Evening star., 1940-06-25


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The Taft dele David Lawrence.
gates are for Taft first of all, but if
convinced that he could not make
the grade, they would be for Willkie
in the main.
Throughout the other delegations,
where favorite sons are the first
choices, Willkie has his preponder-
ant strength.
Thus, clearly, if neither Taft nor
Dewey can get a majority, the
chances of nominating Willkie are
better than even.
This second choice strength Is
what is battling the leaders. 1t is
one reason why there seems to be
more energy concentrated in plan
ming how to stop Willkie than in
finding more delegates for Taft or
Dewey.
Smear Tactics Whispered.
All sorts of rumors and reports
are current as to how Willkie is to
be stopped. Smear tactics are
whispered, but in a Republican
convention they are apt to be a
boomerang against those who en-
gage in such maneuvers. The state
ment signed by 80 Republican Con-
gressmen was so worded as to seem
to be aimed to disqualify Willkie
because of his outspoken belief in
reciprocity. He says it is Repub-
lcan principle. Efforts to drag the
tariff into the debate here in the
face of world situation in which
cartels and government controls of
the broadest sort are in prospect is
merely reminder that some Re-
publicans, even in Congress, do not
know that the biggest issue in
America today is national defense
how to assure national security.
The man who can organize indus
trial America is the man the coun-
try wants in the highest executive
position and that description fits
only two men-Willkie and Hoover.
1t is significant that Hoover talk
has been recurring, but the dele
gates for the most part know that.
as between Willkie and Hoover, the
former would make more colorful
campaign and he does not have the
handicap of having experienced
crushing defeat by the electorate
as in 1882.
Knox and Stimson.
The undercurrents of this conven-
ton are affected by the war. 1t
may seem surprising to say so in
the face of what has been printed,
- but there is no such Juror about the
appointment of Knox and Stimson
to the cabinet as first reports led
the country to believe. The politi-
clans who can only think of petty
politics stormed and fused at Knox
and Stimson when, as a matter If
fact, neither man could do aught but
accept an invitation from the Presi-
dent of the United States at criti-
cal time in world affairs. The dis
clalmer that either Knox or Stim-
son spoke for the Republican party
could have been made without read
Ing these men out of the party be-
cause they did their duty IN a mat
ter OF non-partisan nature, namely
national defense.
This is not to say that any Re-
publicans feel less tolerant about the
timing of the appointments, for
that's what was really resented. But
the feeling of most of the dele
gates, judging by their conversation,
Is one of realism. They are aware
the war is on and that all of the con-
tinent of Europe has been overrun
by the Nazi army. They do not
want to see a platform plank that
hands the election to Roosevelt on
a platter. They want the big popu-
lous Eastern States where pro-Ally
sentiment is dominant to feel that
q Republican President can be lust
as articulate in sympathizing with
the plight of democracies abroad as
a Democratic President, but they do
insist that the platform should de-
clare against entrance into the war
Al Az 40 iluliioiliy pOSoAUlC W dfOlQ III.
The purpose of a national con-
vention is to name candidate who
can win and to write a platform that
appeals to the majority of the peo-
pie. The Gallup polls tell what pub
lie sentiment Is. Also, the existent
disunity and disorganization of the
Industrial machine which must make
national defense weapons tells that
what Is needed is man who can
coordinate the political and indus
trial machinery of the Nation by
winning the confidence of the peo-
pie and their votes in a national
campaign.
Wendell Willkie continues right
in front with the other candidates
as prime contender and he will
lose the nomination only If the
same kind of misguided Republi-
canisrn which brought defeat in
1882 and 1896 is permitted to die
tate the conventions choice and
write its platform.
tReleased by North American