Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-10-18

News Behind
The News
By Paul I
Ma||On
Old Election Issues
Out; Voters Intent
on Winning War

WASHINGTON, Oct. IT. - I
w there Ia dynamite In thiI
election, no one here seems abl'
to find the fuse. You would never
know a congressional election wa
two weeks off by noting surface
events.
The Democrats, up for re-elec
ton, are generally following tho
theme of go down the line FOL
Roosevelt" and promote the wal
effort. The Republicans are los
tering the idea that constructive
criticism will help more than q
sure yes-vote. II any one else Il
excited, there is no evidence.
A few of the professedly liberal
(meaning more and more reform)
elements are trying TO smoke W
the idea that the New Deal is al
stake in the elections.
These anxious ones are looking
ahNad toward postwar, and think
they can get control OF the peace
for something or other. II they
can control the next Congress.
T,HIS estimation OF the election
i obviously has not been &C.
copied by any lArge number oil
candidates or by the voters them
selves. whose thoughts seem con.
centrated on winning the war, and
on adjusting themselves person
ally to what the war requires OF
them to the exclusion OF political
considerations. :,
II seems 10 me that practically
every one realizes the old familiar
issues. which have been success
full in recent elections, are ooso-
lete.
Mr.. Roosevelt himself seems to
be edging his emphasis away from
them. True, he delayed the man.
power draft issue. after CLOS Phil
Murray and AFL's William Green
came out OF conferences announc-
ing their opposition.
But there seems also 10 be new
recognition In his leadership oil
the superior common interests OF
all the people, as distinct from
specific organized group interests.
This is noticeable in the way Mr..
Roosevelt faced the farm bloc and
in his effort 10 restrain wage-price
advances.
THE administration has not
l. changed front, but IL has given
ground 10 war necessities. from its
reform purposes and direct politi-
cal interests, as has every one else,
That Ia what makes this current
unprecedented situation on the eve
OF an election.
From all this. II Is apparent
public failing OF the boogie-woogie
men in Wall Street is political
technique that has outlived It's
usefulness. Some think this Ia
temporary. i think it is perma-
nent.
The grass that Hoover said
would grow in Wall Street il now
growing there. figuratively al
least, and each day the New Deal
ers trim the lawn. There is no
business. financial or otherwise,
except under government direction
and control OF both operations and
profits.
/ think most people are also
coming 10 realize that the post.
war plan likewise will be directed
by necessities. rather than advance
planning. We are entering upon
a managed imitation that cannot
end with the war.
TNHERE will be a federal debt o1
l. 5000. 900. 900, 900 10 $500. 900.
100000, which must be financed
Therefore there must be very
high taxes. probably as high Al
now. which means there must be
high prices and high wages to pay
both the taxes and the debt, which
means we will not fscally be able
10 feed every one quart OF milk
a day throughout the world at our
expense, or indulge ourselves In
much political philanthropy on q
national or international scale.
Other considerations, such a
strong government control over
economic life. will. be resolved the
same way. because they will have
TO be.
Therefore, I would vote for the
congressional candidate two week,
from next Tuesday who seemed
most likely to look az all these
war and peace problems clearly
from the standpoint Of the com
mon good ofall. -the-one leas.
likely to play politics and most
likely TO use arithmetic as his
guide. the fellow who can, sub
tract and divide, rather than the
well meaning, fervent fellow who
ia likely TO let his heart rule his
head and our pocketbook.
Whether he IL Republican OF
Democrat will make far less DIFF.
ference 10 the country than
whether he has common sense.
Distributed by King Features synd.. Inc.
Reproduction In whols or IN Part
Strictly Prohibited