Evening star., 1940-09-15
Members Of Congress,
Anxious 10 Campaign,
Talk Adjournment
Leaders Are Divided
On Three Proposals
Under Consideration
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
Republican Presidential Candidate
Wendell l.. Willkie today is headed
into the West for his first big cam
paign tour, which will carry him
into 18 States in two weeks, and
members of Congress, Democrat and
Republican alike, are looking with
envious eyes toward him.
They are anxious to get away and
into their own campaigns for re-
election. With the national election
only little more than seven weeks
In the future, they were talking
yesterday OF adjouring the present
session-or at least OF recessing until
after November 5, election day.
Three proposals are under consid-
Grafton. First, an Out-an-out ad-
journment of Congress. This would
mean no more sessions for the pres
ent Congress unless the President
should call a special session between
adjournment date and January 3,
when the new Congress takes over.
Second, recess of Congress until
November II, when the elections
will have been over for almost a
week. Third. three-day recesses,
with a gentlemen's agreement to do
no important business until after
election day-unless an emergency
should make it necessary for Con-
gress to act without delay.
Opinion Is Divided.
Senate Majority Leader Barkley
and the House leaders generally are
favorable to an adjournment sine
die. House Minority Leader Martin.
who also is national chairman of
the G. o. P. insisted that the three
DAY recess plan with only corporals
guard remaining here to perform
the necessary recesses was the
best plan. Representative Woodrum
Democrat. of Virginia preferred a
long recess-until November II, Tor
example.
All agreed. however. that Congress
will have completed its major legis-
lative program for preparedness by
the end of the coming week, or GER
tainly by September 25. The final
passage of the military draft bill
Yesterday broke the log jam. Only
two other vital measures remain
the last deficiency bill and the ap-
preparation bill to carry out the
terms of the draft legis'f on. 1t is
expected they will be tam up and
quickly disposed Of in the House
and then i'll the Senate The tax
bill, already passed by the House,
is pending in the Senate and it is
believed that measure will be passed
and sent to conference by tomorrow
night. There is a sugar bill which
Senator Barkley insists must be
cared for before Congress adjourns
or recesses. but that need not delay
Congress long. Nor with the urge to
get away and into the campaign is
1t likely to do so.
HAS Willkie Slipped?"
AS Mr.. Willkie headed West yes
terday, members of Congress dis
cussed informally the question
Has Willkie slipped?" There have
been two political phenomena. both
having to do with Mr.. Willkie, in the
last few months. The first WAS his
nomination for President by the G..
o. P National Convention. which
was regarded as little short of a
miracle. The second has been the
amazing growth of rumor that Mr.
Willkie has been a disappointment to
his followers. and that he has lost
ground materially
Republican members of Congress
yesterday shook their heads over the
situation. They did not care to be
quoted, but expressed their concern
Democratic members. on the other
hand, were openly jubilant, declar-
ing that Mr. Willkie is definitely on
the toboggan.
The Willkie- slipping rumor has
grown like wildfire. 1t has been
nurtured, of course, by the New
Dealers, and there is more than
suspicion that the propaganda ma
chine has been instrumental. But
the most amazing part of the busi-
ness has been the manner in which
Republicans have fallen for it.
Gloomy Attitude Changes.
Mr.. Willkie is at last launching an
active campaign. His enthusiastic
reception in Chicago's great Loop
district on Friday, plus the results
OF the Maine election, have already
caused change in the gloomy at
tltude Of some of the Republican
members of Congress Mr.. Willkie
Is partly responsible himself for
this attitude in the past. He dis
agreed with many OF these Repub-
llcans. first on the proposal to draft
industrial plants, according to the
formula laid down in the Overton-
Russell amendment to the military
conscription bill. and again on the
Fish amendment to the same meas
ure, which would have postponed
the actual operation of the draft
for so days, or until after election
day. Many of the Republicans in
tllc EfOuSC dliu lllc ocIldIS support
ed the Fish amendment, and some
OF them, in the Senate, the Over
ton Russell amendment. When their
presidential candidate took issue
with them it left them gasping and
some of them indignant. They were
In a frame of mind to accept re-
ports that Mr.. Willkie was making
mistakes and losing ground.
Martin Rallies Spirit.
Representative Martin. however. is
doing all he can to rally the spirits
of the Republicans in the House
and out. He firmly asserts that Mr..
Willkie has done nothing to lose
his popularity and challenges any
one to point to persons who have
been in favor OF Willkie and who
are now against him.
Mr.. Wilkie has saved his am
munition for the final weeks of
the campaign. In this, Chairman
Martin insists, he has been wise.
Mr.. Willkie was nominated at the
Philadelphia convention with great
enthusiasm His selection WAS hailed