Evening star., 1943-01-03
Live Ghost
Willkie Sure to Be Potent
Factor in ~
Continued From Page BID

group, according to their own private
concept. I think otherwise
AS Mr. Willkie sees it, his role in this
fight is not new one. Rather, it is
taking up where he left of some years
ago. He can point to some little known
political history to show that once before
he and Mr.. Roosevelt were on opposite
sides on the issue of internationalism.
In 1882, Mr.. Willkie joined with little
group at the Chicago convention to work
for Newton D. Bakers nomination. In
the group were Walter Lippmann, the
columnist; Admiral Cary Grayson, close
personal friend Of woodrow Wilson, and
John Stewart Bryan, Richmond (Va),
publisher. They believed that the con-
vention would be deadlocked between
John Nance Garner and Mr. Roosevelt
and that their man would then have an
excellent change of the nomination.
The Garner Hearst -McAdoo- Roosevelt
deal, which resulted in Mr. Roosevelt's
nomination. came as a shock to them.
In the 40 campaign, particularly to-
ward the close of that bitter contest,
Mr.. Willkie and Mr.. Roosevelt Wed
with each other in assurances that the
country could be made strong enough
to prevent any ENHANCEMENT in foreign
quarrels. But Mr.. Willkie today can
point to statement in his principal
1910 address on foreign affairs in which
he advocated, in general terms, what he
is advocating specifically for the peace.
He said:
we are commercial people and
we must therefore build up the COM
merce of the world. We are a peaceful
people and we must therefore strengthen
peace by giving other peoples-Demo-
cratic peoples-our economic support.
Never "Anti- British"
by this I mean that we must above
all things work toward a higher stand
ard of living We must work for a
higher standard of living not only here
in America, but in other countries as
well. The necessity for doing this is
borne out by the statistics of our foreign
trade BY and large. our trade Is best
with those countries which have the
highest standard of living. I truly be-
lieve that high standard of living in
Canada, in Mexico, in South America,
IN the Orient, and perhaps some day
again IN shattered Europe. provides the
only long-term hope for democracy in
this land OF ours"
Mr.. Wilkes first public act after hi,
defeat was to fly to England.
I went to England" Mr.. Willkie
says, when two-thirds of my party was
| opposed to aid to Britain. It was not
popular thing to do. recall that when
| people say am nti-British.'
I have never been British 7
am Tor the British people wholeheartedlv
l am for the commonwealth of nations
But II seems to be obvious, and 1 have
SAID so again and again, that some
Things about the empire are going tn
nave to be altered in the postwar
world"
After Pearl Harbor Mr.. Willkie worked
hard at the job he felt he could do best
serving as loyal opposition, seeking
! to correct what he believed to be admin
lstratlon mistakes in the conduct Of the
war. Long before December 7. he had
campalgned for unified production
organization under single chief. He
Planned to make an all-out appeal for
unlfication in speech widely distributed
IN advance to newspapers for delivery
last January ID. An hour before he was
to go on the air Roosevelt announced
the appointment Of Donald Nelson to be
mead OF reorganized war board. It was
widely said in Washington that the
White House had seen an advance conv
OF the Willkie speech.
Urged "War Bonds"
Mr.. Willkie urged that Gen. Macarthur
De taken out Of Bataan and given "su-
preme command in the Pacific area.
He urged that Defense" bonds be re-
named War bonds. In almost everv
speech he urged that America move in
thought and in deed from passive de-
tense to active, dynamic prosecution OF
the war. He was the first to urge. at a
Freedom House dinner In New York.
that Negroes be allowed to enlist In the
Navy
Speech after speech Mr. Willkie made,
Ignoring that old political axiom, Don't
stick your neck out" and for every
speech he made he turned down 20 re-
quests to speak. He writes his own
speeches, according to those close to him.
debating first draft at rapid rate
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