Evening star., 1944-04-14
Macarthur Notes
Hedrfen backers
70 New Efforts
Political Observers
See indication He
Is Receptive
By the Associated Press.


Political observers In the Cap
ital today sought to appraise the
effect Of correspondence between
Gen. Douglas Macarthur and
Representative Miller, Republi-
can. Of Nebraska which most
OF them interpreted as indicating
that the Allied commander in
the Southwest Pacific is receptive
to the Republican presidential
nomination.
Chiefly by what he left unsaid In
the exchange OF letters made public
yesterday by Mr.. Miller, Gen. Mac
Arthur seemingly left the way open
for draft movement. Hcartened
supporters declared they would can
vas convention delegates Ii an effort
to persuade them TO nominate the
general.
At Gen. MacArthur's headquar-
ters, it was said there was no conn
ment either on the letters, or OF the
generals victory Tuesday In the Re-
publican presidential primary In
Illinois, where his name was en-
tered without his permission.
Third Letter Mailed.
Mr.. Miller revealed, meanwhile,
that he had addressed q third letter
to Gen. Macarthur urging the gem
eral to state his availability for the
Republican nomination. The letter.
which Mr., Miller said he sent sew
eral days ago, could not draw .
reply for more than three weeks.
Mr.. Miller declined to make public
a copy OF the letter but he told re-
porters:
Il think the time is coming when
Gen. Macarthur and all of these
other candidates should make their
positions known publicly"
Urged Is Secretary Of War.
An of1shoot Of this burst of Mac
Arthur-for- President talk was the
suggestion of q Republican and
Democratic Senator that he be ap-
pointed as Secretary Of War.
Replying to suggestions by Repre-.
sentative Miller that he hold him
self ready for q nomination with
which the Nebraskan predicted Gen.
Macarthur could carry every state.
the general wrote that he did not
anticipate fulfllment Of their .sflat-
tering predictions" He did not say
he would not accept such nominal
ton.
Gen. Macarthur expressed interest
IN Mr.. Miller's critical appraisal Of
home front conditions and warned
against letting the Nation "slip into
the same condition iuternally as thu
one which We fisht EXTERNALLY.
Makes Other Psints.
Other points made by Gen. Mac
Arthur In the two letters he wrote
to Mr.. Miller were:
He agreed "unreservedly" with the
complete wisdom and statesman
ship" Of Mr.. Miller's comments in,
letter In which the House member
said the New Deal had 4crucified"
itself ION the cross Of too many un-
necessary rules and regulations,
urged Gen. Macarthur to let his
friends work for his nomination
while the general remained silent
and predicted that such nomina-
ton would remove President Roose-
welt from the race.
He called "sobering" Mr.. Miller's
description Of home front conditions,
in which the Representative assert
ed that "if this system Of left wing
ers and New Dealism is continued
another four years 7 am certain
that this monarchy which is being
established in America viii destroy
the rights of the common people"
Desires More Supplies.
He said that, like Abraham Lin
coin. he believed the people would
be depended upon to meet national
crises If given the truth; "the great
point is to bring before them the
facts"
He and his men are doing what
we can with what we have" in the
Southwest Pacific, but he will "be
glad, however, when more substan-
tial forces are placed at my DISPOSE
ton"
Practical politicians took all this
to mean that the general would be
willing to run. But some of those
not classed among his enthusiasts
thought this word had come to
light too late to overcome the lead
Gov. Thomas E. Dewey of New
York has acquired In an equally
unauthorized scramble for conven-
tion delegates The draft move
ment thus far has given Gen. Mac
Arthur only three, as against 148
pledged and claimed for Gov.
Dewey. Needed to nominate: 500.
Senator Thomas, Republican, Of
Idaho, one of those who thinks it
will be Gov. Dewey on the first
ballot, said he would like to see the
party'S nominee announce that he
would ask Gen. Macarthur to re-
turn home to replace Secretary of
War Stimson, himself a Repub-
lican.
Sees Help to War.
1T certainly would help the war
effort to have Macarthur in that
cabinet post" Senator Thomas told
a reporter.
Likewise, he indicated belief that
Gen. MacArthur's popularity. as
demonstrated by hefty vote in the
Illinois preferential primary, might
thus be utilized by the Republicans.
There was talk among the Republi-
cans of nominating the general for
Vice President, but doubt was ex-
pressed that he would accept.
Most congressional Democrats
were critical Of Gen. MacArthur's
attitude, as expressed in his letters,
but Senator Chavez, Democrat, Of
New Mexico said he thought his
party ought to, bring the general
home Immediately, as Secretary Of
War.
Senator Chavez, who has criticized
Mr.. Stimson at times, said he
thought Gen. Macarthur could be of
more service in the cabinet than in
the field.