The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-25

will snarl themselves In dead
lock.
A group of Republican con-
gressmen initiated stop-Willkie
drive. The move was led by Reps.
Frank Keefe, Wisconsin, and
Harold Knutson, Minnesota-both
strong isolationists.
They protested the Willhe can
didacy principally on grounds OF
his Democratic connections. point
ing out that his switch to the Re-
publican side came only after vot-
ing for Roosevelt in 1882.
Rep. George II. Bender of Ohio
said that the stop-Willkie meeting
was informal.
The tenor of IL was" he
said. that IL we are going to
nominate Democrat, why
not make 1t two Democrats
and put Sen. Burton X.
Wheeler ID, MONTH on the
ticket, too"
Bender said that the Willhe
movement was "springing up from
the grass roots-grass roots OF the
well-kept lawns and polo fields of
the country"
States represented at the meet
ing included New Hampshire, Cali
fornia. Minnesota, Ohio, Wiscon-
sin. Pennsylvania, South Dakota
and Illinois.
Hamilton gavelled the ini-
tial session to order nearly
As minutes late.
First act of the convention was
to join in singing America, led
by a Negro.
Former Gov. ALI M. Landon,
the 1886 nominee, received an
ovation when he arrived. He
grinned and posed for photog-
raphers, holding the Kansas stand
ard aloft.
Hamilton introduced the Rev.
Albert Joseph Mccartney, of the
Covena liant First Presbyterian
church of Washington, d. c., to
deliver the invocation.
Mayor Robert E. Lamberton Of
Philadelphia welcomed the con-
vention.
He recalled that the first Re-
publican convention was held in
Philadelphia in 1856.
A big cheer went up when
Hamilton announced the national
committees recommendation of
Gov. Harold Stassen of Minnesota
as temporary chairman of the con-
vention and Stassen was elected.
One thousand delegates, al
most as many alternates and
thousands upon thousands of
camp followers are here. 1t
is the most confident Republic
can rally since way back In
1928 when Calvin Coolidge
turned the party over to Her
bert c. Hoover in one friendly
ballot.
But the rivalry among 1910 can
didates is cold and brutal. 1t is
every man for himself-unless he
can make a deal with his neighbor.
Word that lit will be Taft or
Willkie" wild-fired through the
Hobbies today. District Attorney
Thomas f. Dewey's supporters pro-
tested that he would ring the first
ballot bell with more than 400
ballots. Dewey expects to climb
rapidly from there TO the nominal
ing majority which is sol.
Dewey. Sen. Robert A. Taft
and-to the CONSERVATION of
many a party veteran-Wen-
dell l. Wilkie are leading con-
tenders as the delegates
stream into Philadelphia big
municipal hall for their first
session.
The power mans nomination
would violate many OF the rules Of
politics and for that reason such
party leaders as Senate Republican
Leader Charles L. McNary, have
been telling themselves and their
confidantes that 1T can't happen,
but the Willkie movement hit con-
vention town like a panzer division.
Nillkie cracked the "favorits
son" bulwalks Sunday for l6
votes from Connecticut when
Gov. Raymond T.. Baldwin. to
whom they were pledged, an
nounced publicly that he would
second WILKES nomination
and privately that the delega-
ton would vote rs a unit for
his man. Wiilkie raiding par
ties went after delegates in
Missouri and Kansas and dared
even to reach into Ohio for
support in event Taft Is stopped
and Is compelled TO release the
So Ohio delegates pledged to
him.
Taft managers expect 500 first
ballot votes and $50 or so on the
second and on that basis il appears
probable that Dewey Will top The
lot on the first roll call. Willkis
claims rs votes on the first cal
and that ne has strength in every
state but three-South Carolina
Louisiana and MISSISSIPPI