Evening star., 1942-10-17
BY GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Stan Writer.

drove up to the entrance of the
house he bought six months ago.
There was no crowd waiting to
meet him. Only four reporters and
news photographer who had
driven from Indianapolis. He is
home for a weeks rest and had not
advertised in any way his return.
During the next few days he will
decide what, if any, part he will
play in the wind up of the present
political campaign.
Il have made no plans and will
think things over for a couple of
days." said Mr.. Willkie, when he was
asked if he intended to take part
either in the campaign in this, his
old home State, or in New York,
the State of his adoption, where
Thomas E. Dewey is the Republican
candidate for Governor.
Opposed by State Leaders.
A rather amazing situation exists
here. The man who carried the Re-
publican banner as presidential can
didate two years ago-and who car
ried Indiana by $4,000 votes over
President Roosevelt-is anathema to
many of the Republican leaders in
this State.
They turned against him when he
declared himself In accord with the
Presidents foreign policy and for
all out aid to the Allied nations soon
after the election had been held
and after the war situation abroad
had become more threatening.
When I asked today whether they
Intended to make use of this fore
most Republican to help them in
the congressional and State elec-
tions, they hemmed and hawed.
Apparently they thought there
might be dynamite involved. Many
of the rank and file voters are still
strong for Mr.. Willkie, however.
Mr.. Willkie has been a foremost
advocate of abandoning the old Re-
publican isolationist attitude. That,
too, has enraged the Republican
leadership in Indiana. The State
was believed to be isolationist in
sentiment-and certainly the Re-
publican members of the House, all
of whom are now up for reelection,
voted that way before Pearl Harbor
Early in the year Mr.. Willkie an
nounced that he would campaign
for those Republicans in Congress
who had believed as he did, and were
in favor of all out aid to the nations
fighting the Axis powers.
None of the Indiana Republican
members held such a position. There
was only one Democratic member
from Indiana who voted for the
Selective Service Act.
Ridiculous Situation.
Since Pearl Harbor, the picture
has changed greatly, for all the Re-
publicans have gone along with the
all-out effort to win the war. Mr.
Willkie could, if he would, breath
new life into the campaign here
There still remains the fact that the
old line Republicans in command
of the organization don't like Mr.
Willkie. So the question is whether
Mr.. Willkie will be asked to take
part in the campaign and whether
he will accept, if he is asked. 1t is a
ridiculous situation, but there it Is
Mr.. Willkie looked well, but tired
and strained after his long trips
days in all. He wants to rest, to
think and to do a bit of writing
IIyi11lyio u,lon ic tr,itI h him in
tends to see that he gets that rest
If she possibly can. He explained
that this was the first time he hac
been in his new house since it hac
been redecorated.
OF his trip, Mr.. Willkie had little
TO say 'on the record" in addition
to what he said while he was abroae
and since his recent return to thi.
country. He made it clear that hi
went to these countries as the per.
sonal representative of the Presi
dent, but with complete freedom X
speak his own mind.
He could have had ambassadors
status, had he wished. In that event
however, he would have had to sub
nit to the State Department or 1t
representatives any public state
ments he made while abroad, befor
making them. That was not wha
Mr.. Willkie wanted.
He was given an entree to thu
powers that be in the countries h'
visited such as has not been &C
corded to others. He learned a 10
about these countries and about tn,
war. He is still convinced, he said
that Russia will be able to withstand
the Nazis-that the Nazis will neve
overrun that huge country.
Question in New York.
If and when Mr.. Willkie goes bac
to New York, he will be faced ther
with the question of what he sha
do about the political campaig
there Mr.. Dewey, whom he deteate
for the Republican nomination to
President in 1910, is running fo
Governor Of New York. It is no sc
cret that Mr.. Willkie was opposed t
the Dewey nomination. The gues
has been, however, that Mr.. Wiki
will either make a statement for @
deliver one speech in support OF tn
Dewey candidacy.
Here in Indiana the Democrat
insist they have good chances t
take from their Republican oppo
nents several Of the House seats no.
occupied by Republicans. In tn
present Congress the Republican
have eight and the Democrats fou
Representatives. -.
There are no guberratoria1 an
senatorial elections in the State thI
year, and whatever national intereS
exists is over the races for tn
House. Indiana loses one House sec
due to reapportionment under tn
1940 census.
The Democrats are virtually sur
70 elect Ray Madden, their candi
date In the LIST district. who defeate
Representative Schultz for the non,
lnatson. They are sure. too. TO n
elect Representative Ludlow IN III
lith district formerly the 18th