Evening star., 1944-04-17
Macarthur DisayowaI
Fails 10 Halt COP Talk
OF Presidential Draft
By the Associated Press.

OF Presidential Draft |
BY the Associated Press.
Representative Miller, Repub-
lican, of Nebraska, whose corre-
spondence with Gen. Macarthur
formed the prelude to a fiat dis
avowal by the general that he
had sought or is seeking the
presidency, said today the ex-
change left the Southwest Pa
ciflc commander still available
for Republican draft.
II still think the general is avail
able and can be drafted" Mr.. Miller
said
His Interpretation of Gen. Mac
Arthur's words agreed with that of
most party leaders.
Mr.. Miller described Gen. Mac
Arthur's remarks as "a very fine
statement that clarifies the at
mosphere"
Military Leadership Cited.
II never felt that Gen. Macarthur
was attacking the New Deal, al
though he agreed with some OF my
thoughts, the Nebraska legislator
said In connection with the gen.
erals reputation of what he called
the sinister Interpretation" that
his earlier letter to sMr. Miller in
cluded criticism of the administra-
tion.
Mr.. Miller said he believed Gen
Macarthur 'is the one man who
could provide experienced military
leadership in the White House
shorten the war and bring the boys
back home"
Mr.. Miller stated he had received
several hundred letters since his
correspondence with Gen. Mac
Arthur was disclosed last week ano
said IS to 80 per cent of the persons
writing him favored his support oi
the general for the Republican
nomination. Some of the letter.
were very nasty" Mr.. Miller said
but came unsigned.
seen Open Tor Draft.
Most Republican leaders took Gen
MacArthur's statement that II have
not sought the onice nor do seek
1t" as an indication that he woult
not be averse to letting the Office
seek him.
At his headquarters in the South
west Pacific, Gen. Macarthur today
! declared his sole ambition" is t,
help win the war.
| In regard to the question Ct
whether he would accept the Re.
publican nomination if it wer,
offered or If he were drafted" as 9
candidate the general was graphically
silent.
His statement also declared thai
his letters to Representative Miller
were never intended for publica.
tion."
Miller Asked for Draft"
The correspondence, made publ,
by Mr.. Miller last Thursday in.
cluded letters in which the Nebras.
kan urged that Gen. Macarthur
permit the people of this country
to draft YOU" Mr.. Miller sharply
criticized the administration ane
said there was "a tremendous grounc
swell in this country against thu
New Deal"
In one reply Gen. Macarthur
said he "unreservedly" agreed with
"the complete wisdom and states.
manship Of your comments" II
another he said that Mr.. Miller
description of conditions in tn,
United States ''is a sobering on,
indeed and is calculated to arous
the thoughtful consideration O
levery patriot" He warned tha
I'VE must not inadvertently sli]
into the same condition internalI,
as the one which we fight exter
nally."
| Gen. Macarthur said in his state
ment that perusal of his letters 'wil
show any fair-minded person tina
they were neither politically inspired
nor intended to convey blanket ap.
proval Of the Congressman's views
/ His letters, he said, were writer
merely as amiable acknowledgment
to member of our highest law.
making body of letters containing
f1attering and friendly remarks tt
me personally"
Mr. Miller said, in his first letter
to Gen. Macarthur, that "I am con.
vinced that you will carry every
State in the Union and this include.
the solid South. The New
Deal, including President Roosevelt
is scared to death of the movement
in this country for you. Roosevelt
will probably not even be a candi.
date should you be nominated"
Gen. Macarthur said today he hac
not received Congressman Miller.
third letter in which he is reported
to have advised me to announce my
candidacy for the Office of Presiden,
of the United States"
Mr.. Miller had said, after publica
ton of the letters, that he had sen,
a third letter to Gen. Macarthur
urging the general to state that he
was available for the Republican
nomination.