The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-07-11
The Political Issue of 1914?

The Political Issue of 1914?
The people of Waterbury and the en-
tire nation will vote this fall. Yet there
is decided indifference toward the COM
ing fall elections on the part Of the aver
age voter, due to his preoccupation with
more immediate war matters; but there
is no indifference on the part of the aver
age candidate, or would-be-c candidate, nor
on the part of the party leaders. Such is
natural, as no sane man scornS his bread
and butter.
Yet, more than in any other election
year, there is prevalent, in these days of
1914, political atmosphere which is akin
to mystery, yet when analysed Is not &C
tually a mystery. It's tone of the obscure
arises mainly from the fact that there
is lacking-of all things In an election
year-an issue.
An issue is very important part Of
political campaign. In fact, it is the one
commodity Of campaigner. Having no
issue in an election year Is similar to
getting all dressed up-without shirt;
something radically important Is missing.
You have to have an issue; even If you
have to repair to your political laboratory
and create one with pieces of wood, glue
and wire-and in many instances that is
Just what will be done this year.
Any issue that the Republican party
may take against the Democrats this
year Is of ponderable nature for the
attempted prosperity fostered by the New
Deal, for the past twelve years, based on
the operations Of the WPA, PWA, CCC,
etc., has become fact, not as result OF
these stimulating agencies, but because
the JapS and Pearl Harbor made 1t So
offoaEc hU the Re-
publicans on the past so-called fragrant
blunderS of the New Deal are comparable
to flogging dead horse, for those blund-
ers are things of dead era and the pres
erlt is here, and no one actually knows the
future.
The Democrats, on the other hand, can
take up few issues with the g. 0. P. ad-
herents simply because the former has for
the past twelve years been of the opinion
that the latter should have been, If not
already so, relegated to the Smithsonian
institute. AS result there can be little
carping criticism of the actions Of some
one who literally has been confined to an
existence of political celibate.
There is, undoubtedly, the forceful
weight Of the unions, in so far as ma
tional election is concerned; yet unions
have few issues against the Republicans
for they can refer only to past abuses be-
yond the date of twelve years ago and IN
doing so they cannot avoid the fact that
Democratic administrations of that era
remember?-did no more for nor acted
less against the aims of these unions. It
Is only natural, on the other hand, that
they will continue their support Of the
present administration because what
child wouldn't toward generous foster
parent?
Therefore with no pertinent issues, 1t
seems likely that what issues will come
from the political laboratories on both
sides will deal strictly with personalities
and if such be the case, you can expect
all down the line-Some dirty campaign
ing.
It may be the final years of the pres
ent dynasty now in Washington, and If
such be the case there is going to be a
tremendous grabbing for the wagon
hooks-to climb on. On the other hand,
a good many optimists Of the opposition
may figure that this is their year, If not
nationally, at least within a specific To-
Gale, and the hook-grabbing will be as
great on that particular wagon.
This is a stalemate political year. The
old issues are dead and any new ones are
Of the future; which none of us actually
knows about What is there to be offered
by the candidate of 1914?
We have said here that the average vot-
er is indifferent; we do not mean indif-
ferent in the sense of apathy, but indif-
ferent in the sense of preoccupation with
q terrible consciousness of the epic Strug-
gle of war being engaged in by his sons
and loved ones. It has saturated his daily
living and has become the thought upper
most in his mind.
IN relation to the welfare of the ma
ton this is regrettable. Yet, lacking an
issue, the human and perspicaciouS po-
litical candidate of 1914 who foresees this
condition can aptly offer to the people
sage and stable policy of guarding their
domestic affairs during these war years.
This is but the second time in the his
tory Of this nation that the people have
been asked to vote in presidential cleo
ton In the midst of war. The only
other time was during Lincoln's admin
istration. The people then judged wisely
and well, as they have in the majority Of
Instances.
IN view Of all this, there seems to be
but one fundamental issue during this
gear Of 1044-a common-sense vote by
She people.