The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-26
BY wEsTBROOK PEGLER

NEW YORK,-A studious observation Of the
controversies of the last few years in our
country bring it home to me that we no longer
debate, if we ever did In my time, but con-
fine ourelves to claim, or boast and accusa-
ton. That is to say, in an ancient political
phrase, we point with pride and view with
alarm. But seldom even in Congress, are is
sues actually debated.
A new deal orator or journalist will say,
for example, that President Roosevelt is a
great friend of labor and cite the Wagner
act as proof of his militant love for the work
ing man. He presumes that it will be conceded
that the Wagner act is all that he says it is.
Other men and women, Of contrary opinion,
might like to argue that this law is dangerous
to labor, meaning the people who work for
wages, although great boon to the profession
al organizer and union politician and to the
New Deal party.
But the question is never debated. head-on
The new dealer makes his claim in the course
of speech or acticle and rushes on to insist
that therefore Mr.. Roosevelt should have the
workers votes.
The one who insists that the Wagner act
deliberately exposes workers to oppression,
exploitation and intimidation by the union
and that behind it all is a cunning scheme
to hitch labor in chains to Mr.. Roosevelt S
chariot, does so in another form, over another
hookup or in another publication The point
is that they never meet in public, whether
on platform or printed page and argue the
issues in detail, speaking strictly to the SUBJ
ject as Huey Long used to say.
In that form oratory which passes for
debate, Huey was a master, himself. For
that matter, he was a great debater in the
true meaning OF the word, as good lawyers
agreed who heard his argument before t n e
1882 Democratic convention. But In speaking
to the whole public, Huey actually won over
multitudes by showing contempt for their IN
telligence. Thus, in one Grafton over the air
he got his best effect by smearing Hugh john
son as a chocolate soldier who had never
snapped a cap. This was unfair and irrele-
want It was unfair because everyone who knew
Johnson knew he was not dandy, or choco-
late soldier but downright slovenly and that one
of the great disappointments of his life in the
Army had been his inability to get overseas
with command. But the whole reference
had absolutely nothing to do with the subject
under discussion.
In one of big Bill Thompson's campaigns
in Chicago rather austere opponent who had
been sticking to the issues patiently and con-
scient1ously in an effort to arouse the people
to intelligent consideration, found all his earn
est presentation offset by Thompsons ribal-
dry Thompson said his opponent had egg on
his necktie, which may have been true, but
still had no bearing on the subject. Finally,
Thompson's opponent let fly with a roar one
night that Bill had the hide of rhinoceros
and the brain of babboon. That vowed them,
although it did not win for him. But it touched
Thompson more than anything else that had
been said of him in the campaign
I have been told that southern senator
first won his seat by campaigning in an old
Model-T flivver in misfit clothes and waving
at the crowds bill of fare from one Of the
expensive Washington hotels which listed such
1xuries as cavier at So portion and steak
81 S8 for four He would explain that caviar
was lust nothing but fish eggs and imported
from red Russia at that, and point out that
honest. God-fearing people, were lucky to sell
COW. on the hoof for So. I am not sure that
he was selling out his constituents to ''the
interests so as to be able to buy imported
fresh eggs at So an ounce. The whole idea was
one of suggestion. The successful candidate
incidentally, is a man who has been noted for
his fastidious dress and luxurious living in
Washington in the years since he was first
elected.
During the convention of the two big par
ties in Chicago, many speakers sounded off
on MANY subjects, promising or condemning
! But the only possibly way to weigh the opposing
claims and charges was to wait until h e
Democrats we're through and then go back
over the text in the papers which, OF course
nobody did Not word was said in defense
or answer in either convention. Every speaker