Evening star., 1942-01-14
Mayors Hear Wi||kie;
Conference 10 End
Sessions Here Today
Republican Leader
Declares New Phuse
> Of War Is Beginning


Wendell L. Willkie at the annual
dinner of the United States Confer
ence of Mayors.
The 1910 Republican presidential
candidate drew round after round Of
applause from an audience of some
1000 delegates and guests in the
ballroom at the Mayflower Hotel.
His address was broadcast over the
Blue Network.
Mr.. Willkie warned his listeners
that I'VE are now at the beginning
of new phase of war, the result of
which will profoundly affect the
human race-a war which will de-
eide for generations to come whether
men shall live as individuals in a
free society or as mere implements
in a dehumanized state economy.
All of us realize at last that this is
truly world war, a struggle that
goes far beyond. territorial rivalries
to the very roots of human relations
Every living man, woman and child
has stake In the outcome"
Closing Session Today.
The speaker was introduced to
the dinner guests by Mayor La
Guardia of New York, president of
the conference.
The delegates reconvened this
morning for their closing session
They were to hear addresses by
Sidney Hillman, associate director
1cnoroJ - D NG o,I oNy,
son. administrator Of the Office of
Price Management.
In addressing the mayors last
night, Mr.. Willkie altered his pre-
pared speech after learning that
President Roosevelt had named
Donold M. Nelson as chief of the
Nations war production and econ
omy. Mr.. Willkie had intended to
devote at least part of his address
to the confusion and Ineffective
ness" of overlapping Federal agen-
cies in the direction Of war produc-
ton. Announcement of President
Roosevelt's appointment Of Mr.. Mel
son came a few hours before Mr..
Willkie was scheduled to talk.
Mr.. Willkie said in part:
"The price of victory at best will
be high. The people of the democ-
racies will pay that price, knowing
it is the only way to save their
freedom. They will pay it the more
willingly if convinced in their hearts
that their leaders in government
national and local-in labor and in
industry-measure up to their re-
sponsibilities.
Industry Partially Used.
Nothing is gained now by diSput-
ing the errors of the past. That those
errors were grave is obvious. Other
wise, today, with our resources, we
would be experiencing victories, not
defeats. But there are errors Of the
present which we can and must cor
rect at once.
For instance, in the United States
our unparalleled productive facili-
ties are but partially used. Whole
areas of industry are unconverted to
war needs.
IF we give our soldiers and sailors
the materials of war with which to
fight none of us doubts that they
will defeat the armed forces of the
aggresSorS. But that will not be
enough in the end. Beyond that the
United Nations must have the wis
dom and vision to build just and
enduring peace. This cannot be ac-
complished through pious platitudes.
It can only be accomplished II 1t Is
first realized that the necessary areas
Of trade for the fruitful functioning
OF a modern, scientific economy, like
the areas of attack In a modern.
scientific war, have greatly expanded.
Barriers Obsolete.
Hitler has realized this. His aim
in Europe has been to reorganize
the entire continent as single trade
area under German domination.
The Nazis would be masters and
everybody else would be slaves, but
all would belong to unified econ
omy. We should not let our aversion
to the Nazi philosophy and its brutal
methods blind us to the merits OF
enlarged areas of economic unity.
We know that such areas will be
created in the new world because
they must be. The basic question
is whether they will be created by
the democratic process or by the
totalitarian method.
"Above all things we must not
underestimate our enemies. There
was a lot OF loose talk before Pearl
Harbor about mopping up the Japa-
nese with one hand in a few weeks,
In which our own naval authorities
flamboyantly indulged. We are pay
ing dearly for that overconfldence.
but we still haven't fully absorbed
the lesson.
while false optimism and half
hearted efforts would be disastrous,
there should be no reason for de-
spair. Our potential strength in
man power and resources is infinitely
greater than that of our enemiees.
More than that, we have tremen-
dous spiritual advantage because
free men fighting for the freedom
which means more than life itself,
are strengthened by a moral force
which regimented robots CAN never
understand. The future demands
of us a sober realization of the
difficulties and discouragements
ahead and an acknowledgment of
the cost to each of us, but ou- own
will to victory tells us that we shall
win.
"The structure of totalitarian eff
cheney is, imposing on the outside,
but it is built on sand. The house
of democracy may look shabby by
comparison-the roof may leak and
the shutters may rattle But it is
built on a foundation of solid rock
government by the consent Of the
governed"