Evening star., 1940-09-06
'Selective Service
Plan for Industries
Favored by Wi|Ikie
Would Toke Over
Plants on Same
Bosis as Droft
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Assoeiated Press.
RUsHv1LLE, Ind. Sept. 6.-Wen-
dell L. Willkie is on record as favor
ing q "selective service" program for
Government operation Of American
industries during emergencies
After a meeting with party lead
erS which he described as har.
monious and optimistic, the Re-
publican presidential nominee told
reporters late yesterday:
Under the Overton Russell
amendment which the Senate
adopted to the military selective
service bill. industries could be
seized by the Government because
Of the caprice of one man
Favors Selection.
IF a bill were introduced provid-
ing that in case of emergencies in
dustries should be selected-just as
in the case of men for the Army
and taken over by the Government
under rules and regulations instead
of the arbitrary act of one man,
would be for it."
President Roosevelt replied
that there was no news on that,
when asked for 4 comment today
on Mr.. WILKES statement that
he would favor a "selective serv-
ice" program for Government
operation OF industry during
emergencies.
Mr.. Willkie, seated in q pergola in
q neighbor's garden, said he had not
seen the exact language Of the pro-
posed House modification Of the
Overton-R Russell amendment. The
latter would permit the President to
direct the institution of condemna-
ton proceedings against defense
facilities byt he War or Navy De-
partment after the departments had
certified that they had been unable
to reach an agreement with the
plants owners. The amendment also
would authorize the Government to
operate such a plant while the pro-
ceedings were pending.
In any legislation affecting Gov
eminent operation of industry, the
nominee said, there should be "a
specific provision prohibiting the
conscription of men for industry"
Campaign Opened.
Mr.. WILKES luncheon conference
yesterday with Republican ma
tional committeeman, committee
women and State chairmen from the
East and Midwest marked the for
NAL opening Of the party 0rganiza.
tion's campaign.
Any signs of friction between Re-
publican groups and Willkie-for-
President clubs. he said, had dis
appeared.
Just as the leader expects loyalty
and cooperation from every men,
ber of his party and cannot succeed
without such cooperation" Mr..
Willkie said in statement, so is
the rank and file of the party en-
titled to the support and loyalty of
the candidate"
The candidate told reporters that
his visitors brought him very en-
thusiastic reports" Earlier In the
day he and Senator Arthur H. VAN
denberg of Michigan talked over the
administration trade Of so over
age United States .destroyers for air
and naval bases in British possess
sions
Declared Arbitrary.
The two men agreed. Mr.. Willkie
said, that the Presidents action
without the consent of Congress was
an arbitrary use of power"
IF the President should be re-
elected and assume he had man
date, he might trade away the
Philippines without the consent of
Congress, Mr.. Willkie added.
although I favor giving all the
aid we properly can to England. the
method chosen was bad"
The major item on Mr.. WILKES
schedule today was q conference
with so Midwest farm editors, whom
he planned to take afterward on q
tour of his i've Rush County farms.
During the next week he will work
on speeches for his western tour,
and may spend Friday, September
l3, in q whirlwind tour OF Chicago.
Illinois leaders want him to speak
at the stockyards, In the western
part of the city, at steel mill and
at q Negro ball park.