The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-10-09

L100 i
Roosevelt 70 Keep Out
Of State Elections
Exceptions May Be Senate
Fights IN Two States
People Want Him 10 Be
War Leader. Not Politician
ny RAY TUCKER
WAeHING TON-prexident
Roosevelt has decided 10 play neu-
frsi in next months congressional
and state elections. With only q
few exceptions - possibly IN the
cases Of Jack" Bennett IN New
York and Joe" Casey In Massa-
ehusetts-he win keep his hands
off all Democratic candidates.
Two basic reasons impel =. D. r.
TO assume this attitude. He has
finally become convinced. owing
partly 70 his recent journey around
the country. that the people want
him 20 b . war and diplomatic
leader rather than q party poll
fician. He saw more representative
citizens than local transforming
bosses on his trip. He also learned
that the Republicans win make
substantial gains in the house and
senate. perhaps 20 seats In the
lower chamber and at least five In
the upper. Therefore he does not
intend TO stick his neck out, a.
Woodrow Wilson did In 1918 with
his appeal for the return Of .
Democratic congress.
Together with other considera-
dona this reading Of the public
temper suggests that commingling
with tn home folks. workers and
sufferers has had = deep effect on
the preddsnt He may now force
his crowd In Warrington 10 get
down to the business Of winning
The conflict and to forget personal
Or partisan advantages.
A wellknown Washington citizen
recently searched his cellar for
scrap ~ his contribution to the
nationwide drive. He and his wife
unesrthsd IN old-fsshioned phono-
graph which they had bought for
their first-born when he was three
years old. They had kept II ~ q
keepsake and memento. II con-
tanned several pounds Of metal.
They stared at each other with
tears In their eyes. But the boy
for whom the musical machine had
been purchased win soon Be serving
~ . radio operator In . Flying
Fortress over Europe. So the old
man took his AZ. smashed the
relic and sent II along.
In his recent speech Hitler's pat
ting italy on the back 10 based on
more than flnttering references TO
m ally. Perhaps better than any
German-except the men in his
Csstapo-he knows about the
waves Of discomfort surEing from |
Lombardy to Sicily. The Union for |
Democratic Action In New York |
and other u. s. organisations con-
tacting the European underground
are advised that some Of the most |
effective sabotage on the continent |
ID carried out in Mussolini's dis |
traught land.
UNIFORMED Americans frequent |
" oversimplify the italian situa- |
ton BY chucl<ing the entire nation
into The Fascist camp. They forget
that even IN the earlier days of
the present monarchy strong ele-
ments were true TO the liberty
traditions Of Caribaldi, Maxxini ana
Cavour. These factions have sur
vived. Other free spirits are re-
cruited from the outlawed labor
moyementA. The secret police
would have the jitters n they to-
tailed the Membership lists Of the |
cells opposing the current regime. |
But the backbone Of revolt il |
tn the universitiss and among the |
young people. This generation has |
never experienced anything but |
Black Shirt rule and yet it, hatred
II the keennat and tn action the
most effective. II considers the
New Order . reactionary program
which has brought tyranny, eco
monte depression and military dis
estsrs. TO Rome's flaming youth
democracy q the frssh political
eystsm-ths countsr- revolution
' y
one of the greatest blunders
mads on the propaganda front BY
The United States and Britain 4
IN relation to Italy. Messages
smugglsd through to New York
give tn first tnkling Of III III
effectA For several months q na-
tional group Of men and women
In their twentiss. directed by skill
fll and mature leaders. has fol-
lowed . program Of sabotage
not hit or miss exploits but well
planned projects. Powder factories
have been burned: munitions plants
blown up; army trains wrecked.
systemafixed destruction has
been carried even to the African
trenchsx Tank treads have sud-
denly become ioosensd: sirpianes
have sprung Ieaia II the truth