Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-09-15
FAIR
ENOUGH
BY Westbrook {
Peqler

~ Gov. Dewey's arrival in the
corn belt was synchronized with
the annual encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic.
now reduced TO ID ancient and
feeble warriors but reinforced
with a formidable array of de-
scendants. mostly distaff. who
seem determined TO carry on
even unto generations whose
very parents are as yet unborn.
They are intensely patriotic
Americans of unlmpeachable
tradition and type, and guard
ians Of the flag. the public
school and the hearth.
The Civil War veterans,
themselves. and their comrades,
IN their time, were pressure
group who plainly said they de-
served rewards for saving the
nation and. TO candidate cam
paigning for the presidency IN
1914, the few trembling old men
were a reminder of a problem
soon 10 be faced by the next
man in the White House.
That problem. Of itself will
he bad enough but, as the first
half OF this war ends in Europe,
IT Will be complicated by new
one, probably equal in size.
DOR, this time, under a habit
L of mind and spirit fostered
by the Roosevelt government. il
IS argued. and apparently con-
coded. that the civilians who
find themselves out of jobs
when reconversion starts. also
Will deserve public support for
a period not yet determined.
II has even been proposed 4
that civilians be transported, |
free. with their families and
possessions TO places where jobs
are available and, if the benefit
program of the Communists in
the Go is developed in the
usual way, there will be further
agitation for pensions for war
workers as veterans -otthe -
home front.
This is said 10 be favorable
territory for Gov. Dewey. The
state IS Republican and he is
popular IN proportion 10 the
unpopularlty. m a farm state.
OF the CIO-Communist alliance
=oiAihe= Industrial areas with TtS
naturallzed but unaSSmilated
European preachers OF contempt
Tor the American system.
His reception was good if not
tumuliuous. most people nova
days being engaged in work.
and the state Republican leaders
were eXuberant.
ONE interesting development
~ which most OF them seem
10 have overlooked was an edi-
torial IN the Des MONIES Regis
ter OF Sunday in which one ~
the strongest supporters Of
Wendell Willkie. after conSid-
cradle boxing with the idea,
came 10 the conclusion that:
The enormous gain Of reilly
getting a sound International
policy put above narrow parti-
sanship calls urgently for
Dewey's election"
InaSmuch az Mr.. Willkie APP
peared 10 repudlate Mr.. RooSe-
welt last week n ar essay about
the defeated League Of Nations,
this might mean that Willkie
VIII in turn throw such support
aS he may possess 20 A man for
whom he has shown no personal 4
friendship.
Although in his Philadelphia
speech Dewey said. "Of course
we need relief when there are
not enough jobs and hurried
on by, that was necessary con-
ccSSlon TO 4 frame Of mind and
condition OF spirit which. in the
last II years, has changed en-
tirely the relationship Of the
American citizen to his govern
ment.
II cannot be reversed abruptly
and any candidate who tried 70
repudiate unemployment PEN
sions outright. though deprecat-
ing the dole system, would only
defeat himself.
THE proposition that the gov
l. eminent owes the citizen a
living out of the public treasury
in certain circumstances, con-
stantly enlarged. has become a
fixed idea with millions and the
counter proposition that the
citizen surrenderS something OF
his personal and political free
dom for every such benefit has
been Scotfed down as the cyni-
clSm of the greedy.
Dewey's alternative. as re-
vealed thus far is his cry Of
Jobs, jobs. Jobs" and his de-
nunclatlon of the dole as A de-
grading device both spiritually
within the recipient, and exter-
nally IN his increasing obligation
10 the ruling party for its kind
ness.
No president to date has con-
fronted the tasks that will greet
the next one soon after inaup1l-