Evening star., 1941-10-23

outright repeal of the so-called
neutrality law when the Roosevelt
administration limited its recon-
mendation only to the arming Of
American ships, Mr.. Willkie and
100 prominent Republicans present
a clear-cut issue to the members OF
their party in Congress and viz
tually demand that Republicans
take the initiative and leadership
In the whole defense situa ton.
The man who led the Republican
party in 1910 has, of course, issued
statements of his individual view
point since the elections but he has
not until this week endeayored pub
licly to rally his party behind him.
1t is well known that since a year
ago many Republicans have turned
away from Mr.. Willkie, denomcing
him bitterly for his stand alongside
the President on foreign policy.
Whether this criticism has been
based on an irreconcilable opposi-
ton to everything Rooseveltian or
whether it represents isolationism at
heart he's not been clear, largely
because Mr.. Willkie has never gone
to the mat with his party on these
issues. Moreover. he has never been
ms fortnight in his denunciatlon OF
administration policies on the do
mestic side as he has been energetic
In supporting policies of the Presi-
dent on the foregn relations side.
Calls for Labor Solution.
But Mr.. Willkie minces no words
this time in calling for sane, just,
firm ahnd immediate solution OF our
labor industrial relations to the end
that the utmost production be
brought about He calls for the
effective co-ordinatins influence Of
Government" in gearing the indus
trial system "to It's highest produc-
tive capacity"
On these latter points, most Re-
publicans will agree, but what some
do not perceive as yet is that II
Mr.. Wilkes prestige is enhanced
by winning the neutrality battle, he
will be in a better position with
American public opinion to carry
forward the fight that must inevi-
tably be made on the other issues If
the aid-to-Britain policy Is to be
prosecuted effectively.
Nobody ever won leadership Of 4
political party or kept it after he
won it without being willing to take
q positive position on controversial
issues, Mr.. Willkie might have
been advised to play the passive
game Of not offending any Repuhll-
cans and laying low till the 1914
election. But he has chosen to
make his fight on q vital principle
and since foreign policy is the major
question before the country today,
ne has not hesitated to state what
he thinks the Republican position
should be.
Presents Opportunity.
II the Republican mepbers OF
Congress think public opinion is on
the willkie side they will go along
With him, for he has given them
the opportunity to erase what he
terms the ugly smudge of obstruc-
tive isolationism" from the face OF
the Republican party. Only last
week q large majority of the Re-
publicans in the House voted against
arming American merchant ships,
even when destined for relatively
peaceful waters In the South At
lantic. The crisis, therefore, in the
Republican party has reached q
moment where those who believe in
international cooperation rather
than isoiationism have the chance
to call for q showdown inside the
party. Already, in advance Of the
willkie statement, three able Re
publican Senators-Austin, Gurney
and Bridges-have come out for
repeal OF the Neutrality Law.
Undoubtedly Mr.. WILKES stand
10 not altogether pleasing to the
strictly political Democrats here,
because they would prefer to see the
Republicans keep the isolationist
side of the argument The New
Dealers TO this day think it was
smart politics in the last campaign
10 charge the Republicans with ap-
pAasenent and isolationism and they
are sure this swung millions of inde-
pendent votes TO Mr.. Roosevelt last
Year.
Asks Fundamental Decision.
But irrespective Of what the DEM
ecrats think is to their advantage or
disadvantage, the Willkie move is
the most sensational step In Re-
publican politics In . long while. IT
seeks to reverse . position on foreign
policy that was adopted in 1920,
but which prior to that time under
Republican administrations ever
since the Civil War was one Of Wig
crous assertion of American rights
on the high seas and readiness to
defend the honor Of the United
States wherever attacked by land or
sea.
Mr.. Willkie goes back to the Re-
publicanism Of John Hay, Elihu
Root, Charles Evans Hughes, Will
liam Howard Taft and Theodore
Roosevelt and asks the party to
make a fundamental decision In .
period of world crisis. Regardless Of
what happens to Mr.. WILKES own
political fortunes-for he has taken
O big risk in q political ssnse-his
action in venturing to stir his party
10 take the initiative in expressively
defending the cause of democracy