The Wilmington morning star., 1945-08-12
Second Thoughts
On Churchill
BY PETER LYME

-Sportsmanship has a big part IN
the British makeup. So it isn't surprising that
the British people, who gave their great war
leader Winston Churchill such hard beating
at the polls, have since been according him
many an affectionate second thought.
Reactions from abroad have suggested that
the British must be rather an ungenerous lot
and maybe unWiSe to overthrow such an
outstanding leader. But there were plenty OF
folk in Britain who never could understand
why any American could want to vote against
Roosevelt.
Britains affectionate second thoughts about
Churchill are not to be interpreted as regret
at having overwhelmingly voted Labor into
mower. On the contrary, there are persons who
even voted for Churchill who today feel quite
relieved that there has been this big clearing
of the political air which gives the Labor Party
the unuuestionable mandate it has hitherto
been denied.
A parliamentary reporter has had a special
vantage point from which to judge Winston
Churchill. He has heard all of Churchilps great
speeches in the dramatic original setting of the
House of Commons he has rubbed shoulders
with the great man in parliamentary lobbles,
talked with him at private lunches, watched
the expression on his face from close up as
well as heard his noble words when Britain S
last hours seemed at hand. So here is the
humble tribute of parliamentary scribe:
Churchill's outstanding quality has been his
courage. He would defy anyone or anything.
What matters to the world is that he did defy
Hitler, the Luftwaffe, the Wehrmacht, and
everything else Germany could muster to
brighten or batter Britain into surrender.
Britain and large part of the world know
about Churchill's courage and love him for it.
But what most people don't seem to know
| is what a supreme constitutional democrat
| IN
and dictatorial nave been used about Church
ill. But you should have seen him in the
House of Commons at the zenith of his power
So strong was his feeling of Difference for the
Speakers authority and Parliaments wish that
he often reminded me OF schoolboy facing
stern headmaster. If the Speaker seemed
to be making a gesture, Churchill was ready
to sit down Immediately.
So would he often show a remarkable toler-
ance toward an interrupter when he was max
ing one of his famous war reports to Commons
Churchills frequent appeals for votes of conf
dence were sometimes interpreted as form
of bullying firmly believe Churchill depend
ed absolutely for his power on the ready surge
of popular support which backed him. AL
| through the European phase of World War
Two. Churchill had only to press the acceler.
ator and the full might Of Britain responded
few commentators are saying that Church
i'll might have STAYED off his defeat if he had
handled his campaign differently. But has has
always done things in big way-al or moth
ing He certainly went down in big way in
| this election.
In London club on the night the election
results were disclosed. a mild little woman
intelligent and well-informed, said: "A Labor
victory will prevent revolution-I mean a
shooting revolution"
Britain doesn't usually go in for reform by
shooting. On the other hand, the most striking
precautions had been under way here to gather
in civilian firearms. Some volunteer war or.
CARNATIONS had been warned they might be
called on in the possible event of industrial
| disturbances.
Even people who feel like that can today
join with Churchill admirers in an affectionate
tribute to their former Prime Minister-Chris.
tan Science Monitor.