CALL ON DEMOCRACY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 November 1938, Page 5

CALL ON DEMOCRACY

MUST GO FORWARD AS LIVING FORCE CHALLENGING DECLARATION BY ROOSEVELT ON EVE OF CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright NEW YORK, November 5. Commenting that the rest of the world was far closer to America than in the days of demcoracy's founders, President Roosevelt tonight called on the nation to preserve its social and economic gains and its liberalism in Tuesday’s elections. He reminded Americans of the existing terrorism and intolerance in other lands, and gave a warning that, unless democracy moved forward as a living force, Fascism and Communism would grow in strength. “In other lands,” said the President, “the flares of militarism, conquest, terrorism and intolerance vividly reveal to Americans how precious and extraordinary it is to be allowed free choice of free leaders for free men. “But we cannot carelessly assume that a nation is strong and great merely because it has a democratic form of government. Democracy, weakened by internal dissensions and mutual suspicion born of social injustice, is not a match for autocracies which ruthlessly repress internal dissension.

“Democracy, in order to live, must become a positive force in the daily lives of its people. It must make men and women realize that it really cares for the security of every individual that its tolerance is enough to inspire essential unity among its citizens, and that it is militant enough to maintain liberty against social oppression at home and against military aggression abroad.

“In these tense, dangerous times democracy will save itself for the average man and woman by proving itself worth saving. many of those who prate about saving democracy are only interested in saving things as they were. Democracy should concern itself also with things as they ought to be. “I am not talking mere idealism. I am pressing a realistic necessity. If democracy ceases to move forward as a living force, seeking day and night to better the lot of its citizens, Fascism and Communism, aided unconsciously, perhaps, by the old line of Tory republicanism, will grow in strength.” Claiming that the New Deal’s economic and social programme had definitely given the United States a more stable and less artificial prosperity than in any other nation, the President appealed to the people not to allow any weakening of their gains. He pledged non-interference with private enterprise provided that abuses were eliminated, and urged the reelection of Governor Lehman and other State Democrats. He commented that at this critical moment in the world history, “we cannot risk supplanting seasoned leaders.”

MR HOOVER’S CRITICISM

FAILURE OF NEW DEAL ALLEGED BLAMED FOR SLUMP NEW YORK, November 6. With quips and epigrams quoted from Scripture, Mr Herbert Hoover, former Republican President, in his final pre-election speech, attacked the New Deal’s alleged failure■ to secure recovery in America in comparison with conditions abroad. He charged that President Roosevelt’s coercive tactics against prices and bank credit had resulted in a second depression. Mr Hoover was replying to President Roosevelt’s speech, which is interpreted as being a trial balloon for the President’s supposed desire to run for a' third time. The speech has intensified national interest in the New York election where District Attorney Thomas. Dewey, special prosecutor for the racket and vice-investigator, is seeking to overthrow the President’s friend, Governor R. Lehman. It is felt that if the Democratic organization in the President’s home State (New York) is defeated, the result may revitalize the National Republican organisation, making it a serious challenger to the New Deal in the 1940 Presidential elections. Mr Dewey threw a bomb tonight by revealing that Secretary of State Edward Flynn, Democratic Party leader in the Bronx, appointed the murdered gangster “Dutch” Schultz to be deputysheriff, knowing that he was an exconvict. Governor Lehman earlier charged Dewey with ignoring corruption in Republic circles. “The New York Times,” from reports from its observers in all States, forecasts the election of at least five new Republican Governors, two Senators and upward of 30 members of the House of Representatives. Republican leaders anticipate gaining 80 additional House seats. The Democrats forecast a loss of 4 to 7 per cent. Democratic members consider that, as the party in power regularly suffered heavy losses at the mid-term elections during the past 50 years, a loss of under 50 seats would be an expression of confidence in the paity.