The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-11-03
. Clapper
Two Party System
Is Wholesome
But Republicans
Missed The Boat
Lost Influence By
Too Much Criticism
Doors Nov Open for
Constructive Action
By RAYMOND CLAPPER

WASHINGTON - We talk
about the necessity of preserving
the two-party system In this
but you don't preserve
the two-party system by just hsv-
ing two parties.
We have had two parties in the
last 10 years. But the Repuhli-
can party hasn't even served a.
the vehicle for effective criticism
of the administration. much less
affecting the course of affairs II
has obstructed but has missed it,
opportunity to construct.
Whereas the Republicans In
generally contented
themselves with denouncing the
administration, a Republican like
Governor Stassen of Minnesota
devised a system of labor relations
that has worked very well. M
New Deal has allowed labor con-
troll to get entirely out OF hand
After bringing about much-needed
changes to insure collective bar
gaining and to protect the right
of employees TO organize-whieh
was long overdue the admin
istration allowed labor organiza-
tons to abuse the new power.
But Republicans had so discredit-
ed themselves that they were un-
able to make themselves effective
critics. In fact the southern
Democrats came nearer to bring
ing about changes in labor legis-
lation to curb abuses.
In foreign policy during the
period leading up to Pearl Har-
Dor, the Republicans, except for
some dissenters like Senator
Austin and Rep. Wadsworth and a
number of others of equal under
standing, followed a policy of OBJ
struction which, if 1t had any
effect at all. hampered the adj
ministration in taking necessary
steps, instead of pushing for the
things that had to be done and
insisting on better execution.
Constructive criticism has come
not from Republicans as a minor
ity group but from committees
headed by Democrats - the Tru-
man committee Of the senate and
the Tolan committee of the house.
The Republicans as a party group
have had no effect.
That does not go for individual
members. Republicans can be
cited whose attitude, If adopted a.
Republican party policy. would
have led the people of the coun-
try to look to the Republicans
for constructive criticism.
On the Tolan committee, for In
stance, Rep. Bender of Ohio, a Re-
publican, has given constructive
assistance. I single him out only
because of his vigorous supple
mentary comments on the last
Tolan committee report. He goes
further than the Tolan committee
in some of his detailed criticisms
of lack of planning, of failure to
tie strategy and production closely
together, of the neglect to or
ganize manpower so that the
army could have its men without
disrupting war production.
Other Republicans are SINH
larly giving their best thought to
how the progress of the war can
be aided. When you have enough
of these men in congress, then
you viii have a Republican party
that means something in fact a.
well as in name.
Senator Ball, of Minnesota, has
in his short service won the re-
spect of his colleagues for his
effort to keep the nations inter-
ests in mind ahead of everything
else. Senator Quincy of South
Dakota is another one. Many
others could be named in botn
houses. The Republican party
has an opportunity that it has not
had in the last 10 years. But IL
will miss the boat again if it con-
tinues the same kind of policies
that the present Republican ma
tional committee trumpets.
Recently a group of Republicans
in the house, led by Rep. Hope Oh
Kansas, and a few others, drew
up a set of principles that couid
well become the partys policies
But they have been largely for
gotten, and have not been taken
up by the Republican nations.
committee and made the pasis W
the party's general campaign. hep.
Dirksen of Illinois brought OUT
new ideas for improving the ma
chinery of congress but the ne.
publicans as a group have ie1
them lie cold. instead ~ getuns
behind them TO make a eonstruS
tive issue of them.
The reelection of men nHe
these. and the introduction OF new
Republicans like Mrs. Clare LIZ
Of Connecticut, would enable 'n<
Republican party again to oecon''
a force in congress
Mr.. Clapper Is heard on ny
Mutual broadcast Mondays ~
Thursdays at : p. m