Evening star., 1943-03-28


| olution, sponsored by two Repub-
llcan and two Democratic Senators,
| calls on the United States to initiate
| a movement for a United Nations
organization to plan for postwar
cooperation for peace. Senator Ball
OF Minnesota and Senator Burton
Of Ohio are the two Republican
sponsors. The resolution has been
indorsed by 26 new Republican
members of the House.
All this is down the Willkie alley.
1t does not mean that all these Re-
publican members of Congress are
for Mr.. Willkie for the presidential
nomination, and no such claim is
made by the Willkieites. But it
does mean that the party is edging
more and more over to Mr. Willkie S
position in the foreign field.
Now, about Mr.. Wilkes situation
with the Republicans in the House
and Senate. A leader of the con-
gresslonal forces is authority for the
statement that Mr.. Wilkes stand
with Republicans in Congress is not
good yet. The Republicans in Con-
gress are quite cold still to his cam
didacy. But" this leader added.
their attitude toward Willkie is not
so frigid as it was few months
ago."
Speech Viewed as Aid.
Mr. Willkie helped himself, it was
explained, by his Lincoln Day speech
in February in which he vigorously
attacked the New Deal Democratic
party as being utterly incapable of
handling the finances of the coun-
try. His chief difficulty with Con-
gress seems to lie in the belief of
Republican members that he has
not been fighting for the Republican
party. If he really opens up on the
New Dealers, he will better his po-
sition.
Mr.. Wilkes principal job is to
convince the Republicans in Con-
gress and in the party organizat ton
that he really can win the election
if he is nominated. The Republi-
cans in Congress want to be re-
elected themselves, and they must
run next year on the ticket with
him, should he be the party nominee.
The report has been widely cir
culated that Mr.. Willkie will enter
the presidential preferential pri-
maries in the dozen or so States
that hold them next year.
First Is in New Hampshire.
The first of these primaries is
held in New Hampshire, next March.
Mr.. Willkie has strong friends in
the State, as he has elsewhere in
New England. Unless the New
Hampshire Republicans decide to
send in delegation pledged to
Senator Bridges, they are, it is said,
likely to decide for an unpledged
delegation. The Willkie supporters.
and Mr.. Willkie himself, will have
to decide whether they wish to
buck the Republican leadership there,
If a showdown comes. Undoubtedly,
much will depend on whether other
candidates for the Republican NOM
inatlon enter the New Hampshire
primaries, as for example, Gov.
Bricker of Ohio, who is considered
today the principal opponent of Mr..
Willkie for the presidential nomina-
tion-With Dewey, Taft, Vanden-
berg and Stassen all having said they
are not candidates. If Gov. Bricker
should enter in New Hampshire
Mr.. Willkie would go in like shot
Other primary States, in all prob
ability, will have favorite son candi-
dates for the presidential nomina-
ton. Certainly Ohio will. Both Mr.
Willkie and Gov. Bricker will have
to determine whether they will enter
the lists in Illinois. Wisconsin, New
Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and
the rest of them.
Hoover Urges Free Delegates.
Former President Herbert Hoover
and his friends are urging unin-
structed delegations, or delegations
instructed for favorite sons, with
the idea that the convention should
be left more or less untrammeled to
pick the best available candidate
If the great majority of delegates
60 uninstructed, a terrific struggle
is likely, and almost anything might
happen.
Gov. Stassen of Minnesota, whose
record has been anti-isolationist
would be candidate himself fol
the nomination if he were not going
in the Navy almost Immediately
He has told friends he is for Mr.
Willkie. Publicly, he has made nc
statement other than to say he is
for a candidate who supports inter-
national cooperation and who is
progressive. Minnesota may send q
delegation pledged to Gov. Stassen
but ready to do what he says.
| Mrs. Chris Carlson, Republican