Letter to Senator Charles W, Tobey
[ May 21, 1940]

My dear Senator:

I HAVE your inquiry as to my views on the position the
Republican Party should take on the adjournment of
partisanship and coalition government.

The first question is: What is meant by the adjournment of
partisanship or politics? There ought to be an adjournment of
cheap political tricks, carping criticism, smearing personal
defamation not only today but always.

If by "adjournment of partisanship" or "coalition govern-
ment" is meant the adjournment of party action in the United
States, then a most serious question is raised. Virile organiza-
tion of political parties has a vital function in sustaining the
processes of free government. It is only by such organization
that the people can express themselves on public questions, can
propose alternative action, can debate public issues, can protect
minorities, check inroads on free press and free speech. It could
only be suspended if self-government had been abandoned.

The election of 1940 has not been suspended. In that elec-
tion we are confronted with solution of our problems of unem-
ployment, of agriculture, of debt, and of even deeper problems
of the whole governmental, social, and economic structure of
our nation. They are larger issues than at any time in seventy
years. And at the 1940 election these fundamental issues will
have to be decided. They will have to be formulated. They
will have to be hammered out on the anvil of debate. The only
verdict upon them is by the ballot.

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