Evening star., 1940-06-05

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The inquiring
/ Charles G. Ross. chairman was
told that the national platform
would be drafted on the theory that
Roosevelt would be the Democratic
nominee. This assumption would
color the speeches at the convention
and-unless and until disproved-
determine the party strategy. The
platform would crack down hard
on the Roosevelt domestic policies
not on their objectives, but on
methods, trends, the danger to
private enterprise, etc. There would
be a sound wallop at the reciprocal
trade treaties, but In no case would
the platform demand the repeal Of
social-reform legislation such as the
| Wagner Act, the Social Security
Act, the law creating the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Better
administration would be demanded,
changes here and there in the inter-
est Of stimulating private industry
and improving the relations between
business and Government-but not
repeal. In this respect the platform
would take its cue from the Glenn
Frank report.
Anti Third Term Theme.
/ Dominating the whole would be
an attack on the third term. So, If
Roosevelt should run, the opposi-
ton party would have lost no time
! in bringing up its heavy artillery;
if he should not run. it would be
in position to claim that its salvos
had driven him out.
All this seemed perfectly clear and
logical to the State chairman, and
| he indicated that he would be guided
accordingly.
But he asked, what are you
going to say about foreign policy?"
God only knows, was the reply.
I Now the most amazing phenome-
non in current polit;cs-if YOU bar
the increasing probability that the
+ third-term tradition will be chal-
lenged-is the growing strength of
! Wendell Wlllkie as 3 Republican
| candidate AS Dewey has gone down
in the polls, Willkie has come UP.
1t would be foolish to say that Dewey
is out of it or that Willkie is the
/ probable nominee. 1t would be fool
ish at this stage to make any sort of
prophecy as to the Republican nomi-
nation. All that is here intended
IS TO underScore the fact that what
started out as the tiniest of BOOM
| let's, without any political support
whatever. has developed into force
that may have to be reckoned with
in the Republican convention.
Almost Incredible Rise.
Even if Willkie gets no farther
than at present. the comment stands
that we have seen development in
American politics that a few short
months ago would have seemed in
credible, the rise of the political out
slider Wlllkie-of all things, a public
/ utility magnate-to degree Of
strength as a presidential candidate
that is causing him to be talked
about as serious challenger. His
| boom may collapse utterly, but he
has already achieved the impossible.
The rise of Willkie is a perfect
illustration of the strangeness of
| these political times What would
have strained the imagination a
little while back-a race between
Roosevelt and Willkle-must be put
down today as among the posi-
bilities.
In the chat between the Mid
western State chairman and the
master minds at Washington it seems
to me that we can find one of the
reasons for the increased attention
that is being paid to Wendell Willkie.
AS it appears today, the Republicans
must wage their campaign on do
mestic issues if they are to have any
chance of success. I say "as it ap-
pears today for none can tell what
will happen from month to month,
from week to week. As of today, as
probably also of the period of the
Republican convention, where is
there any nourishment for the oppo-
sltlon in an attack on a foreign
policy which, unless ali signs are at
fault. has commanded increasingly
the support of the people?
1t is policy against the sending
OF troops abroad and yet it is a
flexible policy designed to safeguard
this country against all conceivable
dangers. In the preparedness meas.
ures now going through Congress,
there is certainly no issue between
the parties. 1t is to b. doubted that
one will arise before the Republicans
meet to draft their platform and
name candidates. The best guess
today is that they will adopt f1exi-
BILE foreign policy plank, not rigid
Or doctrinaire plank. but one that
will take full account OF the realities
of the situation.
If this turns out to be true. then
the lines will be drawn for a battle
over the domestic policies of the
Roosevelt dministration-and. of
course, if he runs, over the third
term.
Willkie Foreign Views Similar.
How are the chances of Willkie
affected by this prospect? They are
affected favorably by the fact that
If he should be the candidate, the
issue of foreign policy would be
largely cancelled out. for the views
of Willkie in this field are close to
the views of Roosevelt. Should these
two oppose each other, the decision
would have to 'be-as it now ap-
pearson domestic issues.
On this prognosis, Taft must be
bracketed to degree with Willkie.
Taft, too, has flexible attitude to-
ward foreign affairs He is not as
close to Roosevelt in this respect as
Willkie is, but ne is closer than either
Dewey or Vandenberg. Each of these
two has taken position that would
inevitably make foreign affairs a
leading, perhaps the dominant, issue
in the campaign if he were nomi-
mated.
They are not to be read out of the
race, but the present shape of things
is hurting their chances and helping
H.