Evening star., 1942-08-10
lWi||kie Urges Party
To Defeat Fish in
Primary Tomorrow
Issues Statement Citinq
IsoIutionist Record
Before War Began
By the Associated Press.


ALBANY, N. Y, Aug. 10,-Pre-
war foreign policy is an issue in
New York's primary elections to-
morrow, in which voters nominate
43 Representative and choose party
convention delegates who will name
candidates for a nationally spot
lighted governorship race.
The pre-Pearl Harbor isolationist
Issue has been emphasized in Rep
resentative Fish's fight for Repub-
lican denomination in President
Roosevelt's home district. Mr..
Fish's opponents-Augustus w. Ben
nett, Newburgh attorney; State
Assemblyman Emerson D. Fite, Vas
sar College professor, and Edward
J. Bowen of Poughkeepsie-have
based their campaign on the isola-
zionist views they say he expressed
before the war. Mr.. Bowen also
is entered in the Democratic primary
against Judge Ferdinand A. Hoyt.
On the same basis both Thomas
E. Dewey, 1888 Republican guber-
material nominee, and Wendell l..
Willkie, 1910 Republican presidential
candidate, have urged Representa-
tive Fish's defeat.
WILKES Statement.
Mr.. Willkie declared in state
ment last night denomination OF Mr.
Fish by the Republicans would give
"the opposition the right to use
Fish's record as a symbol Of Re-
publican political philosophy.
Commenting on Mr.. WILKES posi-
ton, Representative Fish in a state
ment assailed Mr.. Willkie as an
individual who was willing to de
stroy national unity and lose the
war If he can defeat former nom
interventionists and make himself
the leader of the Republican Party
as an interventionist."
Mr.. Fish declared he always had
been certain of denomination but
now that Mr.. Willkie had injected
himself into the campaign he was
sure OF a greater margin of victory.
Mr.. WILKES statement was made
public by Andrew S. Calyer, cam
paign manager of Mr.. Bennett.
Mr.. Calyer said Mr.. Willkie tele-
graphed Mr.. Bennett that with
nothing but praise for the others,
I do urge that all who are opposed to
Mr.. Fish rally behind you because
only thus can he be defeated"
Asserting that intervening in the
26th District primary was justified
because mot only will the decision
of Congress and its important COM
mittees profoundly effect our coun-
try's welfare, but in this instance
the future of the entire Republican
party is involved" Mr.. Wilikie said:
"The incumbent Congressman,
Hamilton Fish, played an important
role prior to Pearl Harbor in OBJ
structing every effort of either party
to prepare this country against at
tack and to protect our political
institutions from possible destruc-
tion.
Voting Record Recalled.
'His votes against the lend-lease,
selective service extension, revision
of Neutrality Act and his attempt
to emasculate the original Selective
Service Act by the Fish amendment
all tended to weaken America,
whether her role should prove de-
fensive or offensive"
Calling upon Republicans Of the
district to be mindful of the
broader obligations to their country
and to their party" Mr.. Willkie said
Republicans through intelligent op-
position must clear up confusion in
Washington, help get the country
on an all-out war footage, put an
end to the exploitation of the war
program for political purposes, ar
rest the threat of imitation and
prevent the further extension of
those collectivist ideas which, though
we are fighting against them abroad,
have for years been encouraged by
the present administration"
The pre-war isolationist issue also
has been raised against Represen-
tative Barry, Queens County Dem
ocrat, opposed by William F. Brun-
ner, former Representative, and
Representative Marcantonio, a
leader of the American Labor Party's
left wing who is opposed in the
ALP. Republican and Democratic
primaries of New York City's Goth
district once represented by Mayor
La Guardia. Mr.. La Guardia has
Endorsed Mr.. Marcantonio.
Eight other incumbent Represen-
tatives seek denomination in 25 con-
tests.
Mead Bennett Contest.
Election in the primaries of State
convention delegates is expected to
give an early indication of the
strength of Senator Mead and State
Attorney General John j. Bennett,
jr., contenders for the Democratic
gubernatorial nomination in battle
which pits the political influence of
State Democratic Chairman James
A. Farley against that of President
Roosevelt. Mr.. Farley, who split
with Mr.. Roosevelt on the third
term issue, is backing Mr. Bennett
The President has said that, if
he were delegate to the Democratic
State Convention August 10, he
would vote for Senator Mead.
Meanwhile, friends of Mr.. Dewey,
who lost to Democratic Gov. Her.
bert H. Lehman in 1888 and has not
announced his candidacy, claim
pledges of more than enough dele
gates to give him the Republican
nomination. Mr., Lehman's decision
= not to seek a fifth term precipitated
the Democratic gubernatorial con-
test.