Evening star., 1942-02-23

America dS IellcCleu ny AOlhS III
Washington. But White House
leadership now has somewhat al
tered that mood by sanctioning
political party dinners. The New
Deal banquets from coast to coast
Monday were arranged to pay off
the financial debts Of the third
term presidential campaign-ap-
proximately 100000. At 500 a
plate, 1t was figured that defense
contractors - as individuals, of
course-and Office holders would
voluntarily kick in with contribu-
tions and wipe out the party debt.
Important to New Dealers
It was evidently considered i'm
portant to retire the debt quickly.
The New Deal party showed no such
solicitude from 1896 to 1910 about
strengthening the Nations credit
structure through retirement OF any
of the $4,000, 100000 in national
debt that had been added by the
New Deal. If we had an Army or
Navy or Air Force to show for that
money, capable Of fighting a two
ocean war, there would be less con-
Germ today. It is important. how
ever. to the New Dealers to get rid
Of Democratic party debt so they
may start soon to collect funds for
the congressional campaign this
autumn, In connection with which
Chairman Flynn has already asked
the country to elect only Demo-
Gratis because he fears Republicans
can't be trusted In wartime. The
President has said he wants candi-
dates who are loyal elected, ire
spective Of party. But Mr.. Flynn,
visiting the White House afterwards,
said he didn't believe that would
change his election appeal, and Mr..
Roosevelt seems to have done moth
ing to bring about the reputation
needed.
The President, moreover, had
plenty of other nights available in
which to deliver his fireside chat,
and even after his attention was
called publicly to the fact that
political dinners of his own party
were being held throughout the
country "coincidental" with his fire.
side chat, no move was made to
meet public criticism.
Evidently, although food and gas
oline is to be rationed, young men
and middle-aged men are to be
separated from their careers and
their homes by the selective serv-
ice law, even though prices are to
be fixed, taxes are to be raised to
unheard of heights and the public
Is expected to drop its business-as-
usual or selfishness-as-usual atti-
tudes-all of which Is desirable in
order to win the war-the one
thing that isn't going to be curtailed
is selfish ambition to obtain and
maintain political power.
Churchill's Hand Forced.
Political partisanship is evidently
to be encouraged. The Republicans
held their Lincoln day dinners re-
Gently and urged efficiency and an
all-out war effort. Presumably now
the Republicans will feel free con-
stantly to call for efficiency in high |
places and will insist that America
cannot win the war and keep the |
New Deal, too. Already-the Re-
publicans will argue-America' pro- |
duction has been retarded by the |
administration tolerance of SLOW
downs and sitdowns, by insistence
on a 40-hour week, by inept ham
ding of labor issues and by re-
fusal to understand that Germany
and Britain have converted from
peacetime to a wartime economy
only by increasing the output a
man without increasing by our huge
percentage the cost to the Nation.
Last week the British people
compelled Prime Minister Churchill
to make changes in his cabinet to
get efficiency. The American people
have less democracy in this respect
than the British. But In the au-
tumn elections this year-unless the
administration uses public power,
position and funds to discredit the
opposition party - the American
people can put into effect a cor
rectlve process that may compel
the executive to pick the ablest
men in the country to run the war
instead of friends, New Deal brain
trusters and political henchmen.
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