Evening star., 1940-06-12
WilIkie Thinks u. S. Defense
Should Be Planned, Not Chaotic
Candidate Expects
Strength to Grow
At Convention
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

|
fense developed by military and in
dustrial leaders before it loses itself
in maze of Well-intentioned but
uncoordinated efforts.
The head of Commonwealth &
Southern Corp, former Hoosier
and now New Yorker. and an ac-
tive candidate for the Republican
presidential nomination. discussed
national and political questions in
formally today at the Carlton Hotel,
prior to appearing as guest speaker
at National Press Club luncheon.
After talking with Representative
Halleck, Republican, of Indiana, Mr.
Willkie announced that his name
would be placed before the Repub-
lican National Convention by Mr..
Halleck.
Mr. Willkie said he believed the
country should have a detailed plan
for, national defense, showing just
what was the defense task and the
needs in arms and men. BY OBJ
tanning such a plan, he said, it would
be possible to save lot of money,
and also to let the people know
just what was expected of them and
why. He was not ready, he said,
| to advocate universal military train
ing, and indicated he would be
guided by the report of proper
planning commission after it had
made its recommendations
Willkie Second on Possibility List.
Mr.. Willkie describes his candi-
dacy as another Topsy-'just
growed.' However, polls today place
him second on the list of Repub-
lican presidential possibilities, head
/ ed by District Attorney Thomas E.
Dewey of New York and followed
/ by Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio.
1t is clear that the former Hoosier
is taking his campaign for the nom
inatlon far more seriously than he
did couple of months ago, when
it started.
Willkie supporters insist that when
the roll is called for the first presi-
Dental ballot in the Republican Ma
tional Convention in Philadelphia,
a couple of weeks hence, from 35 to
70 delegates will plump for their
candidate, and, they add, there may
be more. They expect his strength
to grow as the balloting continues.
Willkie delegates, it is said,
already are pledging themselves to
support his nomination in Indiana
where it is estimated that from 6 to
10 delegates will go to him on the
first ballot. In New York, the State
of Mr.. Wilkes adoption. some of
| the delegates are expected to sup
| port him, too, as well as in New
Jersey. Intensive work is being done
for him in New Jersey, where it is
/ said at least $50 Willkie- for -Presi-
/ dent Clubs have been organized.
There are said to be as many or
more than 500 such clubs scattered
through the country.
Against Getting Into War.
Mr.. Willkie declined this morning
to comment on President Roosevelt's
Charlottesville address, in which the
Chief Executive was particularly
critical of Premier Mussolini of italy.
1t is known, however, that Mr..
Willkie believes that a President of
the United States should always
be a deterrent against getting this
country into war-not only this
present war, but any war. He has
been on the whole sympathetic
with President Roosevelt's foreign
policy and his sympathies are en-
tirely with the British and the
French in their war with Germany
and Italy. This does not mean.
however, that he believes this
country should now intervene in the
war abroad or send American SOL
diers or armed forces to Europe to
fight.
Mr.. WILKES principal objections
to the New Deal administration
are based, it is said, on the facts
that the administration has not
provided adequate national defense
and that it has failed absolutely
to ~evive national economy for the
American people.
Mr.. Wilkes candidacy for the
Republican presidential nomina-
tlOn has been attacked from the
angle that he is representative of
big business and public utilities. 1t
has been attacked also on the
ground that, until comparatively
short time ago, he was registered
Democrat.
Liabilities Into Assets.
Mr.. Willkie believes, however, that
these So-called liabilities are turning
out to be assets. For example, the
fact that he has been Democrat
and supported President Roosevelt
for election in 1882, will be draw
ing card with Democrats and Re-
publicans who voted for the Presi-
dent when he first ran for office, it
is said. Mr.. Willkie voted against
the President in 1886.
He has no quarrel with the prin-
cipal of collective bargaining. Par
ticularly strong is the support he is
receiving from businessmen, big and
little. In his opinion, the interests
of the smaller businessmen are four
square with the interests of big
business and the Roosevelt attacks
on big business have reacted even
more unfavorably on small busi-
neSseS.
The Willkie supporters insist that,
even if Mr. WILKES boom for the
presidential nomination started "at
the top"-with big business re-
sponsible in large part-it has per-
culated down, reaching small busi-
nessmen in large numbers and mov-
ing in the farming group and labor.
His recent trip into the Middle
/ ,ial, LII