Evening star., 1944-04-06
WiNkie Quits Race,
Coneeding He Can't
Win Nomination
BY the Associated Press.

.
OMAHA, April 6.-Wendell I
Willkie, the Republican party's 1914
standard bearer, has withdraw
from the race, conceding he has M
chance to win the party's 1914 pres
idential nomination.
In an abrupt and dramatic an
nouncement at rally in Omahs
City Auditorium last night Mr. Will
kie, at the conclusion of his speech
on Foreign Policy" told crowd o.
5000 he was quitting as a candi-
date for the COP nomination fol
President, asserting, ut is obvious
that I can not be nominated"
The unexpected statement, which
MIR. Willkie described as something
quite personal--something perhaps
of not much importance"-urgeo
that his friends "desist from any
activity" toward his nomination.
Crowd Applauds Vigorously.
His decision to quit the race was
attributed to his failure to win a
single delegate Tuesday in the Wis
consin primary. Gov. Thomas E
Dewey of New York, although not
an active or declared candidate,
emerged with IS delegates pledged
outright and 3 claimed for him.
The crowd, apparently not imme-
diately sensing the real significance
of the brief announcement, vigor-
ously applauded Mr.. Willkie. He
was surrounded by those on the
platform, including Mrs. Willkie, as
he finished his valedictory, saying
"Thank you, very much"
AS Mr.. Willkie, smiling, shook
hands with local political leaders,
the crowd fingered, and there were
puzzled expressions on the faces OF
many, obviously astonished at hear
ing Mr.. Willkie declare he was step
ping out from the quickening con-
test for the Nations highest politi-
cal Office.
Leaves for New York.
Mr.. Willkie and his party left
Omaha on late train, en- route to
New York, where he is scheduled
to arrive tomorrow.
In his 50-minute speech, devoted
primarily to criticism of the admin
istration's foreign policy, Mr.. Willkie
gave no intimation of his withdrawal
announcement. But at the end OF
his speech, which climaxed his five
day campaign of Nebraska, where
he is entered in the presidential pri-
mary April IL, he made known his
decision to quit,
Addressing fellow Americans" J"
Mr.. Willkie said his announcement
involves what I have been trying
to do-what I have been fighting
for"
He said it was his conviction that
"no Republican could be nominated
for President unless he received at
the convention the votes of some OF
the major Midwestern States"
Sought Test in Wisconsin.
Asserting that it was in the Mid
west that the Republican party
"has had its greatest resurgence,"
he continued:
Therefore 7 quite deliberately en-
tered the wisconsin primary to test
whether the Republican voters OF
the State would support me and IN
the advocacy of every sacrifice and
cost necessary to winning and
shortening the war and in the ad-
vocacy of tangible, effective eco
nomic and political cooperation
among the nations of the world for
the preservation of the peace and
the rebuilding of humanity"
The Wisconsin primary results,
Mr.. Willkie said, t'is naturally dis
appointing, and doubly so since the
delegate who led the poll for dele
gates is known as one active in Or
ganizing such as the America First,
opposed to the beliefs which I en-
tertain." In Milwaukee Secretary
of State Fred r. Zimmerman, VINO
led the field of delegates, denied af-
filiation with the America First
Committee)
Wants Platform With His Views.
Asserting that "this country des-
perately needs new leadership,
Mr.. Willkie then announced his re-
tirement from the race:
"It is obvious now that I cannot
be nominated. I therefore am ask
ing my friends to desist from any
activity toward that end and not to
present my name at the conven-
ton.
"I earnestly hope that the Re-
n,,hlican convention will nominate a
candidate and write platform
which really represents the views
which I have advocated and which l
believe are shared by millions OF
Americans. l shall continue to work
for these principles and policies Tor
which I have fought during the last
five years"
simultaneously Mr.. WILKES man.
ayers announced that he is cancel
ling future campaign trips, includ-
ing a speech at Sioux City, Iowa
tonight and visit to Michigan.
Attacks Foreign Policy.
In his speech last night Mr.. Will
kie said he had two principal
charges to lodge against the admin
istration in regard to foreign policy
The first, he said, was that the
administration has confused the
political and military conduct OF the
war to an extent where uncertainty
ha staken the place of assurance
delay of action. This means prolong-
ing the war and wasting lives by
not telling the world in plain terms
what we stand for and what we are
fighting for"
His second charge, he said, Is
that the administration lis not be-
ing square with the American peo'
Pile and is promoting confusion
cynicism and distrust among u.s."
Mr.. Willkie asserted that the ad'
ministration has committed us tt
unknown policies, worked out by
secret agents and in secret confer
enceS
TT has discouraged the efforts o.
the American press to inform VI
of the facts Of the internationa
situation. 1t has bargained for vote'
at home on the fallacious theor!
that Americans vote not as Amerl'
cans but as pressure groups de-
Tending the interests of CliQueS in