The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-24
By wEsTBROOK PEGLER

CHICAGO, - Robert R. Mccormick the edl-
tor and proprietor Of the Chicago Tribune is
raising generous quantities OF something which
in these regions is known as unshirted he'll
term whose precise meaning eludes me, over
the fourth term, the third second and first
terms, our foreign relations, the foul intent OF
Henry Wallace to sovietize this fair land OF
ours the intrusion of the British in our domes-
tic politics, Marshal Fields intrusion in local
morning journalism and Mrs. Roosevelt's in
trusion in everything. Colonel Mccormick is
patriotic almost to the point of frenzy and he
has been giving the new deal and its people
and it's blatherskite press magnificent past
ing at their own style of fighting which is
strictly Pier g. They don't like it. They think
he fights dirty but the real trouble is that he
lets them make the rules and then stands
flat-footed and rips the belly right out of them.
This is one Of those historic journalistic
scraps and, while nobody can have any way of
knowing the extent of McCormick's influence
and following, it would be silly to think that he
speaks only for himself in his isolationism
his suspicion Of Soviet Russia and OF those
who disparage the Bill of Rights and the
mighty ability of the free United States to
maintain a superior position after this war.
There is more isolationism and stronger
popular feeling of national independence in
this area than you will sense along the East
ern Seaboard and although, to some degree
this is native to the region, unquestionably
it has been whipped up by Mr. Mccormick
and in the face of bitter and often nasty op-
position. He has been called Fascist by Mr..
Wallace who has taken an active part in the
development of controls lifted right out OF the
book of Mussolini, for printing and preaching
in strident alarm and anger his furious faith
in the integrity, strength and future of his own
country. He is the. most violent fighter for
these things in American journalism at this
crucial time and some of his blows shock
even those who mildly agree with him be-
cause he has no more personal respect for
the President or Mrs. Roosevelt than the ad-
ninistration and its press have for him and
Tom Dewey, for example. II it is smear that
the other side wants to play, then all right,
Mr.. Mccormick will play smear too, but for
keeps He bars none of them, in print or on
the air and when they call him tory, which
means traitor he yells communist, which
means traitor too, and other epithets as
rough.
Actually, Mr.. Mccormick has not been
caught in sympathy with Fascism least Of
all with foreign Fascists. He is an economic
aristocrat beyond doubt, even as the Roose'
velts who have never taken the trouble to re-
veal the original source of the family fortune
which, after several generations, still exceed
ed one million dollars including $4,000 in
war bonds, when the Presidents mother died
a couple of years ago. He is imperious and
commanding in his personal bearing and has
been persuaded from childhood that this is g
better nation than Great Britain, Russia and
Germany and that any alliance between the
u. S. A. and Britain should be made on our
: terms with Britain in the inferior position and
as favor to Britain not to us.
5 Marshall Field, in his fumbling Chicago ex-
pertinent which only now is beginning to de
; velop firm outlines under the management Of
newspapermen, has tried to heckle him ane
) Mccormick might have been wiser to let him
: be. But he cannot ignore brick or spitbal
from any quarter and he has turned from
other fights with more formidable opponents
to slug Field with some of the most ferocious
cartoons and editorials of the age. Not ever
$ the foulest guttersnipe of the new deal press
has been beneath his notice and he stands his
ground for his beliefs, quoting history, law
and the Constitution between snarling dia
tribes against the whole economic, social anc
j. political program and purpose OF the Roose
n welt government and its stowaway socialist:
and communists and discount-patrlots IN {
> colossal brawl that RACES all up and down the
e Middle West. Nobody could ever call MIN popu
: lar for his personality is not winsone put the
man can fight and the worst that can be sale
of him in this battle is that he has not hesltatee
to adopt every dirty method used against MIN
4 and use it with superior cleverness ana force
/. -V
r Three-fourths of the United States is flat
" until March Is.
higher wages and shorter hours. more oougn
rsS,I 1~I Lass Nf