Evening star., 1942-04-22

publicans than
he was several David Lawrence
months ago. There Is still feeling
among them that he has supported
the administrator foreign policy
ut the expense OF active opposition
so the arbitrary acts OF the New
Deal on domestic questions.
But MIR. willkie nevertheless has
shown that his bid for leadership
n not based on an appeal to the
organization leaders or to the poll
tacians of his party in Congress
He has chosen instead 10 follow
the tactics which made William
Jennings Bryan power In the
Democratic party over long span
OF time. even though the regular
organizations OF the party fought
him every inch of the way.
Mr.. Bryan's success in winning
three nominations 10 the pred-
dency on the Democratic ticket and
virtually dominating the selection OF
n fourth nominee In 1912 was due
sntirely TO his readiness to incur
the unpopularity that came from
opposing the conservative elements
Of his party. He endeavored in
stead 10 espouse what he believed
were the progressive causes and
especially those on which he firmly
believed public opinion had crystal
ssd.
Backed Lease-Lend.
MFR. Winkie took the unpopular
side OF the pre-war issues in Re-
publican circles and supported the
lease-lend policy and the aid-to-
Britain program ut time when q
majority Of the members OF his
own party in Congress were still
Influenced by the isolationist side
Of the war argument.
There are among the Republican
leaders In different parts of the
country men who supported Mr..
willkie In 1910 who denounce him
INV AAAa WodA0 ttot NdSb tlltIk Dh11OtS
for him in another convention. But
these same men would have diff
Guilty In finding another Republican
OF national prominence who had
made record on war issues as good
as that Of Wendell Willkie. II the
election were held tomorrow, he
would have no apologies to make
for his course before Pearl Harbor,
as Is the case with 30 many Re-
publican members of Congress.
MFR, Willkie apparently has. deter
mined to follow the plan which has
so often brought men into positions
Of profound influence in party af-
fairs-to take bold stand In con-
formity with what he believes to be
public opinion and to let the chips
fall where they may politically. The
other course is to puSsy-foot and
trim and adjust ones sails to po-
litical factionalism so as to avoid
making enemies inside the ranks.
VIII 1T Help WilIkie?
Will all this help Mr.. Willkie
when the 1914 nominating conven-
tions occur. Especially If the organi-
yation men are opposed to him?
The so-called organization men, for
the most part, didn't want Willkie
In 1910 and they will be even more
vehement in their opposition next
time. But the rank and file of the
Republican voters will decide the
issues in 1914, as they have in other
political conventions at time of
crisis. IN other words, If Mr..
Wilkes view OF the Nations inter-
national responsibilities is the pre-
dominant view of the country, so
that on foreign policy there is no
serious difference of opinion between
the parties. the Republicans will
have to decide whether on domestic
issues Mr.. WillSies popularity in the
Nation is such as to enable him as
the nominee of his party to win the
election.
FOllb4CAi OSltkdteS QSIfOuIlCS JIleu
leaders bitterly but they always
manage TO pick out some one they
think has a better chance of win
ming than anybody else in the field.
On the whole. the desire TO win the
final election motivates conventions
more than does political bitterness
or factional fighting
It may be that in 1914, if the war
Is over and international issues are
less important than domestic re-
construction, sope other individual
will have caught the popular fancy
He may come from the Willkie
camp. which would be history re-
peating itself in the manner in
which Bryan influenced his party
For Willkie. like Bryan, is watching
public opinion rather than the
murmuringS Of the organization
politicians.
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