The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-10-03
Politics Unclaimed
By ARTHUR KROCK

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27.-UnmiStakable evil
dence has come to the campaign managers
of the two major party candidates that great
many people in this country object, in time
of war; to types of electioneering they tolerate
or even enjoy in peacetime.
There is no longer any doubt that the tone
Of the Presidents first openly political speech
made a bad impression-how widespread of
course, no one can know-on those who thought
the crisis and the sacrifice of youth called for
words that would reflect an appreciation OF
the gravity of these times. And Governor
DeWey's rapid about face from his remark
about the ALLEGATION of supplies to General
Macarthur was clearly in response to public
disapproval of the implication that the Army
and Navy chiefs were either incompetent or
subservient to political or personal prejudices
against this General.
Evidence that these reactions occurred are
to be found in reports to campaign headquar-
tiers from workers in the field, in letters to the
press and in various other channels of public
opinion Probably the surest prospects just
now are: the President will raise the level
OF his future political speeches, paying less
attention to entertainment factors and more
to spiritual ones and Mr.. Dewey will not
again imply that, if elected, he will make a
fundamental change in the strategy which con-
trolls the ALLEGATION of military supply
After Mr.. Dewey, aroused by the scornful
and abusive speech which Mr. Roosevelt made
to the teamsters, turned it against the Demo-
cratic candidate and shrewdly seized the op-
portunity to strike higher key, more in har-
mony with the deep diapason of the war, the
beneficial effects to his cause began to be al
most tangible. Political pulse takers here
were certain that they could feel a new lift
and throb. But not more than few hours
passed before it was suggested that, if it shall
be proved that the President as well as Mr.
Dewey has learned something of the public
temper through these recent experiences, the
organizing politicians do not believe the peo-
pie want them as well as their candidates
to get on higher ground.
The incident that suggested this was pro-
vlded by Mr.. flanagan, chairman of the DEM
ocratic National Committee, in a statement
made this afternoon in New York City, Mr..
flanagan was engaged in the routine peace
time business of getting racial and religious
blocs to support his candidate. According to
The United Press ticker that serves this Of
flee, Mr.. Hannegan accused New York State
Republican Chairman Jackie of anti-Catho-
llc anti Polish sentiments and of association
with the German American Bund' and
said that:
Representative Mruk had been refused en-
dorsement for re election by Jackie be-
cause, according to Mruk he was a Catholic
and OF Polish ancestry. flanagan charged
also that Jackie was attorney for the Ger.
man American Bund in Buffalo, A Buffalo
newspaper, he said, described German Day
celebration In 1887 lin which Jackie appeared
with the Nazi Ambassador
The purpose of this, if the Democratic chair
man was correctly quoted is plain. The so.
called Polish vote is heavy in certain North
eastern and Mid western cities where the
largest State electoral blocs may be lost or
won. This vote is supposed to be inclined to
Mr.. Dewey, who has seemed at times to be
openly angling for it, because the President is
considered too plant to the post war ter.
rltorial ambitions Of Marshal Stain. If, there.
fore. the Poles can be induced to believe that
Mr.. Dewey as President would have an in
innate adviser who is "anti POLISH they
may change their reputed minds.
The accusation that Mr.. Jackie is "anti-
Catholic" is more strategy on the same plane
Voters in areas largely populated by Catholic
families have been reported to headquarters
as cool to Mr.. Roosevelt because of his Soviet
policy and for other reasons. If Mr.. Dewey's
pre- nomination manager can be made to
wear the anti Catholic brand there may be
votes in it which otherwise would 20 else
where.
The part about being attorney for the bund,
and appearing in German Day celebration
with MIR. Dleckhoff, belongs to the strategy
down so many birds. The assumption behind it
is that there are lot of anti fourth termers
in this country who hesitate to vote for Mr..
Dewey because they think he would be under
isolationist influence and bring in with him
persons who had nothing in particular against
Hitler's system. If the manager of his nomina-
ton campaign, who, Mr.. Hannegan says, is to
take over the Republican National Committee.
can be tied in sympathetically with the bund
these people will not vote for his political
protege.
The Republican Champaign is not free of
comparable attempts to range one population
group against another, although thus far it
has the merit of not having officially sponsor
ed positive religious racial appeal Polish
and anti Communist voters have been steadi-
" urged to note that ''all Communists are for
Roosevelt" And there have been references
to opponents being foreign born,' which
are designed to create huge American bloc''
on election day.
Much of this and of what Mr.. Hannegan
mad to say is divisive of national unity and
on the lowest electioneering level. Will the peo.
pie protest such politics as usual, despite
the state OF war, on the part of campaign
managers as well as candidates?
V
so THEY SAY