The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-01

keep my own country from the hor- TOTS of war, I felt the danger-and, feeling the danger, l saw the need for the continued services of the man who was chosen to guide our destiny eight years earlier. It seem- ed to me that it would be a blun- der to make 8 change. President Roosevelt had been engaged in the strengthening of our armed forces he had been closely in touch with the leaders of other nations, with whom we subsequently, became as- sociated as an ally, and he had been constantly engaged, with the leaders of our armed forces, in pre- pairing for a possible war which we had hoped to avoid. It was with a clear feeling in my mind, and with the deepest of convictions, that I supported the candidacy of Presi- dent Roosevelt for 8 third term.
 And having broken the tradition because of the situation then exist ing. it seems to me quite out of place to consider change at this time - at this perilous time as we pass the peak of the most horri- ble war in history with victory seemingly close at hand.
 Under the leadership of Presi- dent Roosevelt, with admitted faults and mistakes which are necessar- fly a part of war, we have built the greatest fighting machine in his- tory. We have created a record of industrial production that will be looked upon as near miracle as we come to the afterglow of this war. We have not only perfected our own forces, but we have provided the food and the munitions of war so desperately needed by our allies. Of course there have been extrava- gances, and waste, and little con- fusion. There have been incon- veniences. and differences of view point. But all of these things are a part of war. War turns everything upside down. War is waste and in war mistakes are unavoidable.
 I do not believe that any Ameri- can in sober thought would change the procedure if he were afforded the opportunity. I do not believe that a single one among us would be unwilling to make further sacri- fees if he thought he could pro- vide a particle more of protection and support to these lads who are offering to give all that men can give their lives in the service of their country. In the foxholes of the Pacific Islands - under the brutal equatorial sun on the en- emy infested waters all over the world - and in the air, and under the sea American boys of every racial extraction have abandoned the comforts of life and substituted the hell of war. They do this in protection of their country, and in the determined effort to rosters and maintain freedom, and to bring back to the little people of the world the dignity which God gave man. kind.
 I offer no word of condemnation against those opposed to the view I hold - and no v2ry great criti- cism of the Republican candidates. I do say, however. that if the re- election of President Roosevelt does mean the shortening of the war even little bit, and does give us a better chance for an early and enduring peace, that it would be a blunder to make the change.
 The world looks to us to provide leadership. The Saddened little peo- pie on every continent are pinning their hopes upon the United States and as they think of the United States they look towards President Roosevelt. They see in us, through