The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-10-25

CklSCks
Willkie opened the off-the-rec-
ord meeting by telling hts listen.
erS that o grasS-rootS canvass OF
the nation had convinced him he
could have the Republican NOM
nation again In 1914 II he wanted
It. He stated that as o fact, with
no seeming conceit, but with O
diSarming frankness that charmed
the COP politicoes instead Of an
tagonizing them.
However, I will tell you very
frankly" he continued, "unless
the party has the kind Of plat
form that will show we are
conscious Of the fact that the
United States can NO longer live
as Q nation isolated from the
rest Of the world, win not &C.
cept the nomination"
He added that II he Is to be the
1914 nominee, the platform must
clearly, call for U. 8. collaboration
with other nations to insure the
future peace Of the world. On
domestic issues, he stated that
there, will be no return to re.
dictionary, anti.labor policies Of
former COP administrations II he
Is TO lead the party.
II understand there are
number Of men here who want
TO ask me some embarrassing
questions" WilIkie declared az.
Ter he had finished his opening
statement. "Well, gentlemen,
the only way you can embarrass
mo Il BY falling TO ask these
questions, I know what some
Of you have on your minds"
He then proceeded to inform his
slightly baffled audience that GER
tain members Of the COP Mis-
souri, delegation who were pres
ent had had several questions
planted" on them by Edgar
oueeny, st. Louis munitions max
er and a leading COP financial
"angel'.
PLANTED" QUESTION
"One Of the questions Mr..
Queeney has requested that l
be asked ls-Will / support who-
ever Ii nominated by the party,
II I do not win myself?" Willkie
glanced pugnaciously from right
to left.
His listeners turned questioning
eyes on the Missouri Congress-
men present, including the act
ing chairman OF the meeting,
Representative Wat Arnold OF
Kirksville. Suddenly, freshman
Congressman Louis z. Miller Of
Of ST. Louis jumped to his feet.
"NO one told. me TO ask you
any questions" shouted NIL
Ter.
BY this time the meeting was
on the verge Of an uproar, but
Willkie, unruffled, turned to Rep.
Arnold.
How about you, Mr.. Arnold?
Weren't you requested to ask me
that question:
Eyes, I'll have 10 admit that
I was" replied Arnold with o
sheeplsh grin.
xueGe Who u pukSb Va AaoSAOSA1
but Willkie didn't join in 1t. In
fighting tone, he continued: eyes,
and I can name some others here
who were asked to put the same
question to me. But I'll save you
the trouble by answering 1t.
MY answer is--Of course not.
OF course, / will not support
anyone who in my opinion isn't
the right man TO lead the Re-
publican party. ! would not
support Col. Mccormick Of the
Chicago Tribune, for instance,
II he was nominated, or rep.
resentative Ham Fish, or anyone
else like them"
The COP leader was cheered
and applauded frequently during
the three-hour meeting, but this
touched off the biggest ovation of
all for an audience which num-
bered q hefty quota Of isolation
lists. It was a strange spectacle.
But Willkie wasn't through. He
was equally frank in reply to other
questions, including his position on
Soviet Russia.
HIS ATTITUDE ON RUSSIA
II am opposed to all foreign
aisms' for the reason that they
deny liberty TO the people liv-
ing under them. ] could never