Word: burtonizing
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When Montana first sent Burton Kendall Wheeler to the U. S. Senate (in 1922), the U. S. was trying hard to forget World War I. Mr. Wheeler's own Senatorial concerns were domestic: helping blow the lid off Teapot Dome, plugging for silverite legislation, building his reputation as an able, fighting Liberal. Among many things he was against were big armaments. But he gave little heed to foreign affairs, did not trouble to label himself an Isolationist when that word still had punch...
Last September, 29 days after Hitler's armies marched into Poland, world events touched Burton Wheeler. He declared himself for embargo of arms shipments to any & all belligerents, against sending U. S. boys off to Europe's wars. Last February, he mildly denounced Franklin Roosevelt for paying more attention to World War II than to internal U. S. affairs. By last fortnight, Mr. Wheeler's evolution was proceeding apace. Said he (to the International League for Peace & Freedom): "I want to do everything to help the Allies stamp out the brutal forces which seek to dominate Europe...
...Burton Wheeler's lexicon, "everything" did not yet mean much of anything. He was for rearming the U. S., against letting the U. S. Government arm the desperate Allies ("I would have no objection, but we should be careful not to ... involve this country in war"). What troubled him almost as much was the devious means which Franklin Roosevelt had to adopt: to trade in Army-Navy planes and guns to manufacturers, who passed them on to the English and French...
Last week the Senate had up a proposal to legalize the President's stratagem. One of the majority of 67 Senators who voted for this belated "aid short of war" was Burton Wheeler. On the Senate floor next day he again opposed "steps to get us into war." Said he: "... I do not want to have to break with the Administration; I do not want to have to oppose the Democratic Party; but if it becomes necessary to break with the Democratic Party, I shall break with it if it is going to be a war party." Telegrams poured...
...Popular printed a "translation" of Cortesi's story which omitted most of the evidence, distorted the facts. Genaro Vasquez, Attorney General of Mexico, promptly summoned both newsmen to appear and prove their statements. Burton, in Mexico on special assignment, quietly departed. Last week he was back in Manhattan. Cortesi stuck to his post, presented his case...