Evening star., 1947-01-04
Liberals Look Ahead
For Gains Under
Democratic Action

various political faiths rallied today
under the banner of the Union for
Democratic Action to plan their fu-
ture, after a dinner last night at
the Shoreham Hotel at which lead
ers called for a stiffened front
against triumphant forces of reac-
tion."
While the question of third
party was unsettled as the delegates
were called to closed session at the
Willard Hotel today, Chester Bowles,
in a keynote address at the dinner,
saw too many obstacles in the way
of an effective third party. He said
the Democratic Party, with all its
fault, is our most effective instru-
ment for political action"
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt called
for world point Of view that en-
compassed more than the solution
of Americas domestic problems.
II have no fear Of Communists or
Fascists," she said, If we know what
we want, and say 1t in words simple
enough for everybody to under
stand"
Can Find Leaders.
II the people know what they
want, they will find leaders to carry
out their wishes, Mrs. Roosevelt
added, but it must not be for the
United States alone, but must take
into account the rest Of the world.
Wilson wyatt, former Federal
housing expediter, said: i am con-
vinced that the overwhelming ma
jority of Americans are liberals, the
verdict at the polls in November to
the contrary Notwithstanding. They
are looking to leadership and to a
rallying point"
All the scientific plans for housing,
he told the crowd of more than 400
at the dinner, have not solved the
problem Of giving the typical Ameri-
can family typical American home
"a decent habitation. In worrying
about the two totalitarian extremes
of fascism and communism, he said,
we are overlooking American de-
rnocracy, which Is the most i'm
portant issue of the day.
will this Nation" asked Leon
Henderson, who presided, find
within itself the vision and courage
to build a stable and equitable
economy, or will it become the
powerful center of world reaction
and imperialism? Will America be
a symbol of hope or fear? This is
Our challenge"
Huge Progressive Forces.
Mr.. Bowles, former head of OPA
and director of economic Stabiliza-
ton, made this, comment on the
radical fringes of liberalism: 1--WE
must be prepared to defend the
right of American Communists to
propagate their views through their
own organization But we must
make it crystal clear that there is
no ,lace in the American liberal
movement for those who would COM
promise with the principle OF In
dividual liberty.
There are enormous forces In
American life that are both pro-
eressive and non Communist. 1t is
these democratic groups and indivi-
duals that must be brought together
into the fullest political partnership
based on a common conviction that
freedom and planning are not only
compatible, but in the long run.
inseparable."
MIR. Bowles added: eve should
not harbor any illusions about a
third party. The legal and organi-
rational obstacles in the way Of an
effective third party orgapization
are too great. The Democratic
party, with all its faults, is our most
effective instrument for political
action.
IF we expect to regain the ground
we shall have lost by 194S, we must
elect a liberal President and a
liberal Congress. To accomplish
this, we must work through the
Democratic party machinery. In
the next two years, We must return
the Democratic party to the ideals
and detectives of Jefferson, Jackson,
Wilson and Roosevelt. This will not
be easy
Holds Extremists Move.
And Mr.. Bowles went on to say:
I'VE cannot blink the fact that the
party of Roosevelt is also the party
of Bilbo and Rankin. But the fact
remains that we have no practical
alternative. All our efforts, all our
ingenuity, must be thrown into the
struggle to establish liberal control
of the Democratic party in 1s4S."
He charged extremists Of both the
Right and Left with saying there
are no alternatives to Communism
on one hand and narrow capitalism
on the other.
ut is the responsibility of Ameri-
can liberals said Mr.. Bowles, Ito
prove that the extremists are wrong.
It is our task to provide program
of democratic action-dynamlc po-
litically PRACTICAL program de-
siened to provide freedom as well as
security for everyday people every
where. Our success or failure in
providing this alternative will deter
mine not only the shape of our own
country, but the shape Of the world
as q whole.
Mrs, Roosevelt wondered how
many times in the past such meet
ing as the one last night had faced
great difficulties and pondered how
to solve them She was sure it hap
pened after the Revolution and
again after the Civil War and at
other times.
II am sure" she said, that what
we are facing can be faced. We need
to feel that we are able to meet
whatever demands are mace on us.
Usually Find Answers.
The people are disturbed and con-
fused. as she saw 1t, not only by
their own problems, but by the
situations in other countries. II
Americans confine their efforts to
their country alone. she said, the
heart will go out Of the rest OF the
world"
I'VE are a little nervous about
our own spiritual leadership" she