Evening star., 1942-04-20

mocracies, there - -
would be no David Lawrence.
election at a time such as this.
But while the Constitution calls
for congressional elections every
two years. a voluntary agreement
between the two major parties can
be made merely 10 confine the cleo
ton 10 the routine reelection Of
existing members OF both houses,
irrespective of party.
There is much talk about "freez-
Ing prices. open and closed shops
and other controversial issues that
may interfere with the about war
effort, so it is logical TO consider
freezing the relative position of the
two major parties In the Senate and
House.
The process OF accomplishing that
result would be simple The two
major parties would agree not 10
campaign against the candidates
who hold seats In Congress. While
o few would-be candidates might
arise here and there to disregard
such q plan, and could legally do 80.
the number would be negligible and
the country would still be spared a
hitter campaign on q Nation wide
scale.
II the election were held tomor-
row, this correspondent firmly be-
lieves the Republicans would cap
ture the Eouse and make heavy
gains In the Senate. A substantial
anti-war and isoiationist vote exists
and that, together with the vast
number who feel that the New Deal
has arbitrarily deprived the minor
ity of it's rights on many domestic
issues, could constitute the balance
Of power which would be ample to
swing 55 to go districts or even more.
A change in So districts would give
the Republicans control OF the
Houss.
G. O. p. Would Be Asssiled.
But the administration knows this
situation, and whether 1t cares to
admit 1t or not. the strategy of the
party In power would be to take no
chances and open up on the isola-
tionists with all kinds of political
guns. The Republicans would be
assailed as responsible for lack of
military preparation before Pearl
Harbor and as being anxious to ap-
prove q negotiated" peace. That
Is not true, but the Democrats
would say 80, and the cry would
be raised that the election of a
Republican House would be laid
and comfort" to Hitler. Loyal mem
bers of Congress would be smeared
by innuendo. and altogether one
cannot imagine more real and sub
stantial comfort 10 Hitler and
Goebbels than TO see Americas
energies diverted from all-out war
to all-out politics. In the end II
would not be surprising to see many
Republicans voting the Democratic
ticket just to prevent the result
from being misconstrued abroad
and thus the Republicans would
lose the election.
Given five months OF the New
Deal propaganda tactics of the
past, with the aid OF public funds
and bitter campaign waged on
war issues, this correspondent be-
heves the Republicans would be de-
feated. The latter have everything
to gain In public prestige by join
ing movement TO forego the ls42
contest, because II the war Is over
by 1914, they will still derive any
political advantages then that would
accrue now from the anti-war ele-
mentS. Back in 1920 the Republicans
had the anti-war vote and won
easily, even though their presiden-
tisl candidate was the weakest oi
those in the race at the convention
g. o. p. Appointments Urged.
In order to get unity on the 1912
campaign problem. it would be
helpful If the President were TO
make certain changes in the man.
agement OF the governmental ma
chine so that the minority would
have some representation in the
cabinet, especially in those key
positions where economic policies
are decided. While Republicans are
at the head OF the War and Navy
Departments, they have no real
influence in the Governments s
handling of the economic and labor
problems which are disturbing ma
tional unity. But even If the ad-
miniStrstion is so shortighted as to
continue to ride roughshod over
minority rights by its arbitrary
use of the regulatory and proseeut-
ing power. the Republicans would
be in a better position before the
country II they took the initiative
now In proposing that there be no
1912 political campaign. Where va
caneies occur or Withdrawals of in
cumbent members take place, the
political complexion OF the congres.
sionsl district could be maintained
under the same agreement 10 re,
frain from supporting rival candi,
dates who do not abide by the vol.
untary understanding entered intS
by the congressional leaders OF botl
parties.
There are doubtless many objec-
tons to the plan. So are there OBJ
1ections 70 any wartime sacrifices
But to win the war is paramount
and America will not be as effec-
tive in the next six months with q
bitter political campaign going or
as We would be without such q con-
test as will ensue If restraints are
not sen-imposed.
CRseroaaetien Rirhts RsssrvsAl