Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1944-02-11

ever since the war began. Nor
does the method of sending up
the trial balloon with the "it has
been reliably reported" technic,
but failing to name names, give
the proposal any weight.
From what has already ap-
peared. the entire story smacks
of political propaganda in which
the wish is father to the thought
that there be no 1914 elections,
because there is no one who can
stop Roosevelt.
Unity, the number one point
in the propaganda, is pure bunk,
a point on which Mr.. Roosevelt
will probably disagree. After all,
nobody can sell the idea Of hold
ing off the elections until next
year unless the President agrees.
And just in case you re in doubt
about it, Mr.. Roosevelt can be
reelected this year if he wants
his fourth term, and who thinks
he doesn't?
WHO GAINS?
Obviously, somebody will gain
if the political status quo is per-
mitted to continue. Perhaps the
Willkie-Dewey battle can be set
tied between now and 1945. Per-
haps there are good political rea-
sons in the minds of those un-
named Democrats who are claim
ed to be favorably inclined to
holding off with elections until
1916; but the ones who stand to
gain the most are the big busi-
ness interests and the reaction
aries who are not to unhappy
with the present congressional
setup.
Our present congress has been
a boon to the big business inter-
ests and a terrific pain in the
neck to the workers. The record
of the present congress is proof
that it has been willing at all
times to do the bidding of the
big interests and to oppose the
interests Of the workers and
plain people. By its acts of COM
mission and omission, congress
has put labor in a spot where it
is aware of the fact that its fu-
ture is at stake for many years
to come.
WHAT HAPPENS?
What other reasons could
there be for seeking to defer the
1914 elections Certainly, if Mr..
Roosevelt is elected for his
fourth term he is bound to carry
a larger majority favorable to
him into office than h. now pos
sesses in congress.
For its own part, big business
is content with the present con-
gress. All big business wants
now is an adminitration that will
listen to reason, plus the pres
ent stupid reactionaries now
serving in congress. Big business
is contented with it's Rameys and
Weichels and Tafts and Smiths
it merely wants another Hard
ing.
ALARM
Now that it is apparent that
Mr.. Roosevelt cannot be stopped;
now that labor is developing a
political unity which is alarming
to the ones who fear l-bor unity;
now that the Republicans are
fighting about who is going to
succeed Mr.. Roosevelt in the
White House, the brighter tories
see wisdom in holding off the
1914 elections,
Had the President advanced
the idea, the press of the coun-
try would have torn him to
pieces; but since the idea obvi-
ously originated with those who
stand to gain the most by defer
ing the elections, the press of the
country avidly grasps at the
straw and hopes it will serve as
a raft.
After ALL the smart thing to
do, according to these unnamed
patriots, is to wait a year to hold
the presidential election. Maybe
by that time Dewey can be built
up into a real possibility and the
present congress will have slip
ped In a few more good licks
against labor.
WHAT ABOUT LABOR?
Is labor going to hold still for
the deferred election idea? |
doubt it. Labor is looking for
ward to the 1914 elections with
a great deal of anticipation.
Labor is out for political scalps
this year and will probably get
some. Reaction, anti-labor legis-
lation, a hostile press and other
irritants have served to unite la
Dor as it has not been united for
a long time.
Ny guess is that labor is not
going to agree to any deferment
of the 1914 elections and that
Mr.. Roosevelt is going to oppose
the idea, but for a different set
Of reasons. 1t looks to me like
the Republicans and poll tax
Democrats are frightened and
that some of them are going to
receive the political walloping in
1914 which they SO richly de-