The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-08-20
WNU Service, Union Trust Building
Washington, ID. @.

wNU Service, Union Trust Building
Washington, ID. @.
Today America faces its first real
problem as q world power.
Italy lies before US. General Els
enhower, as commander Of the AL
lied forces Of invasion, suddenly be-
comes a statesman. He Is a soldier.
He can win battles. Now, he Is the
man ultimately responsible for d.
recting American world policy.
What is American world policy?
Eisenhower Is firm In his deci-
sions, certain in his own procedure,
because he is responsible only to
his COMMANDMENTS Chief.
But who is his COMMANDMENTS
Chief? Roosevelt. A man who may
suddenly leave the scene In the
midst of battle, If the American pub
lie SO DEGREES.
And then? Has America any firm
foreign policy, unfettered by parti-
san political restriction, q clear
marked path that a fighting man or
any other man can follow?
In a few short weeks from now, q
group of busy, hard-pressed men are
going to sit down on Mackinac is
land and try to write what Ameri-
can foreign policy they think ought
to be sponsored by the Republican
party.
These men have to face the ques-
ton of committing the Republican
party to a definite foreign policy.
And paradoxically, by committing
their party to a definite foreign poll
cy, they may free both political par
ties of all commitment on foreign
policy. For If the Democrats frame
similar resolutions, they can save
America from a vicious split-one
which, if it is not avoided, will crash
party lines and can destroy the two
party system, the rock OF our de-
mocracy.
The issue which America faces is
simple: shall we, as nation, under
write policy which will implement
our participation in world affairs or
shall we retire unto ourselves and
pursue the nationalistic policy which
says in effect: let the rest Of the
world stew in its own juice?
Until we took the Philippines,
America was able to leave the great
and vital problems which should
have no political tinge, outside par
tisan politics. We have had other
problems which have remained es-
sentially non-partisan.
The Problems
Take labor. A vital question. But
has labor ever voted solidly for one
ticket or the other? No. The ALL
will cast its traditional Republican
votes in the coming election as it al
ways has. Some of the CIO MEM
bers will vote to support the admin
istration. Others will vote as they
darn please.
Slavery-really a labor question.
That did nearly wreck the republic
because it was made a partisan
| issue when it was not an. issue at
all! Many of the influential southern
ers were just as ready to free their
slaves as the rabid abolitionists,
heated with emotional fervor, failing
to grasp the economic significance,
were to force them to.
Again, unless cold, calm discus
sion and understanding of the ques-
ton of foreign policy takes place,
we may face another split which,
although it need not mean civil war,
may mean a horrid dislocation Of
our whole political system.
When we went into World War II
after Pearl Harbor, the word ''iso-
lationism" was forgotten. Today it
has come back into our vocabula-
ries and is being batted about, Like
other political footballs, by people
who really don't understand its i'm
plications and are woefully ignorant
Of what dissension it may cause.
| Politicians want to overlook 1t.
They can't. This group Of Repub-
licans, headed by Deneen Watson,
and whole flying squadron of Dem
ocrats, too, are insistent that they
be allowed to ''let the people know"
They are going to speak their
pieces. And the only hope of lifting
this discussion out of partisan poll
tics is settlement out Of court, I"
an agreement by both parties on q
single foreign policy.
Let's get back to that hot and per-
spring day in Washington late last
month when Deneen Watson and
his colleagues from this self-appoint-
ed Republican organization, the Re
publican ''foreign policy associa-
| ton" walked across quiet Lafayette
park opposite the White House and