America at war! (1941–) – Part 3

Record quotas spur efforts in bond drive


Douglas Fairbanks’ widow to become ‘a lady’ again

Mary Pickford offers congratulations to happy pair

Broadway to take Congress for ride


‘Jimmy’ Stewart honored

I DARE SAY —
Harriet and Sally

By Florence Fisher Parry

Russia held up as U.S. model in bond drive

Morgenthau finds answer to his ‘ape’ problem; leaders speak

AFL aims angry charges directly at White House

Criticism of wartime strikes rankles to point of outright anger; action at polls urged
By Fred W. Perkins, Pittsburgh Press staff writer


WPB relaxes restrictions on plumbing

Consumers expected to purchase only items actually needed

In Washington –
House prepares for sharp clash on veterans’ pay

Prominent Democrats and Republicans ask colleagues to make separate bill out of adjusted compensation issue


americavotes1944

Constitution violation seen

Washington (UP) –
The House Elections Committee, formally reporting its “states’-rights” soldier-vote bill, asserted today that proposed compromises involving a federal ballot could open the door ti violation of the Constitution.

The charge was denied promptly by minority members who said they did not share the majority’s “sanguine faith” that each of the 48 states will provide necessary machinery so that all members of the Armed Forces can vote.

The approved committee bill, an amended version of the Senate bill leaving overseas balloting up to the states, limits federal participation to handling of mail applications for ballots and airmail transmission of ballots to and from the voting service personnel. First reports said debate would begin Thursday but it may not come until next week.

A United Press dispatch from Allied headquarters in Algiers said censorship had been clamped down on an expression of soldier opinion on overseas voting. Correspondents may report the attitude of military personnel on the issue.

In Washington, the War Department gave no explanation of the interview ban.

americavotes1944

Chairman job is acceptable to Hannegan

Internal Revenue Commissioner will take over if Walker resigns
By Lyle C. Wilson, United Press staff writer

Washington –
Commissioner of Internal Revenue Robert E. Hannegan has agreed to accept chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee if that position is vacated Saturday by Postmaster General Frank C. Walker.

The National Committee meets here then. Mr. Walker is prepared to present his resignation. Mr. Hannegan, a Missourian, named to the commissionership last year, is being touted here as “a second Jim Farley.” His job, apparently, will be to manage a fourth-term campaign for President Roosevelt.

Mr. Hannegan will have tougher going than did Mr. Farley in the 1932 and 1936 campaigns, when Mr. Roosevelt won with lopsided popular and electoral vote majorities.

Qualify Senate claims

Republican National Committee statisticians have been analyzing 1940-43 elections returns from Northern and border states and they come up with some figures upon which the GOP bases its claim that it will win the White House and the House of Representatives in November. Republican spokesmen are inclined to qualify their claims about winning Senate control this time, but not so with the Presidency and the House.

An RNC report says:

In 1940, in the 38 Northern states, which represent a majority of 150 votes in the electoral college, we lost the Presidency by 2.7% of the vote.

In the 1942 Congressional elections, our party in the same Northern states in the aggregate vote for Republican candidates for Congress had 53.9% of the total. If Mr. Roosevelt had been running in that election and had maintained the same three-percent advantage over his party which he had in 1940, he would have been defeated in the electoral college.

Six vacancies in House

Republicans may come close to House control even before the general election. There are now six vacancies in the House. Five of the seats were formerly held by Democrats, including one in Alabama, which is certain to remain Democratic. But the GOP seems to be confident in keeping the seat which had been Republican and of winning four of the five Democratic seats in Pennsylvania, Colorado, Oklahoma and Illinois.

If they are able to do so, the House standing will be:

Democrats 219
Republicans 212
Minor parties 4

americavotes1944

Modern David Harums –
Stokes: South will support Roosevelt again, but in return it will demand much

Will seek conservative Vice President and domestic policy at national convention
By Thomas L. Stokes, Scripps-Howard staff writer

Washington –
President Roosevelt gave Southern governors his most charming smile, a pleasant half-hour at the White House over tea and cakes and sandwiches, and the encouraging word that he was in favor of lowering discriminatory freight rates, which is the subject that brought them here for a one-day protest meeting.

But he said not a word about the fourth term. Nor did he talk about the numerous grievances, economic and political – aside from freight rates – which Southern governors have been discussing for months, and which they discussed with members of Congress from the South at a dinner last night full of oratory about freight-rate discrimination and other subjects.

The President preferred to keep the conversation to such subjects as their children and wildlife, including the ivory-billed woodpecker.

Commitment good omen

But the freight-rate commitment was something, and governors took it as a good omen for the case now pending before the Interstate Commerce Commission, of which the President is fully advised.

Disturbed as they are over some administration tendencies, the governors are not going to chance political revolt. They will acquiesce in a fourth term if Mr. Roosevelt chooses to seek it. They are confident, too, that the South will remain Democratic in November.

The Southern governors are traders, not bolters, no matter what they hint.

Are seeking concessions

They came here to raise a din, in the shadow of the White House, in the interest of getting concessions from Mr. Roosevelt, and it is very likely they will get some of what they want.

Their other grievances include:

  • Lack of recognition of the Southern viewpoint in national politics.

  • Encroachment on state and local affairs.

  • Federal regimentation of business and industry.

  • Neglect of the South in war contracts.

  • Discrimination in patronage by appointment of Republicans to key Southern posts in war agencies.

  • Agitation of the Negro problem by New Deal agents and agencies.

At the national convention, they will seek:

  • The selection of a conservative, preferably a Southerner, as vice presidential candidate if the President is nominated.

  • Representation in the platform of the Southern desire for more conservative administration of domestic policy.

Seek common front

The strategy will be to get Southern delegations, as far as possible, to join in a common front at the convention to achieve these objectives and to seek allies in other delegations. It is obvious, however, from conversations with governors here, that the South does not have a common front now, and cannot have a common front at the convention, for really holding out against renomination of the President until they get all they want.

Georgia Governor Ellis G. Arnall, a leader in the Southern protest movement, will handpick a delegation from his state which will be uninstructed and should be in a good bargaining position. There is some talk that Senator George (D-GA) might be put in nomination for trading purposes.

But other Southern delegations will not be so independent.

Wallace explains South’s problem

Washington (UP) –
Vice President Henry A. Wallace asserted last night that the South had failed to build a balanced regional economy because vested interests have sought to protect uneconomic profits through control of finance production, markets and monopolistic transportation.

In an address before a banquet attended by eight Southern governors who met here to urge removal of allegedly discriminatory rail freight rates, he said the South’s problem must be solved on a national rather than on a regional basis.

Simms: New Red attitude to U.S., Britain causing concern

Foreign envoys believe Russia moving to create string of buffer states from Atlantic to Pacific
By William Philip Simms, Scripps-Howard foreign editor


Kirkpatrick: Post-war aims kept secret by Britain and U.S.

London writers perturbed by moves to hide discussions
By Helen Kirkpatrick

Shuttle raids by Yanks near

Gen. Arnold gets medal for achievement


Planes batter Japs in Burma

British beat off assaults north of Akyab

WLB chairman clashes with printers’ head

Davis: Strikes encouraged; Baker: Attitude un-American

Yank bombers step up raids on Marshall Island bases

Accused draft board employee ends life

Editorial: They didn’t strike

Editorial: No separate peace

Editorial: Get ready now

Ferguson: Privilege-seekers

By Mrs. Walter Ferguson

Background of news –
Mustering-out and Social Security

By Burt P. Garnett, editorial research reports

Nelson: U.S. fascists aiding Hitler

They, pressure groups, seek to exploit America, destroy freedom

Senator Davis supports bloc against Oleo

Guffey votes for repeal of margarine tax, but it is defeated
By Robert Taylor, Press Washington correspondent