Imperial Valley press., 1944-04-06
Political Sages
Eve WiIIkie
Continued from page one)

Cmdr. Harold E. Stassen, former
governor of Minnesota, and Gen.
Douglas Macarthur Willkie was
BANKED.
He scarcely had an alternative to
withdrawal. But his acknowledge
ment of the futility of his own pres
idential ambitions was accompan-
led by an aggressive inSistence that
he would continue to speak his
mind. He aimed at Dewey too. an
incirect charge of accepting SOCIAL
ed America First support. He may
prove more effective in his new
role than as a candidate since he
can appear now before the public
as an unselfish commentator upon
the conduct of both Republicans
and Democratic parties and the
performances of their leading
statesmen.
Some Republicans evidently are
more hopeful than confident that
Willkie will center his fire on the
Democratic enemy. Ano while there
is evidence of their fear of a bolt,
organization and congressional Re-
publicans generally waived Willkie
out of the presidential contest with
much relief, some cheers, and few
misgivings.
MARTINS VIEWS
Typical OF their comment was
that of Representative Joseph w.
Martin, Jr., (R), Mass, house mi
nority leader who has been active
in the anti-Willkie movement. He
said he was confident that Willkie
would stand by the Republican
party and help defeat Mr.. Roose-
velt this year.
Some of the questions regarding
WILKES intentions arises from the
fact that he long was member OF
the Democratic party. His break
with Mr. Roosevelt came on the
question of public utility holding
companies at a time when Willkie
was top man in the Commonwealth
& Southern organization.
WILKES STATEMENT
1T has been my conviction that
NO Republican could be nominated
for president unless he received at
the convention the votes OF some
of the major mic western states.
For it is in this section OF the coun-
try that the Republican party has
had its greatest resurgence. There
fore, I quite deliberately entered
the Wisconsin primary to test
whether the Republican voters of
that state would support me in the
advocacy of every sacrifice and
cost necessary to winning and
shortening the war and in the ad-
vocacy Of tangible, effective econo-
mic anC political cooperation among
the nations of the world for the
preservation of the peace and the
rebuilding of humanity.
CITES OPPOSITION
The result of the primary is
naturally disap p2ointing and dou-
bly, so since the candidate who led
the poll for delegates is known as
one active in organizations such as
the America First, opposed to the
beliefs which I entertain.
"As have said many times, this
country desperately needs new
leadership. 1t is obvious now that
[ cannot be nominated. I therefore
am asking my friends to desist
from any activity toward that enc
and NOT to present my name at
the convention. I earnestly hope
that the Republicans will nominate
a candidate and. write a platform
which really represents the views
which l have advocated and which
I believe are shared by millions OF
Americans. I shall continue to work
for the principles ano policies for
which I have fought during the
last five years
The reference tc the former
America First adherent who led
the primary poll evidently was to
Secretary of State Fred r. Zim-
norman who organized the Dewey
or-president movement in Wiscon-
sin and got more votes than any
other delegate-at-large candidate.