America at war! (1941–) – Part 3

Television blessing! Speakers must make talks short, snappy – or memorize them

Girl singer, comely announcer, quiz program and puppet act show up well in special telecast
By Dale McFeatters, Pittsburgh Press staff writer

Yank has hope of winging foe by this summer

Gen. Spaatz bases his plan on good weather for flying

Editorial: Hitler’s hemisphere?

Editorial: Miss Kellems’ rebellion

americavotes1944

Editorial: Non-Democratic unity

Shortly before his death, Thomas Jefferson, founder of the Democratic Party, wrote: “Four Presidents voluntarily retiring at the end of their eighth year” [Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe] established a precedent so strongly that:

…should a President consent to be a candidate for a third election, I trust he would be rejected on this demonstration of ambitious views.

The principle that two terms are enough for any man was not challenged until near the end of President Grant’s second term. And that challenge was rebuffed when the House of Representatives passed a resolution that:

…any departure from this time-honored custom would be unwise, unpatriotic and fraught with peril to our free institutions.

The vote was 234–18 – the Democrats voting unanimously.

In 1928, when some feared that President Coolidge might be drafted for a third-term nomination despite his “I do not choose” statement, the Senate adopted (56–26) a similar resolution offered by Senator La Follette – the Democrats voting 40–4.

The Democratic National Committee met in Washington yesterday to ratify a choice already made for a new party chairman, and to ratify a choice already made as to the time and place of the party’s next nominating convention, and among the committeemen and committeewomen there seems to be unanimity of opinion that the party at its convention will have only one man to offer – that he who served a third term must be drafted for a fourth.

Did somebody say a leopard couldn’t change its spots? Or is this some other party that now carries the Democratic label?

americavotes1944

Taylor: Don’t get excited

By Robert Taylor, Press Washington correspondent

Washington –
The first Congressional elections of 1944 provided two morsels which the members of the House of Representatives have been chewing on for days, what with the entire membership facing a test at the polls next November and the political weather being cloudy.

The elections were held in pivotal Pennsylvania – one in Philadelphia and the other in Montgomery County – to fill vacancies, and resulted in two Republican victories, which were promptly hailed as a trend.

Rep. Charles A. Halleck (R-IN) called the election returns “proof that the New Deal is withering at the grassroots,” and a definite indication that the Republican march to victory in 1944 is picking up speed.

Mr. Halleck is no expert on Pennsylvania politics or he would have excluded Montgomery County, at least, from the scope of his remarks. Montgomery County is referred to proudly by its residents as the wealthiest county in the state and its population makes up a major part of Philadelphia’s swanky “Main Line.”

It is, moreover, the home county of Joseph N. Pew Jr., the Republican leader with apparently inexhaustible patience and campaign funds, as well as other hearty contributors to the GOP cause. It has been Republican as long as anybody can remember. If Montgomery County is a grassroots area, you can bet the grass was carefully tended by a skilled Republican gardener. The chief significance of the special election there is that the Republican organization picked Samuel K. McConnell to fill the seat of J. William Ditter, killed in a plane crash last year.

There is more substance to the claim that the special election in the 2nd District (Philadelphia) represented a Republican advance, but it’s still not an outstanding victory for the GOP.

The district has been represented since 1936 by Democrat James P. McGranery, who resigned from Congress to become assistant to Attorney General Francis Biddle and a potential candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senator.

Republicans carried it last week by more than 5,500 votes for Joseph M. Pratt, who polled 24,910 votes to 19,329 for Democrat William A. Barrett.

That’s a clear gain for the Republicans, but subject to some analysis. For instance, Mr. McGranery’s hold on his district – despite his prominence in Congress and in party affairs – has never been too secure in the off years.

When President Roosevelt runs, the Democrats do well in the 2nd District. In 1936, the total vote for Congressional candidates was 107,046 and the Democratic majority was 24,512. In 1938, the vote dropped to 97,813 and the majority to 5,317.

In 1940, the turnout of voters rose again to 102,333 and the majority to 23,355, but in 1942, when only 71,803 ballots were cast in the Congressional race, Mr. McGranery squeaked through by a majority of 713. In last week’s special election, about 45,000 voters cast ballots and Philadelphia’s Republican machine workers carried the election.

Democrats need a large turnout of voters to win in Philadelphia, especially when they are competing against an organization which has just succeeded in winning the mayoralty for another four years and retaining its City Hall patronage.

It’s a fairly academic point, at any rate, because the city’s Congressional districts were reapportioned by the 1943 Legislature and the November election is going to be held in a revised, and more safely Republican, district.

But in the halls of Congress, you can hear dialogs like this:

Republican:

You saw what happened in McGranery’s district. Well, that shows you what to expect in November.

Democrat:

There wasn’t any incentive to vote in this election. Wait until November when the President runs and the voters turn out.

Perkins: ‘Right every time’

By Fred W. Perkins, Press Washington correspondent

Paulus: Book on brilliant and hard-hitting

Its physical impacts first stun the reader
By John D. Paulus


Werkman: Unrest in labor of 1930s told

Management’s side is given fair treatment
By Ruth Werkman

I DARE SAY —
Winged Victory terrific, and so is biography of J. Barrymore

By Florence Fisher Parry

In defense of ‘brass hats’

Miss O’Driscoll, following tour of Far North, gives lie to charges of Laraine Day
By Erskine Johnson

Radio stars line up to appeal for funds for paralysis fight

Screen Guild and actors federation announce first volunteers for Mutual network broadcast
By Si Steinhauser

Majors plan to carry on as usual

Will train near home parks
By Glen Perkins, United Press staff writer


‘Babe’ eyes more titles

Sullen groups feared by Justice Jackson


Plan U.S. security, publisher advises

Völkischer Beobachter (January 24, 1944)

Neue Enthüllungen eines USA-Abgeordneten –
Roosevelts militärische Diktaturpläne

Eigener Bericht des „Völkischen Beobachters“

U.S. Navy Department (January 24, 1944)

CINCPAC Press Release No. 235

For Immediate Release
January 24, 1944

Planes of the 7th Army Air Force and Fleet Air Wing Two carried out attacks on six atolls in the Marshall Islands during January 22 and 23 (West Longitude Date).

Army medium bombers at midday on January 22 raided Wotje Atoll and Kaven Island in the Maloelap Atoll: At Wotje, a cargo ship and a small oiler were damaged, and airdrome installations were bombed and strafed. There was no fighter opposition, and all of our planes returned safely. At Kaven, bombing and strafing attacks were made on ground installations. Of 25 enemy fighters which intercepted our bombers, two were shot down and a third was crippled. Our losses were small.

In the afternoon of January 22, Imieji Island in the Jaluit Atoll was attacked by Liberators and Navy search Venturas. Bomb hits were scored on installations at the seaplane base, and in the cantonment. No enemy fighter planes were encountered, and all our planes returned safely.

In the evening of January 22, Army heavy bombers struck Mille Atoll and Roi Island in the Kwajalein Atoll. At Roi, airfield facilities were bombed and several grounded bombers were damaged. More than a dozen fighters attacked our planes. Our gunners shot down one and possibly de­stroyed four others. In addition, three enemy planes were damaged. We suffered no losses.

At Mille, bombs were dropped in the cantonment area. No fighter or anti-aircraft opposition was encountered.

Navy search planes attacking Ailinglapalap Atoll on January 22 bombed two small vessels, one of which had apparently been beached, and returned to their base without loss.

On January 23, Navy search planes attacked a small convoy near Kwajalein, bombing and severely damaging a large cargo ship. We suffered no losses.

At midday on January 23, two groups of Army Mitchell bombers raided Taroa, in the Maloelap Atoll, bombing and machine-gunning airdrome facili­ties and strafing a number of small craft. Approximately 25 enemy fighters attacked each group of bombers. Three fighters were shot down, two more were believed shot down, and four were damaged. Damage to our planes was slight. All planes returned to their bases.

U.S. State Department (January 24, 1944)

851.014/1415

The President to the Secretary of State

Washington, January 24, 1944

Memorandum for the Secretary of State

I saw Halifax last week and told him quite frankly that it was perfectly true that I had, for over a year, expressed the opinion that Indo-China should not go back to France but that it should be administered by an international trusteeship. France has had the country – thirty million inhabitants for nearly one hundred years, and the people are worse off than they were at the beginning.

As a matter of interest, I am wholeheartedly supported in this view by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and by Marshal Stalin. I see no reason to play in with the British Foreign Office in this matter. The only reason they seem to oppose it is that they fear the effect it would have on their own possessions and those of the Dutch. They have never liked the idea of trusteeship because it is, in some instances, aimed at future independence. This is true in the case of Indo-China.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

FDR

The Pittsburgh Press (January 24, 1944)

U.S. FLIERS HIT WESTERN GERMANY
French coast also blasted by Yanks, RAF

Attack on Reich follows nighttime assault by Mosquitoes
By Phil Ault, United Press staff writer

Allies massed on beach for quick drive to Rome

Appian highway in range of big guns as invaders push inland
By C. R. Cunningham, United Press staff writer

In Southwest Pacific –
Trap closing on Jap force

Aussies close on Bogadjim in New Guinea
By Don Caswell, United Press staff writer

‘Thrown to wolves’ –
Ickes’ ex-aide blames Langer

Repeats ‘plot’ charge in Hopkins case