The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09
Election Clarity
BY ERWIN d. CANAAN

The Presidential campaign has taken sur
prisingly definite shape. The nominees are
virtually certain. Barring the totally unex-
Governor Dewey. On the conduct of the war
and on postwar world policy there will be
very little real campaign conflict between
them, despite rhetoric. The issues which
separate them, and will decide voters, will
turn on their respective personalities, charac-
tiers, experience, domestic policies, and sup
porting political parties or groups.
Even the campaign slogans are half-made.
Governor Dewey speaks of tired men, at
the peacemaking, and will, Of course, empha-
size the unprecedented concept of fourth
Presidential term. President Roosevelt or his
friends speak Of "inexperence," seeking to
impress the American people of the risk in
volved in placing the war conduct and vital
world negotiations in the hands of an entirely
united leader.
The final decisive factor will undoubtedly
turn on whether the Nation feels safe enough
to make a change.
There are weighty special forces support
ing both candidates. President Roosevelt runs
as commander-n chief in the midst of a
great war, and that is great advantage. But
he runs at time when millions of young
men will not be able ultimately to vote, and
millions of workers have been uprooted and
will not be registered as voters.
AS for war and postwar policy, the force Of
events has both candidates in its grip 1t
would seem that the plan for conducting the
war has been fixed and is in the hands of the
general staffs While President Roosevelt had
large part in determining this plan, it is
unlikely that Governor Dewey-were he to
be elected-could change the plan either very
soon or very materially. And postwar policy,
whoever is elected, will be determined not by
the President but by the interaction of the
President, the people, and the Congress.
Thus the party behind the President be-
comes of vital importance. Here ambiguity
begins. There are isolatonists, or ex-isola-
tonists, in both parties. Combine the speech
of Governor Dewey last week with a Sec
rotary of State Of the caliber of his present
chief foreign affairs adviser, John Foster
Dulles, and you would have policy fully
as alert cooperative, and informed as that
of the present State Department.
But what of the Republican Party in Con-
gress? Well, there may be G. O. P. House
majority, even if President Roosevelt is re-
elected. More to the point is not a Republican
or Democratic majority, since neither party
is homogeneous on foreign affairs but a SUBJ
stantial numerical majority willing to support
any President in world-co-operative policy
The onus of the 1914 election thus returns
in large measure to individual Congressional
districts. The peace may be won lost
there. And the danger is great. Because the
decision in Confessional districts all too fire.
quently is made on the basis of long service,
or party machine, or patronage, or personal
popularity apart from basic principles. For
example, it is doubtful if the voters of Dutch
ess County, New York, really believe in the
brand Of islationisrn and pro-Fascist propa-
ganda of which Representative Hamilton Fish
was the tool. Yet it is equally doubtful that
they will reject him.
Multiply Mr.. Fish's district by a hundred
or so, and you get the number of Congress-
men who may be able to win reelection with
personal machines, while the political prin-
ciples on which they act are serious men
ace to national policy, whether Republican or
Rooseveltian.
It is not too early-indeed, it is rather
late-to start thinking about these congress
sional fights. Primaries are being held every
week two.
To many, the overall question of President
Roosevelts personal incumbency and the
fourth term will be decisive Yet they should
have care that, by ignoring congressional
contests, they are not sacrificing more than
they seek to gain.-Christian Science Monitor.