The Wilmington morning star., 1944-09-30
Contrasting Reports

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Contrasting Reports
In another column on this page Westbrook
Pegler all but gives President Roosevelt the
count. The article is not unbiased. Instead,
it is shot through with Dewey partisanship
and the style is devoid Of kindness. 1t is an
outstanding characteristic Of Pegler that he
is either about for or equally about against
the subject or person he discusses. He knows
nothing Of a middle-of-the-way course or at
least, he never travels it and so lays himself
open to charge Of being prejudiced with
consequent loss Of prestige among wide cir
Gle of readers.
In a safe and sounder vein, Arthur Krock
Of the New York Times staff writing Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's talk before the Transfers
Union and Governor Dewey's reply, surnma-
rizes the opinions of Washington observers
whom he calls experts, and analyses their
varying positions and the political situation
His summary:
I. In his opening speech. Mr.. Roosevelt
not only changed Mr.. DeWey's position
from one of attack to one of defense but
very effectively assumed for himself the
role Of attacker.
g. But in so doing, the President was
obliged to forego the emphasis on himself
as Commander in Chief in wartime and
stress his identity as a candidate for Of
flee and for reelection.
g. Mr. Dewey instantly and impressibely
took advantage Of this. and by returning
to attack, again put Mr.. Roosevelt on the
defensive, as a candidate and not as Com
mander in Chief.
4. The vigor Of his reply also created
for the first time a winning psychology
in Mr.. Dewey's corner, where gloom had
been dominant because of previous speech
es of the candidate in which he adopted
the legislative instruments as well as the
detectives of the New Deal.
His explanation and analysis, the more inter-
esting for its dispassionate handling in view
of the Presidents known antipathy for him,
is in striking contrast to Pegler's hamboyant
outburst, even though, to some extent they
arrive at similar conclusions. We quote:
Those who expressed agreement with this
summary as a purely scientific finding-not
in conformity with their desires in many in
stances-see the Republican candidate as hav-
ing the better Of the exchange. They do not
know if that is accurate; no one knows ex-
cept those individual voters whose minds are
open to change. They do not know whether.
short OF Burchard incident voters are ever
influenced by speeches or campaign develop
ments to transfer their support in numbers
sufficient to bring about a result contrary to
the disposition of the majority before cam
paign begins.
ton come to their conclusions only through
observation, experience and feel. But they are
'eten right, and that is why their reports may
have value and be worth recording.
In 1896 and in 1910, it was noted, both Alt
M. Landon and Wendell L. Willkie tried re-
peatedly and vainly to get the President into
the partisan bull-ring by October. Now he is
in it, though much more because he yielded
to advice that he do so than because of any
thing that was being said or done by the
Republicans in their campaign His thought
was to keep the emphasis on himself as Com
mander-in-chief decline to campaign in the
usual partisan manner, and make only one
or two political speeches-very dignified and
in consonace with these solemn times-toward
the very end of the campaign.
He changed his mind and his tactics, and
surprisingly early. Mr.. Roosevelt also sue
cumbed to his relish for the clever, satirical
and scornful political literature which he de-
livered so effectively to the teamsters last
Saturday night. after Playwright Robert E.
Sherwood and Judge Samuel Rosenman.
among others, had concentrated on the draft
their exceptional talents for this type OF
product.
But in so doing he had to descend from
the high ground he chose for himself, and Mr..
Dewey can be expected to try to keep him
from regaining it. The Presidents emphasis
on his identity as Commander in Chief has
been a source of continuous vocal complaint
and private grief to the Republicans. The
Democrats who counseled Mr.. Roosevelt to
start his campaign thus early, and make the
speech he did, failed to realize, until Mr..
Dewey answered him, that he may now find
lit very difficult to resume his original tone
and tactic. Today many of them, aided by
hindsight appeared to realize that possibility .
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Victory Fleet
This war; like any other war is battle