THE AMERICAN ELECTION.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 November 1940, Page 4

THE AMERICAN ELECTION.

’J'ODAY the people of the United States will determine by their votes, although the result, on account of the difference in time, cannot be known in this country until tomorrow, whether Mr Roosevelt or Mr Willkie is to be their President for the four years from March next. From the point of view of British people it is an important and comforting fact that the opposed candidates in this momentous contest have made similar declarations in regard to leading aspects of foreign policy. Both are pledged to keep the United States out of the war if they can, but both also are committed to national defence organisation and preparation on a powerful scale and both have declared for the extension of all possible aid, short of war, to Britain.

While their measure of agreement is clear, the issues on which they stand opposed are not, to an outside observer alall events, very sharply defined. Mr Willkie, for inslanc'e, criticises and condemns the New Deal, but approves much that, has been and is being done in its name, lie accuses Mr Roosevelt, however, of financial extravagance. 'Where domestic policy is concerned, a good many people, regard Mr Roosevelt as representing Liberal opinion and think that the election of Mr Willkie would mean a return to laissez-faire. Some Americans will agree with the Republican candidate in holding that no departure should be made in any eirhnmstanees from the tradition which limits a President to two terms. Air Roosevelt’s reply on this point is that a sense of duty alone induces him to seek a third term. The vital lino of division in the election no doubt will be between those who hold that it wmdd be unwise, in a time of great emergency, to part with a well-tried leader, and those who reject that view. On the whole informed opinion appears to lean decidedly to the view that Mr Roosevelt will be re-elected, although if is recognised that Mr Willkie is a formidable opponent. A day or two ago it was reported that Wall Street was g'iving odds of only five to four on Mr Roosevelt’s elect ion—odds much lower than those ruling at an earlier stage. II has to be remembered, however, that Wall Street would prefer Air Willkie as President, and that in its latest declaration of odds there may be an element of the wish that is father to the thought.