Evening star., 1941-01-30

| he is curCdlllng MS visit, starting
| for home next week.
He said he would be "delighted'
to appear before the United States
| Senate Committee hearing on the
| aid-to-Britain bill when he was told
that Senator Nye, iSolationist leader,
had said Mr.. Willkie should be heard
At one place Mr.. Willkie visited,
the public house (saloon) proprietor,
Harry Phillips, watched.Mr. Willkie
play darts with a loaflng laborer
and, in celebration of the occasion,
brought out bottle Of 1929 cham
payne.
This Guys Too Good.
The man easily defeated Mr..
Willkie, who commended This
guys too good"
Then the champagne was pro-
duced.
Il was going to keep this for Ar
mistice day." the pub proprietor
said. But you are as good as Ar
mistice day and we'll open the bot
tie together"
AllC odi G-tIi oWAlE ldOOISE SIOOO
by, almost unable to comprehend
his victory.
"Blimey! I'm going all interna-
tional." he said.
At the first place visited, also a
pub, Mr.. Willkie was readily recog-
nized by group of soldiers and
other customers. The proprietor
invited him behind the bar.
Serves Round Of Beer.
Mr.. Willkie ordered a round of
beer for the "beys" and then. at
their suggestion, he pulled the tap
and served. He talked with all of
them about war living conditions
and allied topics.
Laborers jammed in at the lunch
hour and the bigger the crowd, the
bigger Mr.. WILKES smile.
"Step up. boys" he invited.
AS he made ready to lunch with
Lord Simon, the lord chancellor,
Mr.. Willkie commented:
Yes, sir, I'm getting some good
information"
Visits Raid Shelters.
Mr.. Willkie visited five sprawling
the midst of a German attack and
said he was moved to tears at the
sight of the public's pluck.
Il am a pretty tough fellow" he
said, but I had to turn my head
away from these people to keep from
doupripbt h,1hblipo over"
Mr.. Willkie was recognized easily
and cheered wildly when he ap-
peared at the Ministry of Home
Security-again without helmet.
Hes the big fellow in the white
hat" the people called to one
another.
Given Helmet by Churchill.
He had brought one helmet from
America and was given another by
Prime Minister Churchill.
Herbert Morrison, the Home Sc
curity Minister, shook hands with
him, reminded him there was an
air raid on and it was the duty OF
everybody to carry a helmet and
gas mask. Smilingly Mr.. Willkie
accepted both from Mr.. Morrison.
On his round Of the public shell
ters last night, Mr.. Willkie was &C.
companied by Ellen Wilkinson, a
member Of Parliament; Malcolm
Macdonald, Health Minister, and
Alderman CharlesSW. Key.
German planes were overhead as
the Republican leader emerged from
two shelters.
At one place young woman edged
her way through swarm of people
around Mr.. Willkie and said, Come
see my baby"
THE baby must not have been over
week DID," Mr.. Willkie said later.
People Not Downhearted.
In another shelter he talked with
man over 10 years old.
HE told me-" declared Mr.. Willkie,
that he would sleep in a shelter
forever if it would help win the war.
In all the places he visited the
people shouted such things as:
1--WE are not down."
"They won't get us down."
Mr.. Willkie declared he found
things better than he had expected.
Some fellow gave me a drink Of
his coffee, and I must say it was
better than some In the fancy
hotels"
There were many cheers for Amer
lea, he said, some of the people
shouting: Send us all you have
got"
A man with a harmonica played
the Star Spangled Banner" when
Mr.. Willkie entered one shelter, and
the crowd joined in the singing.
Go home and tell them we can
take it." one old woman said. pattine
him on the back.
Mr.. Willkie indicated he would
visit Northern England and 'Hell's
Corner" the much bombed and
shelled Dover area, next week before
he cuts short his stay In England.
He laughed at q query as to
whether threatened German inva-
sion was causing him to leave earlier
than he had expected.
Nothing like that" he said. TITS
just a question of making plane