Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-08-06
Peg!er Finds
3 Candidates
Loyal to U. S.
Dewey, Bennett, Mead
All Good Patriots
By WESTBROOK PEGLER

BY WESTBROOK PEGLER
WITH the possible exception
w of the time that Big Bill
Thompson appealed TO the vot-
ers of Chicago with promise
to punch King George on the
snoot. the issue which, up TO
now, has been paramount in the
New York campaign for the
governorship, is the silliest that
has ever belittled the intelli-
gence of an American COM
munity.
Jim Farley is accusing Sem
ator Jim Mead, the New Deal
candidate. of having expressed
isolationist sentiments back in
February. 1871, the idea being
that he is, therefore, unworthy
OF the Presidents support.
OF course, il was the Presi-
dent, himself, who introduced
this issue when he indicated that
any one qualifying for his sup
port must have upheld his war
program before Pearl Harbor.
Farley insists that his candi-
date for the Democratic nomi-
nation, John Bennett, answers
the description.
Tom Dewey, who probably
will be the Republican nominee,
does not, and doesn't pretend 10.
pUT all three of these men are
- loyal Americans and il
would be fantastic TO suggest
that any of them. if elected
governor, would do anything TO
obstruct the Presidents direc-
ton and management of the
national effort TO win the war.
or would withhold any co-opera-
ton
What they thought about the
before Pearl ffarboT X
water over the dam now and
the only question really before
the voters is which one would
make the best governor.
III. as Farley says, as recently
as 1871, Mead thought this
country had no business impos-
ing American ideas on other
countries. he was a member of
the vast majority of American
citizens. many of whom I'M
doubtedly still cling 10 the same
belief. but support the war as
a matter OF life and death.
In fact. there are many men
in uniform who will give their
lives for the United States who
fight only for nationaliStic pa
triotism and TO punish a wicked
enemy.
IT is grievously unfair and Il
certainly is unwise 10 sug-
gest that men who hold that be-
lief and offer their lives for
their country are Americans Of
doubtful reliability.
II is unwise because unity, for
which the Presidents political
supporters yearn. will not be
served by impugning the loyalty
OF so large a number Of good
citizens.
The American people did not
want war and they hoped
blindly, wishfully disbelieving
the evidence daily revealed in
Europe and Asia. that this
country might somehow man.
age 10 keep out of the fight.
But when the Japs struck and
Hitler declared war, the whole
people, with few miserable ex-
ceptions. accepted the situation
and the President has had prac-
tically unanimous support
against the enemy ever since.
IN THE state elections. there
Il fore. the war is not an issue
al all.
Any man who appealed TO the
voters today with a promise that
he would oppose the President
in the prosecution of the war
would need military guard to
protect his life, and, in New
York, Dewey is as good a parrot
as either of the candidates or
the President himself.
The aggravation of this queS-
ton is a dangerous business be-
cause IL happens that the Presi-
dents political following in
cludes many clamorous indi-
viduals who pretend TO speak
for the administration aud heap
insults on all who disagree with
him or them on domestic issues.
Under our system il is entirely
correct 20 conduct a political cp-
position TO the party in power
and such opposition cannot de-
Gently be described as traitorism.
THE fact that the country is
Il at war does not alter the
case unless there is a PROPOSE
ton before he people to suspend
the system and adopt one some
thing like Hitler's for the dura-
ton of the war against Hit
lerism.
Mead has no qualifications
for the job as governor, but 10
attack him because Of what he
old nlrr,orA 10 ...L-