The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1944-08-24
THE GREAT
GAME OF
POLITICS
By FRANK K. KENT.

Copyright by The Baltimore Sun and
reprinted in The Republican by per-
mission.
THERE OUGHT to be some kind of
clear understanding in this campaign
as to when Mr.. Roosevelt must be
treated as Commander in Chief of the
army and navy and when he can be
treated as a candidate for reelection
to a fourth term in the White House,
Not to have that understanding gives
him a protection to which he is not
entitled and which is unfair.
1888
AS A CANDIDATE Mr.. Roosevelt's
record and Mr.. Roosevelt himself are
legitimate objects of attack. There
are things Mr.. Roosevelt has done
and things he is doing which should
be exposed and for which he should
be held personally responsible. Yet,
when he wraps his COMMANDMENTS
Chief cloak about him and departs on
some mysterious journey, in pur-
suance, as he declares, of my con-
stitutional duties" there is natural
reluctance upon the part Of the OPP
position to assail him. This is not
only because he might be doing some
thing of great Importance Though
that by no means has always been
the case) but also because of the case
with which his assailants could be
put on the defensive and the clever
ness with which it could be main
tanned that small-minded politicians
attack him at home while he, as the
Commander in Chief, with no thought
save winning the war, operates on a
plane high above politics.
1853
THERE ARE things that should be
understood about these Commanders
in-Chief campaign trips in pursuance
of my constitutional duties.' One is
that they permit Mr.. Roosevelt to
move around under a veil of secrecy
so thick that the full story of where
ne mas pech ana what ne mas oooe
never IS reVca''d' ENen'uaIE' upon
his return, the American people get
what lIllorma''on ne 'n''lNS lheE
Shoulo gel O'''N inc picked repre-
SentatlVeS or the 'hrec press SCI
vices accompany him and by the time
theE are Tree TO write what really
happened 1t Is no longer news ana
IN any event. would not ne written
III a way th' PRESIDENT would greatly
oSllKe' ms Is III contrast with ME-
hooSeNc''" opponent VINO Is con-
SldlltlE ATTENDED oN ioFlE-odd news
papeIhleh' quite lew OF lheho nos
tlie'
ANOTHER THING that should be
understood is that Mr.. Roosevelt,
travelling as Commander in Chief,
also travels as Presidential candi-
cent trip he took time out on his way
10 'he racine coast 10 avert ms
Tram TO CillcaEo' "hete as cdl'dl-
date ne conferred with Democratic
Nhalfhlah hopPrl 'la''hegah ana
oCheFS' Oh purely PoH'Ical oat'efN'
Two Gays later at west coast
naval paSe' ne maze MS speech &C
cepIhg tIle OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES maze II
DIS commander III CilI'l III pursuance
OF my CONSTITUTIONAL dutleS' "A thlrd
thlhg that Shoulo ne understood Is
mat on IheSe Trips MY hooSeVelt'
whether on land or on sea- whether
III thlS country OF some other' Is
never out OF communication WIN ms
AIDES polltlcal or executive, Is always
kept informed Oh polltlcal develop
mehtS, Is always aple TO ADVISE or
decide frequently orders and mes
SageS from MN ehlaIate from the
Nhlle houSe Wheh ne Is many miles
away
$50
A FOURTH thing that should be
understood is that this dual role of
Commander in Chief and candidate
Is a piece of coldly calculated politi-
cal strategy. 1t is upon it that rei-
ance is placed by the elements behind
Mr. Roosevelt to keep him in the
White House for four more years,