The Chicago Daily Tribune (November 7, 1944)
Dewey pleads for change to shorten war
End of confusion at home held vital
By Hal Foust, Chicago Tribune Press Service
Albany, New York – (Nov. 6)
Governor Dewey, in a final and solemn appeal to America’s voters, tonight urged defeat of the fourth-term candidacy for the following reasons:
- To shorten the war and to hasten the return home of 11 million soldiers and sailors.
- To assure a peace that will last.
- To revive America after the war as a land of freedom and opportunity.
The 42-year-old Republican nominee spoke from the Executive Mansion here. With him were his wife, his mother, and two sons, 12 and nine years old.
He spoke as an American who has advanced himself under the free enterprise system. He spoke on behalf of his sons and others of the future generation. He spoke on behalf of the youth now in uniform which would like to return home as soon as possible and find job, and not a dole, regimentation or leaf raking.
Arguments substantiated
With a thoroughness that has characterized his entire campaign, Dewey substantiated each of his three points. He documented his argument that none of the three objectives of tomorrow’s election can be attained without defeat of President Roosevelt and the entire New Deal.
On the first point, Dewey told how confusion and bungling at Washington, DC, have weakened support of the professional warriors, Marshall, King, Eisenhower, Nimitz, MacArthur, and Halsey, who are fighting this war and will continue to command. He told how Roosevelt’s personal and secret diplomacy has stiffened enemy resistance.
On the second point, Dewey said that Roosevelt’s constant conflicts with congress preclude a harmony between the executive and legislative branches of government essential for making treaties in accordance with plans for a world peace organization. He recalled former President Wilson’s failure to win accord with the Senate on the first League of Nations issue.
Emphasizes New Deal failure
On the third point, Dewey emphasized that Roosevelt has offered for the post-war era no economic program other than continuation of the New Deal bureaucracy, which, after eight peace years in 1940 found 10 million still unemployed.
To advance all three objectives, Dewey asked the electorate tomorrow to end the unhappy turmoil, dissension, class hatred, group conflict, and antagonism that have accumulated in Washington, DC, for the last 12 years. With new, young blood, he would inaugurate an administration dedicated to and qualified for harmony and efficiency on the home front, for a quick end of the war, a prompt return home of the soldiers and sailors, and for a sound economy of full production and full employment after the war.
His last words were almost a prayer asking for divine guidance, asking for faith in our neighbors, faith in America, and faith in Almighty God. With these words, he closed his Republican campaign for the Presidency. Tomorrow, he and Mrs. Dewey will go to New York City to cast their ballots with about 50 million other Americans.