE Illustrious Dunderheads,
listing the names and voting
records on various war issues up
to Pearl Harbor of 144 congress-
men who, of course, were up FOR
reelection, and of 20 senator's,
10 of whom were no, up this
time.
II contained an abusive intro
duction by Frank Sullivan, Who
plods along under the label OF
humorist.
1t received a strong plug on
the radio from the only officer
OF the United States Navy so
timid as to require personal
bodyguards on the peacefui
streets of New York, and II was
advertised extravagantly in the
papers at SITS copy.
II was edited by one Rex
Stout, who showed his colors by
emitting all mention OF the
voting record of Vito Marcan-
tonic. the New York congress-
man. who votes the Communist
line in Congress and voted
against all war measures until
Hitler struck Russia, and in
listing for defeat as sort OF
Quisling Congressman Melvin
Mas OF Minnesota, who not only
fought in the last war but. at
the very time when the book
was being prepared was fighting
again, this time in the Pacific,
in recognition of which service
he was decorated.
NINTH all but lew OF the re-
w turns in. il is now possibly
10 estimate in general way the
sensitiveness OF the American
voters to such dirty work, so
very similar, incidentally. 10 the
kind of propaganda that Hitler
and his Nazis published against
those Germans who tried 10 hold
out against him.
OF the l44 ngress n
named for the purge. IN line
with a suggestion from higher
quarters that those who we're
noninterventionlst before Pearl
Harbor we're unfit, "A were de-
feated.
The fate Of six others is still
in doubt at this writing.
Those who were defeated in
cluded nine Democrats. some OF
whom lost TO Republicans in the
general reaction against New
Dealism and slovenly govern
ment. and Is Republicans. some
OF whom were beaten by other
Republicans.
THOSE who were reelected
Il included Ham Fish. in the
Presidents own congressional
district. bad case who did get
himself balled up IN some very
dNNOA ldAliliN anu
dealings but successfully stood
down the full force of the adj
ministration for reasons which
are peculiar and local 10 his
district.
Another reason for his success
is that ne is unquestionably a
loyal American whose constitu-
ents know that he fought with
conspicuous bravery in the first
war.
They probably concluded that
he was patriotic. but not too
bright. an estimate Of him ar
rived at a long time ago by most q
persons who know him.
The successful candidates alsdS
included Mr.. Mas and those
who were retired incl u d G d
jeanette Rankin, who voted
against war both in 1917 and
this year and therefore had no
chance. and George Tinkham Of
Massachusetts. who was whip
sawed out of Congress by a re-
districting operation and was
not beaten on issues.
The list included 124 Repub-
,licanS, an overwhelming major
ity of whom were indicated by
their constituents. if any ques-
ton of their loyalty ever oc-
CURED 10 them, and sent back
for two more war years
OF the nine senators named
for the purge who were running
for reelection seven were Sue
cessful and one is still in doubt
at the moment.
THE cartoons portrayed tho
l. men named in various UNI
patriotic and reasonable atti-
tudes.
In one they were throwing
monkey wrenches at President
Roosevelt.
In another they have Joined
Hitler and Mussolini in haunting
John Bull, the ally of the United
States at the time of publication.
In another they are vomiting
swastikas, familiar motive to
the tasty political art of the
Communist press.
On the whole, these Americans
are presented as disloyal citi-
Zens.
The motives of Alfred Knopf
in publishing this book with the
pointed omission of Marcanto-
MOS record, and even of his
name, may have been merely to
make some money and provide
free expression. but speculatio.