Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-11
Presidents Trip Seen
As Bad craftsmanship
Visit to Hawaii Has All Earmarks
OF Political Journey, Says Writer


Visit to Hawaii Has All Earmarks
OF Political Journey, Says Writer
By David Laurence.
President Roosevelts trip to the Pa
cific would appear to have been q gross
improperly Is we'll as an instance Of
bad craftsmanship in campaign.
For however much the trip may be
camoufiaged to appear as an inspection
trip by the Commander in Chief" it has
all the earmarks Of political journey
designed to influence votes both over
seas and in the United States.
The opposing nominee, Gov. Dewey.
has no such facilities for addressing the
troops and 1t would have been In much
better taste II, after the recent discus
sion Of how the Commander in Chief"
title is being intermingled with that
OF presidential nominee, Mr.. Roosevelt
had decided to forego his trip to Hawaii.
There was nothing urgent about the
trip. 1t could just as well have been
made after the political campaign was
- eAASAV AAdS bCC1 ally IChl Hlll-
tsry purpose in the trip that is, If it
had been carried on as proper function
OF the commander in chief, then both
Gen. Marshal and Admiral King should
have been at the conferences and Ger
tain individuals in Mr.. Roosevelt's en-
tourage should have been excluded from
any place on the cruiser which carried
the party to Hawaii.
Not Operating Commander.
The impression sought to be given
was that the President Is carrying on
the military strategy of the war. To
bring Gen. Macarthur to Hawaii is, of
course, spectacular, but it may be seri-
ously questioned what right the Presi-
dent had to discuss any matters of
strategy with Gen. Macarthur.
Mr.. Roosevelt is not the operating
commander Of our armed services. This
duty is delegated to the joint chiefs of
staff. 1t is Just as improper for the
President to be holding military con-
ferences with Cen Macarthur and Ad-
miral Nimitz as 1t would be for Gen
Macarthur and Admiral Nimitz to come
to Washington and hold conferences
with the subordinates Of Gen. Marshall
and Admiral King.
1t may we'll be asked why Judge
Rosenman, the Presidents own politi-
cal and personal counsellor, accom-
panied him on the trip. Judge Rosen-
man Is very able and likable per-
sonality. but he is in no way connected
with military operations in this war. 1t
may be suspected that he went along
to help the President prepare some Of
his political campaign statements for
future use. which would not be improper
II the President had stayed in CONT
mental United States.
In wartime when the President uses
the United States Navy to transport
him to an important military base such
as Hawaii is today, it should be taken
for granted that only military reasons
would carry him to such a destination.
The presence Of other than military
men on board will give rise to the i'm
preston that the President was not
making just military journey.
There will be some who will also oues-
ton whether Mr.. Roosevelt, as a. presi-
Dental nominee, should be addressing
troops or sailors during this campaign.
He made seven extemporaneous speeches.
Soldier Voting Law.
The soldier voting law Is specific in
prohibiting any person in the executive
branch Of the Government from saving
anything which could possibly affect the
result OF the election. The statute says:
1T shall be unlawful for any officer
OF or person employed in the executive
branch of the Federal Government or
any agency or department thereof, in
Guiding the Army and Navy, to deliver
or cause to be delivered to persons in
the armed forces of the United States
any general communication con-
tanning political argument or politica!
propaganda Of any kind designed or CAL
culated to affect the result of any cleo
ton for President, Vice President,
presidential elector. etc"
The War Department is very busily
engaged in splitting hairs over the Ian
guage of the soldier voting law from
which the above extract was taken and
is barring bona fde publications from
reaching the troops. But it may be
doubted whether anybody in the War
Department will dare to raise a cues
ton about Improperly of a President
addressing troops while he is a presi-
| dental nominee
The American people. however, will
raise the question and the presidential
trip to Hawaii may prove a boomerang
rather than an asset when the full
meaning of the trip is digested by the
| public
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