Evening star., 1943-08-26
What the People Soy


The congressional recess is drawing
to close. Members of the Senate
and the House have been listening to
the problems, the wishes and the
hopes of their constituents. In let
ters to The Star, Democrats and
Republicans alike have told what the
people back home are thinking.
Throughout these letters has run
spirit of determination on the part
OF the people, as interpreted by their
representatives, to back the war ef-
fort to the limit. More, there is
among the people. of whatever po-
ltlcal party, feeling that the
handling of the war has been good,
that the results in recent months
have been excellent. Accompanying
this belief is feeling of optimism
that did not exist a year ago.
General agreement is found by
these congressional listeners that
steps must be taken-with the United
States strongly cooperating OBJ
tain security from future world wars.
This is fundamental. So far there
has been no cryStalization on the de-
tails of an international organization
to preserve peace. 1t is generally
believed, however. that it must be
backed by force. While this support
for an organization to maintain
peace is approved. there exists much
opposition to any plan that would
have the United States undertake,
by Itself or in concert with other
United Nations, to impose any par
ticular form of government on the
rest of the world.
On the home front, which is still
distinguishable from the war front
because of domestic issues, the situa-
ton is different. The people are
greatly issatisf1ed-not with ration
ing itself, but with the manner it
has been administered. They speak
with extreme bitterness of bureau
Gratis" in Washington, and of the
frequently conflicting or constantly
changing orders. The OPA and the
food administration are particular
targets for criticism. Resentment
runs particularly to the administra-
tion of gasoline rationing. From the
Atlantic seaboard come statements
that the people feel they have been
Disseminated against. From the
Midwest and Southwest the criticism
is heard that curtailment of gasoline
supplies-plentifu in those sections
is being undertaken merely to
appease the voters in the East.
The people, apparently, are exer-
cised over Federal finances, high
taxes and the prospect of still higher
taxes. More and more demands for
economy on the part of the Govern
ment are heard. The farmers insist
that the food supply problem has
been badly muddled. The passage
of the Smith-Connally antistrike bill
over the Presidents veto is approved,
especially by the people in the great
agricultural sections of the country.
Strong opposition to the military
draft of fathers is voiced in all
sections.
On the strictly political front, both
Republicans and Democrats expect
the nomination of President Roose-
welt for a fourth term. Among the
Republicans more favor was ex-
pressed for Governor Dewey of New
York than for any other presidential
possibility, with Wendell L. Willkie,
Governor Bricker of Ohio and Cen
eral Macarthur all figuring promi-
nently in the picture.
These expressions of opinion from
their constituents will have their in
fluence upon the members of Con-
gress when they reassemble. OF one
thing there seems no doubt-that
the Congress will do its full share in
any legislation that is enacted.