The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-01-15

of straddling, drifting and waiting of the party on the war issue arises out of close-to-the-ground realiza- ton If an attempt Is made at canny politics in the grave issues involved instead of courageous recognition of realities in all that confronts our Nation in the world of terror in which it finds itself" The speaker commented that the editorial shows clearly what intelligent Republicans have thought of the kind of Repub- lican leadership that we have had in Congress. Incidentally" he added, National Chairman Martin is also the Republican leader of the House of Representatives"
 Looking into the future and our part in the war, MT. Smith said that there will be dissatisfaction which can possibly be turned into political advantage. There will be hardship for the individual, the small business man, and those temporarily unemployed through transition of the war effort, he said.
 Tt will be possible for a political party in opposition to the admin istration to say that this thing is not necessary or that thing is be- ing poorly managed with unneces- sary hardship to the citizen - and to the voter" he said.
 Mistaken Hope
 twill the Republican party SUD- port the unpopular measures and demand more effort and greater hardship?", he asked. "Or will it hang back and oppose in the mis- taken hope that popular discontent will gain for it added representa- ton in the House and Senate? We can only look at the record and can only hope that the record of ob- struction will be reversed in the future"
 The Republican party had an ex- cellent example in Winston Church i'll, Mir Smith said. Churchill stood In opposition to his Government throughout the dangerous days pre- ceding the outbreak of war. After the war started he constantly urged more speed and more effort and was severely and justifiably critical. He was regarded for his sort of opposi- ton with the supreme command and the unanimous support of the citizens of his country.
 "The Republican party in Con- gress had golden opportunity to do the same thing in this country" he said. Instead of serving as a brake on our defense effort it could have served as a spur"
 He cited the record of unified Re- publican opposition to the Presi- dents request in 1888 for 20 per cent increase in the Navy; against a provision for five million dollars for the fortification of Guam in 1889; against repeal of the arms embargo; against the lend-lease bill and against selective service. "Just imagine if the new draft registra- ton which is to take place next month, were to be our first step in raising and training an army" he said.
 Unstinted Loyalty
 After speaking for some time on the almost unanimous opinion that both the Democratic and Republi- can parties have put forth candi- dates well qualified to represent the principles and policies of their re- spective parties ably and honestly" MT. Smith added: "As I see it, the campaign has narrowed down to the question of which candidate can most effectively support our war ef- fort. The position taken by John Monagan has been that he would give unstinted loyalty to the Presi- dent of the United States as the commander -in-chief our our entire country, not only of our armed forces, in this period of our great est national peril. His independence of thought and action will be de- voted to constructive criticism, to suggestion for the urging forward Nf D,,r 1,,or