The Wilmington morning star., 1944-01-22
Willkie Wants Nomination

Political prophets in Washington are of the
opinion that Wendell Willkie will make
strong bid for the Republican nomination for
the presidency against all corners and will be
out in the open by the middle of March. 1t
| is said that he is planning a trip into Mon
tana, Oregon, Washington and Utah, primari-
ly to confer with Republican leaders and prob
ably to make few speeches along the way.
The seers anticipate that he will encounter
stiffest opposition in the Middle West and con-
cede his greatest popularity exists in New
England and the Atlantic states.
There is some basis in appearances, if not
in fact to indicate that Mr.. Willkie proposes
Ito give the Republican field run for its
money and will 60 into the convention with a
sizeable block Of delegations all bound round
with wooden string Whether he can add
enough more delegations to those previously
committed to him in advance to gain the NOM
inatioh will depend upon whether Tom Dew
ey's hackers back off, the Macarthur boom
is busted and the old-guard element in the
party becomes reconciled to him.
His defeat four years ago stands against
him. His tendency to speak out of turn, his
inability to weigh his words in their full
significance. will not be overlooked. Now will
the fact that he could not depend upon sup
port at the polls of all elements in the party
any more than President Roosevelt should he
be fru--time candidate, could count on
solid democratic vote, be forgotten.
The Washington soothsayers say MIR. Willkie
does not concede the nomination to any Of
his rivals Because conditions differ material
ly from those prevailing in most election
years, he may have the situation sized up
correctly. 1t is conceivable that he will win
the Republican nomination. He may prove
the most eligible man for it, in the opinion
of the party leaders. Then what?
1t is seriously to be doubted that he could
be elected by party divided over its candi-
date Election would have to depend upon de-
fections among Democrats who still adhere
to their party's principals but oppose another
term for Mr.. Roosevelt. This creates specula-
ton on the elections outcome if the opposing
candidates should again be Mr.. Roosevelt and
Mr. Willkie.
There is little reason to think that if the
war is still in progress and the war Presi-
dent Mr.. Roosevelt, is a candidate, he could
meet defeat at me hands OF any candidate.
This would be the case, if his opponent were
Mr. Wllkie who, beside having lost once has
since failed to offer any suggestions on ma
tional or international policies which contain
material improvements over those Of Mr..
Roosevelt.
Whatever the faults of the Roosevelt adj
ministration have been, and they are legion,
Mr. Willkie has given no proof that he could
do better Furthermore. the President is so
we'll intrenched there is no reason to think
any man could dislodge him as long as the
war emergency exists.
In any event we may be sure that, with
these men again the nations candidates, Meth
er could be elected by strictly party vote.
There would be such jumbling OF ballots
at the polls as this country has never seen
before. 1t is almost safe to say that which
Of them won, the victory would have been
made possible by the opposition with Demo
Gratis voting for Mr.. Willkie and Republicans
for Mr.. Roosevelt