Evening star., 1943-03-28
By GOULD LINCOLN,
Star STAFF CorreSpondent.

NEW YORK, March 27.-Sup-
porters of Wendell L. Willkie be-
lieve things are looking up for
their candidate next year. They
realize, they say, that he has tough
hurdles to jump before he can win
in the 1914 convention. These they
list as follows: Opposition from
members of the Republican organi-
cations in many States, opposition
from Republican members of Con-
gress and opposition from the
dyed-in-the-wool isolationists. They
by no means despair, however, over
the prospect.
Mr. Wilkes troubles with the
organization Republicans-and, to
some extent, with the Republican
members of Congress - can be
traced to three things:
First, in 1910 he was catapulted
into national campaign with lit
tie political experience and made
some mistakes
Second, Willkie Clubs, which had
been organized all over the coun-
try to help bring about his nomi-
nation, got into a jam with the
regular Republican organization in
many places. There was no proper
coordination.
Third, Mr.. Willkie undertook to
bring about change of the COP
attitude on foreign affairs, to get
the party to shift from its support
of isolationism and to back inter-
national cooperation.
Made No Personal Attacks.
In behalf of Mr.. Willkie, it is
pointed out he made no personal
attacks on his critics in the Re-
publican organization. 1t is argued
therefore, that if he can demon
strate real strength with the run
of-the mine voters there can be
no personal bitterness which would
stand in the way of party leaders in
the States joining up with him
again.
Already, it is said, there has been
a change of sentiment toward Mr..
Willkie on the part of some of the
regular Republican organization
men in the Middle West, which he
recently has visited-Missouri and
Indiana. for example When he was
in Kansas City to speak for the Red
Cross. party leaders from both Mis-
souri, and Kansas gathered to meet
him. There were no commitments
But the feeling apparently had
changed to a more friendly atti-
tude.
The Willkie people point out. too
there has been a change Of attitude
on the part of many Republicans
in respect to the isolationism issue
With growing demands throughout
the country that there be real CO.
operation by the United States in
the maintenance Of peace after the
war has been won, it is expected
this change will become more and
more marked 1t is not now ex-
pected that the Republican party,
in national convention next year,
will adhere to policy of isolation
ism. All this, Mr.. Wilkes friends
insist. will increase Mr.. Wilkes
availability.
International Policy Cited.
Mr. Willkie carried the torch for
international cooperation both be-
fore and after the last presidential
election. He supported such meas
ures as the Selective Service Act
and the Lease-Lend Act. He was
criticized by some Republicans be-
cause he went along with Roosevelt
foreign policy and even urged the
Republicans to grab the ball and
run with it. It was this attitude
which aroused resentment of COP
members of Congress, particularly
When the Republican National
Committee met in Chicago carly in
1912, Mr.. Willkie sent a resolution
out there to commit the COP to
the policy of international co-opera-
ton after the war. 1t was vigor-
ously supported by his friends. In
the end it was rewritten and adept
ed. This was the first big step to-
ward an official change in the Re-
publican attitude on foreign rela-
tions. Again, when the Republican
National Committee met last De-
cember in st. Louis, Mr.. Willkie
and his friends fought the can
didacy of Werner Schroeder of Illi-
nois for the national Craftsmanship,
on the ground that Mr.. Schroeder's
election would be regarded as a
victory for the isolationist Chicago
Tribune. Mr.. Schroeder was de-
feated. Harrison Spangler of Iowa
not Willkie man-finally was
elected as a compromise candidate
But again the strength of the anti
isolationist sentiment in the party
had been demonstrated, largely un-
der Willkie leadership.
Ball Measure Third Step.
A third step away from isolation
ism on the part Of Repihlicans uas