The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-05-25
Republicans
Gather Here
MucNider Will
Be KeYnoter

tional crisis. the Washington adj
ministration's reaction 10 II and It's
possible effect on the ia4O ma
tional and state political cam
paigns.
Drawn from youth Of the
ages from which armies are
moulded. Young Republicans,
too. had written = "war plank
their leaders predicted might.
to some extent. point the way
for their elders.
| Young Republicans Friday were
to hold their semi-annual election
of officers, and anticipated few
contests
But 1t WAS expected their con-
vention would forecast the possible
turbulent course of the Saturday
big top in staging floor battles
over whether Thomas f. Dewey
or any other presidential candidate
should be endorsed and whether the
Washington delegation to the ma
tional convention should be in
structed and tori bound by unit
rule.
Then. too. Young Republic
cans probably were 10 argue
over proposed endorsement Of
one or more candidates for one
or more of the four state dele
gates-at-Iarge posts.
And that also would be an ac-
curate forerunner of what Is sure
to happen in the major convention
| Saturday.
There the contest for congress
sional district delegates and dele
gates-at-large Is sure to be keen.
Already the strife over personali-
ties and policies involved tparticu-
larry relating to support of presi-
dental candidates. has waxed
more than usually bitter.
In n word. it was obvious
to all observers Friday that
Republicans were heading into
the most rouslng convention
program they had staged since
the now famous Bellingham
session n decade ago. when
prohibition was the over-shad-
owing issue - and Was con-
demned.
Hanford MacNider. Iowa's fay-
orite son for the presidential nomi-
nation, who will keynote the con-
vention opening here Saturday
morning at IL o'clock at the
Armory, stopped in Seattle to flay
the administration's criminal
negligence" in failing to build for
national defense.
MacNider charged that talk
of a coalition cabinet Was n
smoke-screen 30 try 10 get
Republicans to share the guilt
for the nations unprepared-
ness.
With some delegations coming
to the convention pledged to the
candidacy of Thomas f. Dewey.
New York racket buster, for the
presidential nomination, and other
county groups uninstructed, a
lively fight was expected.
Endorse Dewey
Dewey forces said, however, four
candidates for positions as dele
gates-at-large to the national con-
yention had the Endorsement of rs
Dewey leaders, representing every
county in the state.
They were Lloyd r. Candy.
Spokane; Nat u. Brown, Yakima:
Mrs. A. G. Natwick. Washougal, |
and John J. Sullivan, Seattle.
Rufus Woods, editor and pub
Usher of the Wenstehee World and /
a possible candidate for governor, |
will address the Young Republic
cans banquet tonight at Winthrop
hotel
The convention Saturday will /
consider a resolution seeking post /
ponement of the national meeting |
until Sept. 3 because of the Euro
pean war.
MacNider, former national COM |
mander of the American Legion, |
former assistant secretary Of war
and ex.minister TO Canada, was
out-spoken during his Seattle visit.
Defense Wanted
Everyone in America will agree /
we want a national defense that /
will guarantee that our children /
will have an opportunity to grow
up as Americans" MacNider said.
The American people are
both shocked and angered at
the disclosure made by the
president that during his term
a PRESIDENT period In
which Hitler has built up the
greatest war machine In his
tOrs-we have been left In
pitifuI state Of unprepared-
ness.
President Roosevelt knows or
should have known what has been
going on In Europe, and as com
mander in chief OF our armed
forces the responsibility for our
protection rested upon him. He
asked for that responsibility and
he has had II Now. according TO
his own confession. ne has left us
helpless 10 meet the dangers Of
a ssyagely war-torn world.
Sees Dictatorship
Almost simultaneously with the
cries Of alarm from the president
there has come a set OF inspired
stories out Of Washington about
= coalition government There Is
only one reason why TINS admins
tration could possibly suggest such
a thing. That would be a willing
ness 70 allow Republicans 10 share
the guilt Of criminal negligence