Evening star., 1940-06-23
Stop Wi||kie'
Cry Heard as
6. 0. P. Meets
Greatest Uncertainty
Since 1920 Hovers
Over Convention
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Staff CORRESPONDENT,


Star Staff Correspondent.
PHILADELPHIA, June o.
Not since 1920 have the Repub-
licans gathered for a national
convention with such great un-
certainty about the presidential
nomination.
Almost as great uncertainty
prevails in regard to that part
OF the party's platform which
relates to the European war. In
fact, the foreign relations plank
threatens as much discord as did
national prohibition in 1892.
The Republicans adopted a yes
and no" plank then and went
down to ignominous defeat.
When the convention opens Mon
day the leaders in delegate strength
for the presidential nomination will
be Thomas E. Dewey. New York's
racket-busting district attorney, and
Senator Taft of Ohio.
A tremendous drive, accompanied
by high-pressure salesmanship par
ticipated in by businessmen. bank
ers and professional men, is being
staged to advance the candidacy of
Wendell L. Willkie of New York,
president of the Commonwealth and
Southern Corp. Claims were made
tonight that the Willkie delegate
strength would exceed that of Sena-
tor Vandenberg of Michigan, who
in the past has been regarded as
one of the three top candidates.
stop Willkie' Cry Heard.
To meet this Willkie drive for
delegates, there is in process of Or
ganization a strong Stop Willkie"
combination, headed by Republican
leaders who do not believe the party
can afford to nominate the presi-
dent of big utility company, .
man who until q year ago was re-
corded as a Democrat, and a man
who has been regarded, certainly
until recently, as seeing eye to eye
with President Roosevelt on foreign
policy.
The Grand Old Partys two most
colorful aspirants, Mr.. Dewey and
Mr.. Willkie, both have their deter
mined enemies. Many of Mr..
Dewey's enemies are counted among
the supporters of Mr.. Willkie. They
insist that they have Mr.. Dewey
"stopped"-that after the first or
second ballot, Dewey delegates Will
desert in large numbers. Their next
hurdle then will be the Taft can
didacy. If the Willkie forces can
prevent the nomination of the Ohio
Senator, they figure it will be COM
paratively easy sailing for their
man.
A flaw in this plan of operation
may be found in the fact that Sena-
tor Taft, well liked and highly re-
garded, has no bitter enemies, and
1t may turn out that enough of the
delegates will vote for him Lot only
to prevent the nomination of Mr..
Wlllkie, but also To bring about the
nomination of the Ohio Senator.
That, at least, is what the TafterS
ardently hope. The Deweyites in
sist they will put their man across
the line winner on an early ballot.
Vandenberg Hopes.
In the meantime, this city is filled
with rumors and with busily work.
ing leaders and near-leadels, seek.
ing combinations to tie up the con-
vention until their favorite can be
nominated. The Vandenberg sup.
porters have not given up nope that,
IN the end, the Michigan Senator
will be the compromise choice. Also
there Is determined, though quiet,
drive for the nomination of Former
President Herbert Hoover of Cali
fornia.
Mr.. Hoover, who is slated to ad-
dress the convention Tuesday night
by special invitation, is the only
avowed or dark horse candidate for
the presidential nomination who has
not already arrived or who will not
be here when the convention opens.
Whether he will remain in the con-
vention after his address Tuesday
night will depend, perhaps. on his
reception and the progress which
his advocates make. At present he
does not plan to be here.
Mr.. Dewey. Senator Taft and Mr..
Willkie all arrived in the city to.
day, strongly urged by their sup.
porters to come here promptly. Gov.
Arthur H. James of Pennsylvania
and Hanford MacNider of Iowa are
here; Gov. Baldwin of Connecticut
Is due to arrive soon, and 50 is
Gov. Bricker of Ohio. The first
lSee G q p PAGE AN