Evening star., 1945-03-26

into 1t up to his almost nonexistent
neck.
For not only has the outside re-
to Mr.. La Guardia but within his
own city the restaurant, bar and
nightclub owners, who were expected
enthusiastically to cheer this de-
fiance of the Government have re-
fused to follow the Mayor and are
adhearing to the "curfew."
This action followed the Army and
Navy directions to soldiers and sail
ors in New York to observe the
Government request and the wide
spread charge that New York, alone
among the cities, puts pleasure above
patriotism.
Futile and Ridiculous.
Thus, the Little Flower, despite his
recent proteStations of helpfulneSS,
IS left looking not only unco-opera
tive but futile and ridiculous. In ad
dition, it is reliably reported that
the political and personal relations
between him and the President have
been badly dislocated by the incident
and he is extremely unlikely to have
administration support in his effort
to secure another term.
The prediction is that the White
House weight will be firmly behind
District Attorney ODwyer of Brook
lyn This, probably, will insure his
nomination and end the hope of the
Mayor for another term. All of
which shows how completely Mr.. La
Guardia miscalculated the effects
of his defiance and how far it has
fallen short of making him a hero
in his own town.
It is true a defense can be made
for the La Guardia position. 1t is
true, too, that some criticism may
Mr.. Byrnes in dealing with the is
sue. But both these things are be-
sides the point. The real point is
the harm it does the national morale
for conspicuous public figure open
ly to f1out a measure urged by the
President as essential to the war
effort 1t Is not necessary to accept
every Government act as wise to
maintain that there should be over
Whelmingly good reasons for doing
that.
The whole business of conduct
ing a successful war centerS around
popular support of the Government
in its war program. If the Govern
ment lacks that, the war cannot be
effectively fought. If it lacks that.
the victory will be postponed and
the cost paid in casualties.
1t is one thing to oppose the ad-
ministrations domestic policies and
performances; it is quite another,
with the struggle still in the critical
stage, to oppose its war proposals
That should require complete justi-
fication. Most of the people agree
about this, but there are groups and
individuals who do not and these
are so numerous and assertive as
to make absurd any claim that this
Nation has ever been on total war
basis.
Too Much Defiance.
1t cannot be contended that we
have put our full strength into the
war. The shocking strike record by
which war production has been i'm
peded; the action of. the Senate in
rejecting the request of the chiefs
of staff, supported by the President,
for work or fight law; the defiance
of the Government by certain labor
leaders and the hypocritical and
phony attitude of certain others
all attest to the contrary. Finally,
there Is the La Guardia incident
which, however trivial in one respect
is important in others.
These things make a contention
Of total war untenable. From the
start there has been far too much of
this defiance of the Governments
war requests. When open to ques-
ton, these ought to be debated,
criticized and protested. but they
ought not to be defied without COM
plete justification. Certainly they
ought not to be defied by groups
obviously concerned with their own
selfish interests.
But that is exactly what has been