Evening star., 1943-04-30
Unjust Criticism

is lacking In a proper appreciation of
the war and its meaning. The coun-
try as a whole, the President said,
has a better perspective on the war
and a better sense of proportion
than the National Capital. The peo-
pie generally, he continued, not only
are in the war but also understand
1t. Mr.. Roosevelt contended that this
is not true in the Nations Capital,
that the temper of good part of
Washington is less sober and far less
intelligent than that of other people.
In brief, as the President sees it, the
people of the States are whole
heartedly in this war; Washington,
whatever that all-inclusive term may
mean, Is not.
People throughout the country, no
doubt, like to think of Washington"
as the source of many evils which
beset them. washington" as the
fountain-head of National Govern
ment, always has been and doubtless
will remain a sort of public whipping
boy, and the President caters to that
sentiment when he criticizes wash
ington" in connection with the war
effort.
But whom does he include in his
criticism? His failure to particular
ize in this respect is unfair to the
loyal American citizens of Washing
ton. OF all Americans. they deserve
some special praise. Their draft
quota exceeds that of any one of
sixteen States. They have always
been in the front rank of volunteers.
Their sons are serving everywhere on
the war fronts today. The grim
tidings to next of kin" strike home
here every day. Unlike other Ameri-
cans, they have no voice in the Gov
ernment which sends them to war;
alone, Of all the people of the Nation,
they are denied the fundamental
American principle which couples
arms-bearing with the right of par
ticipation in Government. They live
in the only community of the Nation
which is left without recourse when
libeled by politicians, or misgoverned
by agents selected for them.
1t was announced that as of last
night, the District had exceeded its
quota in the Second War Loan drive
by $1,2e9,71s. And before the cam
paign is over the city's quota will be
exceeded by great deal more than
that. A few weeks ago the Red Cross
was appealing for contributions for
its War Fund. Washington-the
people who live and work here-re-
sponded magnificently. They con-
tributed nearly 20 per cent in excess
OF their quota, and Washington's
record in number of contributors
was better than that of any other
city in its class.
Over at the Naval Hospital grou;,
of Washington men and women ar,
receiving blood donations for the Rex
Cross. They have not found any
evidence of apathy on the part of the
people in the Capital. On the con-
trary, the response of the volunteer
donors-the men and the women who
are Washington-has been so great
that it is now necessary to make
appointments far in advance to
avoid overtaxing the facilities at the
donor center. These are but a few
OF the examples that might be cited
OF the contributions to the war that
are being made each day by thou
sands of people in the Capital City.
At whom, in Washington, are the
Presidents complaints aimed? At
the Congress? It's members repre-
sent every community in America
except Washington. At the scores of
thousands Of young men and women,
brought here to man over-staffed
agencies of Government, made disil-
lusioned and unhappy by lack Of
work to do? At the officials whom
the President has selected to direct
the war machine, critical of one an
other, restive over duplicating tasks
and lack of specific delegation of
authority?
The people of Washington are as
loyal to their country and as under
standing of its needs in this dark
time as the people of any other
community. And it is not fair to
picture them in a less favorable
light through the medium of a
blanket indictment. If the President
has specific criticism to make 1t will
be welcomed. But a proper apprecia-
ton on the Presidents part of what
the people who live here are doing
should serve to put an end to further
criticism which conveys an unfavor-
able impression of Washington to the
country without naming any names,
citing any facts or getting down to
any cases.
Where Leadership Counts
a.