The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-07-26
"The Home Front"

If America is to become "safe for De-
mocracy" that objective will be won by
the collective wisdom of literate people,
Ex-Governor Henry ]. Allen of Kansas
observes that someone had to write a
book on the home 'front.'" and he says
I'VE are glad that David Hinshaw under
took the task" Furthermore he suggests
that every American, no matter what
his experience with the home front will
be better educated for reading this book"
published by Putnam.
Mr.. Hinshaw reasons convincingly that
President Roosevelt has been "magnifi-
cent as an interpreter of the cause of
Democracy and as gallant leader who
gave unSparingly of himself" He brands
criticism of Congress IAN old story" and
asserts that in the present situation Con-
gress is trying harder than anyone else
to correct its faults which cannot be said
OF all departments of the government"
He is unStinted in praise where praise is
due, and plain-spoken in rolling back the
covers in exposing "official indecision, in
competence and poor organization"
which he declares combine to convince
the people that neither the President nor
the officials closest to him "knew a great
deal about how to organize the nation
for the war or how effectively to direct it's
war program" Thence back to Congress
he reveals the present dissatisfaction with
the Senate as due to it's coveted 'privi-
leges" that are frequently "abused by
members with queer quirks of mind, char
acter or peculiar interests" and he notes
that "such members often offer fool
amendments that snarl legislation and
waste time" He is more lenient with the
membership of the lower House, which
he feels is more efficient in arriving at
conclusions - because it never has built
up imaginary ''privileges"
He compares former President Wood
row Wilson with President Roosevelt and
discovers that the two men had many
things in common. Both were political
idealists; each took his cause to the peo-
pie, Wilson appealed to the intellect,
Roosevelt to the emotions; but neither of
them trusted the people, certainly not as
Lincoln trusted them. And Roosevelt has
trusted the people less than Wilson"
sounds like Americans as "she was spoke"
in Lincon's time.
The book from the beginning clear
through to the last page runs true to its
title. 1t supports the viewpoints of the
author with material and evidence col
lected from the nations leading news
papers and the strongest editorial writ
ers of the country If there is anything
"old-fashioned" in the book it might be
compared to the old-fashioned phrase
used by Rosco Conkling in his speech
nominating Grant for third term, when
he told the delegates to "i2ew to the line"
and let the chips "fall where they may"
Mr.. Hinshaw certainly piles chips sky
high in straight Quaker words when he
denounces innumerable instances of
laundering in the affairs of government.
While Mr.. Hinshaw has plenty of we'll
developed opinions of his own he demon
strates a clear insight into human frail-
ties by holding the line and adhering
to his philosophy that: freedom of speech
must be maintained, and that men are
equal, self-respecting, self-disciplined and
responsible" He insists that freedom of
speech places definite duties upon men
that are cas- personal and fundamental
as it confers."