Evening star., 1940-05-21
Roosevelt Phones
landon, Confirming
Farley Tomorrow
No Coalition Rumors
Heard at White House,
EorIy Declares
BY JOHN C. HENRY.

Following a personal telephone
call early today from President
Roosevelt to former Gov Alfred M.
Landon Of Kansas, 1886 Republican
presidential candidate. the titular
heads of the Nations two major po-
litical parties will lunch together at
the White House tomorrow.
The subject of their conference
has not been disclosed. and frequent
rumors Of a Democratic Republican
coalition effort in the face Of the
war crisis were secuted today by
Stephen r. Early. secretary to the
President, who declared he had
heard nothing around the White
House to substantiate such specula-
ton.
The final confirmation of the
luncheon appointment followed "a
hours of confusion arising, accord
ing to the White House, out of the
Presidents desire to postpone his
meeting with Mr.. Landon until
Thursday. Since the Wednesday
date originally had been made
through a third persona New York
Republican named Frank Altschue-
the White House called Mr.. Altschue
to arrange the postponement.
Original Date Confirmed.
At this point some misunderstand-
ing arose in the negotiations, and
the story was published that the
White House desired cancellation of
the meeting. Informed of the situa-
ton this morning, the President at
once called Mr.. Landon in Chicago
and confirmed the original Wednes-
day date.
Meanwhile, the White House made
an effort to have Representative
Wadsworth, Republican, of New
York, a supporter of the administra-
tion's foreign policy, lunch with the
President today. 1t was found, how
ever, that Mr.. Wadsworth is out of
the city.
The subject of the Landon confer
ence has never been disclosed, but its
Scheduling followed a meeting last
week between Mr.. Roosevelt and Col.
Frank Knox, Chicago publisher and
vice presidential candidate with Mr..
Landon in 1896. AS talk of
Democratic Republican joint defense
efforts spread, Mr.. Landon declared
on Sunday in an interview at Topeka,
Kans., that he was opposed to any
suggestion that his party lend it
self to any coalition which would
tend to decrease party respon-
sibility."
Willkie Favors Third Term Bid.
Meanwhile, on the political front,
Wendell L. Willkie, late but fast
running starter in the present race
for the Republican presidential NOM
ination, called for denomination Of
Mr.. Roosevelt because there are
millions of Democrats who will vote
Republican If he runs"
| Mr.. WILKES views were contained
in an an article in Look Magazine. 1t
contained the following:
| 1T might be that Mr.. Roosevelt Is
the only man capable of beating the
Republicans, but there are millions
Of Democrats who would like to see
somebody else try. And there are
millions of Democrats who viii vote
Republican If he runs.
mfr. Roosevelt is the champion
New Dealer, the outstanding advo-
cate Of the philosophy which holds
that the Governments control over
the individual shall be extended and
| intensified. That is what the New
Deal means, and it is the most vital
issue Of the national campaign
ahead.
with Mr.. Roosevelt in the fight,
defending this philosophy, We can
obtain q clean-cut verdict. II any
other candidate is named by the
Democrats, the big, important issue
will be clouded by other considera
(see POLITICS, Page A-z3