The Evening Star (December 7, 1945)
Editorial: Republican ‘program’
It is difficult to believe that any Republican, with the possible exception of those who may be seeking election on some Republican ticket, will be able to endorse with enthusiasm the “Republican program” which is to be submitted for approval to the Chicago meeting of the Republican National Committee.
This program, on the whole, is a masterpiece of evasion. As an example, one might take the national defense plank, which reads as follows: “We stand for a well-trained and fully-equipped Army, Navy and Air Force, adequate to meet any emergency under future conditions of warfare. It must be supported by the most modern scientific research, a strong industrial system and reserves of trained men with weapons and equipment superior to those of any possible enemy.”
The key phrase in this plank has to do with the “reserves of trained men.” How do the Republicans propose to provide them? President Truman has come out squarely for universal peacetime military training as being the only means of having the reserves of trained men when the need for them arises. But one can read the Republican program from beginning to end and he will not have the faintest idea whether the Republicans are for compulsory training or against it, or, if there is some other alternative, what its nature may be.
In these times, critical as they are for this country and for the world, it may be “good politics” for the Republicans to sidestep all controversial issues. But in the forthcoming elections thoughtful voters will want to know with reasonable certainty what the candidates of both parties have to offer. The “Republican program” does not supply this information. Whether the Democrats will do better remains to be seen.
What this country needs is a dime store where a dime really means something.