Reading Eagle (August 22, 1944)
O’Daniel sees need for housecleaning
Senator criticizes FDR administration
Birmingham, Alabama (AP) –
Senator W. Lee O’Daniel (D-TX), long an outspoken critic of the Roosevelt administration, asserted in an address here last night that “what America needs most is a thorough housecleaning in Washington.”
The Texas Senator spoke at a meeting of the American National Democratic Party of Alabama, a group which has nominated a slate of electors to oppose the regular party candidates in the November election.
O’Daniel declared that the present national administration contains elements which he said are “trying to convert this government into a socialized, communized, regimented and centralized dictatorship… Your only opportunity to break up this ring is to vote their leaders out of office.”
O’Daniel said Texas went Republican once, and added:
I don’t know what we will do this year because we’re between the devil and the deep blue sea. We have completely lost our Democratic Party and you all know our inherent shyness when it comes to the Republican Party.