The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-02-12

sus n at the
general public's apathy, rather
than the apathy Of any particular
group Of legislators or executives,
was responsible for the unsatisfac-
tory state Of Americas defenses
when attacked by the Axis. Some
of the solons did. indeed, concede
that they're part Of the general
public themselves. and, TO that ex-
tent, they admitted that they were
apathetic also Congress, as a
body, though. they reasoned. would
have been more on the alert If the
generality OF its home folk hadn't
been so oblivious Of the situations
perils.
There was scarcely any dissent
from this view in the course OF the
speechifying referred TO, which
probab'- was natural enough; the
average lawmaker could hardly
have been expected to break in
with the contradiction Yes, we
are. too, to blame
Some OF the congreSSlonaIly
criticized general public, however,
having had time to digest Capitol
Hills derogatory remarks concern
ing it, is beginning to come back
with various pungent observations
Of its own, mostly through the
press throughout the country.
Clumsy Management
The comments trend is to the
effect that the public elects con-
gress TO manage for US nationally,
and that incidents like those at
Pearl Harbor and Guam, ard Jap
progress in the Philippines, imply
Il made a very clumsy JOB Of 1t.
To be sure, an occasional COM
mentator recognizes that maybe
the public's blameworthy for hav-
ing chosen poor congressman. This
isn't a concession, though, Of much
comfort TO those that the voters
did select.
The argument has been a bit to
the navys advantage. its true.
Naval oficialdom's on record al
having asked for funds, for Pa
cihc defense purposes, that con
gress never appropriated. To thai
extent. the navy folk are in a posi-
ton to say, I'VE told you So
They say it at congress expense
though.
All in all, It rather appears that
the legislators made a mistake in
trying to wish responsibility of
from themselves onto the public
and the army and navy commands.
They laid themselves open to a
good many exceedingly stiff jabs
in their own direction.
Partisanly speaking, the Repub-
ncans are hoping that the contro-
versy will rebound TO their benefit
on next election day. in November.
They want. of course, to transform
the present big Democratic con-
gressionaI majority into C. o. p.
majority in the house Of represen-
tatives and to make material gains
in the senate; there aren't enough
seats at stake at that end Of the
Capitol building in 1912 to give
'em control there. even II they win
all Of them, which it's foregone
conclusion will be impossible.
They want TO gain all they can,
anyway.
Their campaign story's fully
cooked up already.
G. o. P.'s Story
It's purport will be that they've
been solidly for 100 per cent de-
tense preparation since long before
Pearl Harbor, but that the major
ity, now engaged in trying TO stick
responsibility off onto the general
public, bungled our effort. SO their
appeal will be to the general public
TO swing bodily to their sides can
didates in November.
Chairman Joseph w. Martin OF
the C. o. p. national committee
has spiel in hand well in ad-
vance Of the coming contest.
Clarence Burlington Kelland, the
Republicans new press agent, like
wise has appropriate publicity on
tap. 10 turn loose in connection