Evening star., 1941-10-22
Republicans Join
Wihkie in Appeal for
Neutrality Repeal
Members of Congress
Asked TO Lead Porty
Back to Leadership
pv the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Oct. 22.-Wendell l.
Willkie and more than 100 other
Republicans appealed last night to
GO. p. members of Congress to
lead their party back to political
leadership" by outright repeal of the
Neutrality Act or by rewriting it
without provisions obstructing aid to
Britain and her Allies.
Millions upon millions of Re-
pubicans are resolved that the ugly
smudge of obstructive isolationism
shall be removed from the face of
their party =" Mr.. Willkie
said In a statement to which was
appended the appeal 10 Congress
signed by the 100 Republicans. Mr..
sWillkie also took occasion to criti-
Cize the adminiStra tion'S handling
of. labor management relations, the
manner in which the foreign policy
was given to the people and asserted
that the desire of many in the ad-
mIniStration to rewrite our social
and economic life under cover of the
national effort must be ruled out
during the emergency"
Fortnight Policy Wanted.
Mr.. Willkie declared that the re-
nuirement for America today is for a
fortnight international policy de-
signed to encompass the destruc-
ton of totalitarianism by whatever
means necessary"
The policy should be presented
to us by our elected leader frankly
and not by doses as though we were
children" the Willkie statement SAID.
The signed appeal appended to
Mr.. Wilkes remarks said the Neu-
tralitv Act was not of Republican
origin. but nevertheless We recognize
that in these dangerous and uncer-
tain times many Republicans nave
felt that it offered a measure OF
nrotectiOn or have at least favored
giving it a fair trial
Hypocritical and Degrading.
1t recited further that the sign
ers wanted to express our con-
yiction that, whatever purpose the
Neutrality Act NAV have served
originally, it serves no useful pur-
nose now: that its existence rather
pvnoses the United States TO the
greatest threat of our history; tnat
II in effect constitutes aid to Hitler
that in the sense that it proclalms
our neutrality in a struggle III
which neither the people nor the
Congress have shown themselves
neutral 1t is now both hypocrltl-
cal and degrading. and that 1t Is
preventing the fulfillment OF a pol
lev of aid to Britain and her allies
which the American people over
whelmingly indorse."
The appeal holds that the aim
ef the American people today is to
deliver supplies and equipment to
those who are fighting Hitler, and
that this aim cannot be accom-
plished merely by arming merchant
ships"
"We therefore urge you (Repub-
Iican members of Congress- to lead
YOUR party back TO political leader
ship by insisting upon the outright
repeal of this act, or at least the
rewriting of it without those fea-
lures that obstruct the policy OF
aid" the appeal said.
Six Governors Sign.
Among Governors who signed 1t
were Leverett Saltonstall of Massa-
rhusetts, Harold E. Stassen. Mime
sofa: Robert o. Blood New Hamp-
shore: Charles A Sprague Oregon;
William H. Wills, Vermont, and
Arthur B. Langlie Of Washington.
Other signers included former
members of Congress and present
and former national and State
committeeman.
Mr.. Wilkes own statement, In
addition to the reference to the
foreign policy. asserted that equally
important is a sane, just. firm and
immediate solution of our labor in
dustrial relations. to the end that
the utmost of production can be
brought about
"The intelligent leaders Of both
labor and industry and the whole
people desire this" Mr.. Willkie
said, "only the administration is
laggard.
"Our whole industrial economy
needs the effective co-ordinating
influence of government. Our econ
omy must be geared to its highest
productive capacity"
Mr.. Willkie declared the Repub-
iican party "by loyal, constructive
opposition is the instrumentality
through which these objectives can
be forced TO accomplishment"
G. o. P. Leaders Who Signed. e
The signers were:
Alabama-Former National Com
mitteeman o. D. Street.
Arizona-Former Gov. John c. !
Phillips, State Chairman Lloyd G.
Lakin and Eben E Lane, treasurer, |
State Central Committee.
Arkansas-State Chairman Osro
Cobb.
CaLfornia-Nationa Committee
man w. F. Knowland, Mayor
Fletcher Bowron of Los Angeles, |
former Chairman Chester H. Rowell
of the State Central Committee,
Assemblyman Lee T. BaShore, Vice
Chairman Mcintyre Fairies of the
State Central Committee, Executive
Committeeman Samuel F. B. Morse
of the Central Committee and
Treasurer Charles Blythe of the
committee.
Connecticut-Former Gov. Ray
mond E. Baldwin.
DelaWare-MrS. Frank G. Tall
man. national committeewoman.
Georgia-National Committeeman
Wilson Williams.
Illinois-JameS Douglas, former
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
Indiana-Mrs Grace B, Reynolds,
national committeeWoman.
Several Ex-SenatOrs Sign.
IoWa-Former Senators Dickin-
son and Stewart, former Gov. Dan
Turner, former Attorney General