Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-11-13

OF such a program and could Do
considered a mandate TO con-
tinue.
But Mr.. Dewey advocated
complete cooperation with
other nations TO insure a lasting
peace.
IF THE Republican candidate
i had advocated the abandon.
ment of the social legislation OF
the last 20 or 30 years, such as
old age pensions. the right OF
labor TO organize and deal col,
lectively with employers, the
responsibility Of government To
see that our economic system
provides jobs for all who wish
TO work. there would have been
a test Of policy. But in these
matters his attitude was at least
as forward looking as that OF
the President.
In no issue In this campaign
was there any difference in pol.
icy between the two parties and
between the candidates, except
that of the simplification and
ordering of the national admin
istration, and the injection into
II Of new and vital leadership
Possibly never before in a
presidential election have the
two major parties been more IN
agreement on ends 10 be gained.
The real issue was simply. who
was TO sit at the head Of our
government and lead US 10 the
achievement Of what both par
ties agreed was wanted?
AS TO the election being a
"A mandate for constitutional
revision or social revolution. let
il be noted that the American
political system recognizes that
politics and law fall into two
distinct categories.
One involves matters of ordi-
nary statute making and its adj
ministration: the other. the
fundamental or constitutional
order of government.
Congress and the President
have full and unhampered au-
thority and competence in the
conduct OF the established func-
tons OF government. both IN
peace and in war.
They legislate and administer
by simple majority decision, In
the other tegory. legal
changes are possible only by ac-
ton OF extraordinary ma orlties =
two-thirds OF the members oS
Congress and ratification by
three-fourths OF the states.
The object OF this constitu-
tional difference is not merely 10
protect against hurried. passion
ate. or ill-considered action. but
also 10 safeguard the minorities
in the states and in the nation
against the alteration or i'm
pairment OF their constitutional
rights and liberties. except by
an overwhelming expression Of
national will.
The matters involved in this
category are questions of funda-
mental policy and law and
might be indicated as an cleo
toral mandate" If provided by
an extraordinary majority.
THUS there is no evidence
L that the American people
have given a mandate to the
President, because there were,
in fact, no differences in matter
of policy involved. Never in
our history have we been more
solid in agreement as 10 policy.
There is no support for the
argument that. in this election
a majority of our people voted
in favor of changing our form
Of government TO that which is
advocated by the American
Communist group or other left
wings.
| doubt that even a small
minority Of those who voted for
Mr.. Roosevelt would accept
such an Interpretation.
Nor can the results of the
election be construed as a VIC
tory of state socialism over
private control OF our economic
system.
AS a result of the campaign
Mr.. Roosevelt stated very
clearly that he believed that
our future lies in the expansion(
and prosperity of private enterl
prise. This may be a change
in his attitude. but il was
stated positively. and brough9
his program into line with Mr.. \
Dewey's.
So. without any important
issue al stake. there can be no
mandate. The only possible
conclusion TO be drawn Is that
a ma jority of Americans did not
want a change and reorganiza.
ton Of our administrative
structure in the midst of the
war.