The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-06-22

paros to begin Its national con-
ventlon, II Is faced with q politi.
cal dilemma In choosing . pres
idential candidate. The problem
centers about q big, rough-and.
ready fighter who has succeeded
IN capturing the Imagination Of
good part Of the public-Wendell
L. Willkie.
The dilemma q this: II the Re-
puhlicans nominate Willkie, they
face the prospect Of no support,
O. Iukewarm support at the most,
from some Of their own most In.
fiuential leaders; n they don't
nominate Wlllkle, they face dan.
gerous resentment on the part Of
much Of the rank and file.
The surge OF sentiment for
Wiiikie has been one OF those
phenomena that make American
politics one Of the most fascinat-
Ing games In the world. II has
been O spontaneous movement,
one that seemingly began In many
sections OF the country ct once.
and one that serves to illustrate
again that a sweep OF popular
feeling can at least make the poo
liticians think twice, even though
1.-THE public be damned" attitude
A still dominant.
WILKES strength Is also his
weakness. As head Of the giant
utility, Commonwealth and South.
ern, II was his fight against the
New Deal iva that first brought
him Into the national limellght.
Bit by bit, he began 10 accept ~
The representative Of business OPP
position 10 President Roosevelt.
Nevertheless, only q few months
ago he was not even mentioned In
the various polls as 70 the prob.
able Republican presidential NOM
inee. Mr.. Wilkes radio addresses,
public statements and newspaper
advertisements over his signature
begin TO win him more and more
attention. A volunteer political or
ganixatlon 10 aid his cause was
formed, and contributions began
20 pour In. The boom grew stead
lily for q while. then, In the last
few weeks. suddenly took on such
amazing proportions that Mr..
Willkie went from the rank OF
dark horse 10 that Of o real con.
tender.
The Republican convention
would DO doing the party and the
nation q service II II should nom.
inate Mr.. Willkie, since II would
mean O campaign based on real
Issues. II Mr.. Willkle, as Republi-
can candidate for President, con.
tinued his present directnoss and
oukspokenness, he would make IL
a contest In which the people had
a clear choice. Since II appears
that Mr.. Roosevelt Will be the
Democratic nominee, II would BIO
an election In which the voter
could declare by their ballots who.
ther or not thoy want O contiii-
usnce OF tho Roosevelt adininis-
tration and the New Deal.
II IA the writer's belief that Mr..
Wlllkie. or any other Republican
candidate, viii 10 down 10 de-
feat In November II Mr.. Rose.
welt chooses 20 run for o third
term. Yet, In this one Of the last
few remaining strongholds OF
democracy, the best interests OF
Che nation will be served II. this
campaign, the most important
Stree the Civil War, Ia fought on
cIean.cut issues. No Republican
candidate but Mr.. Willkle. II ap.
pears, would make possible such
. campaign.
WILKES straightforward stand
"a an oasis In o desert OF Repibs
lican indecision. His frankness
contrasts sharply with tho COM
placency OF Dewey, tho fence.
straddling OF Taft, the political
maneuvers OF Vandenberg, tho
neither ere.n there stand OF
most OF the other candidates.
Even with the nomination Of
Willkie, the campaign could be.
come q farce, n the Republican
leadership should decide on an
attempt 10 be oil things TO oil
peopIc. The nation N not In the
frame Of mind for that type Of
campaign, as would be found out
On election dav. But II n TO be
feared that Willkie, should he win
The nOminat on. would be pushed
by the party chieftains into vague
indeoislve stands on national and
international issues. IL Ia 10 be
hoped that he would resist such
advice.
The election ahead supersedes
Ill craftsmanship. 10 Ii one that Will
have q most important bearing on
the future OF America, OF the
world and OF civilization. II should
be decided on merits, not politics.
Behind the victor. whatever his
name, the people OF America must
rally In defense OF their country,
their institutions and their ideals.
Potpourri Republican lead
ers In the fifth congressional dis.
trict are hoping that Washington
may decide soon 10 give the fed
eral judgeship 10 Congressman j.
Joseph Smith. They're almost re-
signed 10 losing again II Joe can
be the Democratic candidate once
again Delegates 70 the re-
publican national convention are
receiving last-mlnute plugs for
ex.president Herbert Hoover I.
Democrats In the i4th district are
stu squabbiing over the senator.
ial nomination Town Chair
man Vernon Hall and his predes
eessor, J. Warren Epson, will visit
Philadelphia for the Republican
national convention next week.
The city chalked Up another
saving this week. This one was
$4,000 set up In the budget for
-. -N-.k a