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Show TTTTTiiTr in Washington The shadow of war overhangs Washington with a deeper gloom than since the dreadful days of 1861. Neither the war with Spain in 1898 nor the nation's entrance into the World War in 1917 seemed seem-ed to carry the menace, so widely felt by all the people and so deeply deep-ly concerning the responsible officials offi-cials of the government, as does the present situation. The shadow of war overhangs the Republican National convention. conven-tion. It will overhang the whole presidential campaign, now about to begin. It may easily bemuddle the issues of politics and bring about a situation in which none can safely venture a prediction as to the outcome. It is the belief of political .Washington that the war situation will result in the re-nomination of President Roosevelt for a third term when the Democrats hold their convention next month. In that case the major issue will be whether or not the American people have greater confidence in Mr. Roosevelt's ability to carry the nation safely through the crisis or in that of the Republican party and its leaders to manage the problems of defense and possibly pos-sibly of war itself. The unique spectacle is likely to be presented of a contest between an entire political po-litical party, on the one hand, and a single individual on the other. The personality of the Republican candidate would be of secondary importance, except as he demonstrates demon-strates his ability to inspire confidence. confi-dence. Congress Not Convinced That Congress is not completely confident of the President's ability abil-ity to steer the ship of state single-handed single-handed through the present troubled trou-bled international waters is evidenced evi-denced by the agreement of Democrats Dem-ocrats with Republicans in the latter lat-ter party's proposal that Congress should not adjourn, as the President Presi-dent had proposed, but merely recess re-cess over the periods of the political poli-tical conventions. Open expressions of unwillingness unwilling-ness to leave everything in the hands of the President, with Congress Con-gress away, have come from eminent emin-ent leaders of his own party. The fear that his personal utterances and actions are tending to involve the nation in a war for which we are not adequately prepared is heard on every side. There is no disagreement worth mentioning between individuals or parties on the necessity for getting ready to defend ourselves against the possible "ganging up" of Ger-' many, Italy and Japan. The only argument is as to whether incautious incau-tious official utterances may provoke pro-voke some hostile act which would justify a demand upon Congress for a declaration of war. Publicly, no responsible official will go further fur-ther than to say that Germany "may" win the war. Privately, the same well-informed people express the belief that Germany and Italy together will achieve the conquest of all Europe. Also, in high official circles, there is great apprehension as to how the United States could handle han-dle a situation involving the Monroe Mon-roe Doctrine and our obligation to prevent any foreign nation from acquiring sovereignty over any part of the Americas. Penetration Realized The extent of Nazi and Fascist penetration in Latin America is only now being realized. The speech of President Vardas of Brazil, Bra-zil, who is nearer a dictator than them until they began to get scared. The President is a tired man. He would like to be relieved of his responsibilities. If he had had the decision to make three months ago, he probably would have decided de-cided not to run again. Now, even those who do not admire him are asking how any man can reject the opportunity to lead his nation through the greatest crisis in eighty years. the president of a democracy, In which he seemed to approve Mussolini's Mus-solini's declaration of war, has brought out into the open one of the things the State department has known for a long time. That is that between them, Germany and Italy have been establishing large and important colonies in South America of people who still feel their first allegiance is to their European homelands. In Mexico there is an even more dangerous dan-gerous situation. Inside our own boundaries there are evidences being brought to light that the "Fifth Column" is already actively at work. Three ' cases of unquestionable sabotage in American aviation plants have recently been uncovered. Fresh efforts on a large scale to run down undesirable aliens, especially especial-ly those with Nazi or Fascist affiliations, af-filiations, are being made. Plans are maturng for the intensive in-tensive military training of a million mil-lion young men. The proposal for the conscription of all able-bodied youths for a year of army service is gaining adherents. Ten thousand thous-and military air pilots are to be started on their training courses at once. The whole picture, as Washington sees it, is of a nation that expects to go to war mighty soon, if not tomorrow. To Effect Campaign That is bound to have an effect upon the presidential campaign, especially if Mr. Roosevelt Is renominated. re-nominated. The argument against "changing horses while crossing a stream" will be worked to the limit of its possibilities. The speed with which the present administration adminis-tration got into action as soon as the necessity for war preparation became evident to everybody will be used as an argument that the Republicans couldn't have done better; that, and the caliber of the men whom the President has appointed ap-pointed to see that the necessary things are done quickly. The argument of the opposition that these things ought to have been" started long ago will be met by the reply that the public and Congress wouldn't have stood for |