Evening star., 1944-07-06
Dewey's Strategists
Indirectly Seek Aid
OF WiIIkie in Drive
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
ALBANY, N. Y, July 6.-An Oh
hque effort to draw Wendell l.. Will
kie into camp moved forward today
rs supporters of Gov. Thomas E
Dewey bid publicly for campaign CO.
operation from congressional and
senatorial candidates.
Although the Republican presi-
Dental nominee carefully avoided
any appearance of soliciting Mr.
Willkie's backing, he gave the
strategy left-handed approval by
Including Senator Weeks, long time
Willkie supporter, In list OF Massa-
chusetts Republicans invited to con-
fer with him here Monday on cam
paign plans.
Senator Weeks, reached by tele-
phone at his farm retreat in New
Hampshire. told this reporter he
hoped" Mr.. Willkie would support
the ticket actively, but had nc
knowledge of the 1910 nominees
political plans.
No Confirmation From Dewey.
The apparent overtures toward
Mr.. Willkie received no confirmation
from Gov. Dewey himself.
The nominees attention was called
by reporter to reports published by
one New York newspaper that If he
Is nominated again. President Roose.
welt might deliver an acceptance
speech from Normandy.
DO you have any comment on the
propriety of such a mover" Gov
Dewey was asked.
II think the American people
would understand that pretty well
without my assistance" Gov. Dewey
said. adding after a pause: AL
though I may find it desirable tc
comment If he does
Dewey Denies Significance.
Headed by House Minority Leader
Martin, the list of Massachusetts,
visitors includes Congress members
seeking reelection and candidates
such as Gov. Leverett Saltonstall
The latter is running for the seat
vacated by Senator Lodge when he
went into the Army and filled tenn
porarily by Senator Weeks. Senator
Weeks is not a candidate.
Gov. Dewey insisted there was nc
significance in the Weeks invita-
ton. but in New York Herbert
Brownell, jr. national chairman
capped this move by naming both
Senator Weeks and Ralph Cake OF
Oregon on a 15-member Executive
Committee Mr.. Cake was Mr.. Will
kie's campaign manager before the
latter quit the presidential race after
the Wisconsin primary in April
Told of this action, Senator Weeks
said both he and Mr. Cake had told
Gov. Dewey they would do anything
they could to help him win the
election.
Does that include attempting to
induce Mr.. Willkie to speak for the
ticket?" he was asked.
We'll. I don't know" Senator
Weeks replied.
Sprague Heads Group.
The executive group named by Mr.
Brownell is headed by J. Russel
Sprague. New York national com
mitteeman, who is generally re-
garded as Gov. Deweys No. strate-
gist. Mr.. Sprague has been one of
the few of the inner circle of Dewey
advisers who has maintained cor
dial relations with Mr. Willkie.
Other Executive Committee men,
bers include Mrs. Worthington
Scranton of Pennsylvania, Mrs.
Reeve Schley of New Jersey, Mrs
Robert F. Archibald, jr, of Colorado:
Clarence j. Brown of Ohio. Mrs.
Chris Carlson Of Minnesota, Col.
r. B. Creager of Texas. Harry Darby
of Kansas, Mrs w. P. Few of North
Carolina, Harvey Jewett, jr., OF
South Dakota: Barak T. Mattingly
of Missouri, Carroll Reece of Ten
nessee and Mrs. Jessie Williamson
Of California.
Mr.. Sprague has made no secret
OF the fact that he and others want
Mr.. Willkie actively on their side
They are said to feel, however, that
the 1910 nominee is likely to rest his
decision on whether he thinks Gov
Dewey stands for the principles for
which Mr.. Willkie has been
speaking
Accordingly, they have no plans
to offer him any inducement such
as a prospective cabinet post, feel
ing that Mr.. Willkie would resent
any such move.
Gov. Dewey told news confer
ence yesterday that the meeting
with the Massachusetts groups
would be the first of a series OF
similar gatherings at which he
would exchange ideas with members
OF Congress ''on the issues that will
face the country"
Eugene Meyer, publisher of the
Washington Post, called on Gov
Dewey yesterday. He characterized
the Republican presidential candi-
date as "a good, strong campaigner, u
but declined to predict the result of
the November election.
Vandenberg Invited.
Later, James c. Hagerty. executive
assistant to the Governor. an
nounced that Senator Vandenberg of
Michigan had been invited to confer
with the Governor tomorrow.
Senator Vandenberg is expected to
discuss foreign policy issues as well
as some phases of domestic problems
with Gov. Dewey. He will be the
first member of Congress to confer
personally with Gov. Dewey since
his return to Albany from Chicago
Mr.. Hagerty said Gov. Dewey
would leave tomorrow noon for his
farm home near Pawling and would
be guest at homecoming celebra-
tion in the rural community there
tomorrow afternoon,