Evening star., 1944-06-12

"SPoAdtcu VIEWS as 10 the
efect upon the subsequent CAM
paign. But those differences are a
matter Of degree. There is entire
agreement on the basic fact that
the Republican convention and the
Republican cause have been done no
good. There is no way by which
they can benefit. That much is
sure. The fact, of course, is that
the war is the great Republican
handicap of 1914.
Ii there were no war, Mr.. RooSe-
velt would not be candidate be-
cause he could not be elected. If
there were no war there would be
no vestige of excuse for a fourth
term candidacy. If there were no
war there would be no argument
about not changing horses while
crossing the stream" and no politi-
cal capitalization of the position of
Commander In Chief. If there were
no war there would be nothing to
stem the undoubted trend of the
country against the administration
and the New Deal, manifested in so
many elections since 1910. The
most recent manifestation was last
Tuesday when the Republicans
elected a Congressman In a New
York City district that had been
Democratic for Is years. 1t was
one of many.
Politics Secondary.
But, there Is war and now it
seems-and everybody hopes-to be
going very well. And, it reaches
its grand climax just before the
Republicans convene to pick their
candidate and adopt a platform. If,
as, of course, was not the case, the
invasion had been especially de-
signed to diminish national interest
in these things, it could hardly have
been better timed 1t is impossible
fully to hold national attention for
a political convention with the peo-
pie as a whole SO eager for war bull
letins that they demand newspapers
faster than they can be printed and
keep their ears literally glued to
the radio. In all probability, that
will be their condition when the
Republicans meet on June 26.
Clearly it Is not a particularly
felicitous position. Denunciation of
the President and indictment of
his management of home affairs
are bound to fall little fiat in the
midst of the terrific clash of our
armies with the German armies.
IT will be more difficult for the con-
vention orators to make eloquent
speeches, harder to ring the bell'
while the outcome of this historic
engagement is still in doubt. On
the other side, the Rome victory
and the invasion are undoubtedly
assets for Mr.. Roosevelt. While, of
course, it is not charged that they
were framed with political purpose,
it is certainly true that that speech
or the fall of Rome was well cal
culated to soothe both Italian
Americans and Catholics, while his
prayer delivered the night after the
invasion was unquestionably more
effective than any campaign speech
in normal times would have been.
Further, should in the next five
weeks, as all hope, the victory be
gained by our forces, the enthu-
siasm of the Democratic convention
which meets on July 10, would be
great, indeed. Even if victory has
not been gained by that time, the
conditions would strengthen the ar
gument for the denomination of Mr..
Roosevelt 1t is no easy situation
for the Republicans to deal with,
but it is not altogether without COM
pensation. For one thing, it should
persuade them generally of the
necessity for unity and intelligence
1t ought to result in the selection
of the best possible ticket and the
adoption of the best possible plat
form. 1t ought to insure against
mistakes both of commission and
omission. Certainly, it will be es-
sential for the Republicans to make
their declaration not only for the
prosecution of the war but for the
postwar international cooperation,
clear cut, forceful and unequivocal
1t is the sort of situation that rules
out pussyfooting and trimming. 1t
is the sort of situation in which the
opposing party has to come clean.
Possible COP Chance.
If then, the victory over Germany
is complete before November (and
such is the confident belief of our
military authorities) the Republi-
cans, with a first-class ticket and a
f1rSt-clasS platform would be in
fine position to appeal to the coun-
try. They could argue more force
fully that the war being virtually
over, change in administration is
not only desirable but necessary fol