Harrington: The Flying Wallendas ‘look down into hell’
By Mary Harrington, United Press staff writer
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Plan for auto reconversion given to WPB
Production may start with new designs
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Keynes: Currency fund to aid England in paying debt
Plan seen increasing world commerce
By Elmer C. Walzer, United Press financial editor
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Editorial: Young Harry at the front
Governor Dewey, with his “accent on youth,” spoke in his acceptance speech of “stubborn men, grown old and tired and quarrelsome in office” at Washington. There are such.
But we cite you one old man in office who is neither tired nor quarrelsome, and only stubborn about things that involve principle.
Henry L. Stimson, the Secretary of War, will be 77 come September. He has just flown to Italy and is now inspecting our troops there.
He is a Republican. Over some protest from fellow Republicans, he took a hard job in his old age. He has served in a statesmanlike manner, without partisanship.
We wish him a safe return from the front.
Heath: Candidate Dewey will pick out his own issues
By S. Burton Heath
S. Burton Heath is substituting for Peter Edson, regular conductor of the Washington Column, who is absent from Washington for a few days.
Washington –
Political oratory is tricky stuff. It is designed to sound like a lot but say as little as possible. Its purpose is to enthuse party workers, give slogans to supporters, create doubt and discontent among opponents, and provide a minimum of ammunition for the enemy’s counterattacks.
Speakers at the Republican convention from Keynoter Warren to Governor Dewey followed the pattern. They secreted their nuggets of wisdom carefully in long strings of pretty words. Yet nuggets were there – if not wisdom, at least of information for those who were curious what Candidate Dewey would try to make the issues of the coming campaign.
In sifting the wheat from the chaff, it is helpful to bear in mind that, unlike Alf Landon in 1936, Tom Dewey is not going to let others dictate his strategy and select his issues. There having been no meeting of minds in advance, one should not seek clues to the issues in what was said by Herbert Hoover or Clare Luce or Joe Martin or even by John Bricker, who in the interest of party unity was given the vice-presidential nomination.
Of the speakers in Chicago, three have long been in close accord in their political philosophies. It is safe to say that what Governors Warren and Griswold said comes close to what Mr. Dewey thinks. If you will analyze the speeches, they will fall into two quite dissimilar groups – those of Messrs. Warren, Griswold and Dewey in one, all the rest in another. The first may be assumed to forecast the general tenor of the campaign.
One-man government
If that is so, you won’t hear much about New Deal totalitarianism in terms of European ideology. You will hear a lot about one-man government (New Deal) versus the teamwork that would be substituted by Mr. Dewey.
You will hear a lot about the vigorous, forward-looking mental youth that the GOP wants to substitute for an administration that “has grown tired, complacent and cynical… quarrelsome… decadent” – beset with squabbles among Cabinet members, feuds among department heads, bitterness between the President and his own party leaders – “wrangling, bungling and confusion.”
For this Mr. Dewey will propose to substitute a Cabinet made up of the ablest experts he can find, in the various fields, to whom he will promise to delegate full powers under his general leadership.
You will be told that when 11 million men and women are mustered out of uniform they will want real jobs, not charity or made work. That the nation’s economic history up to the moment war created an artificial prosperity will be cited to demonstrate Mr. Dewey’s contention that northing yet down in 11 years of the New Deal indicated the incumbent administration’s ability to create work and opportunity for the use of individual initiative.
No secrets
The Republicans will seek to keep the war out of the campaign. There will be no question whether we should be in, and fully agreement that we must not only whip Axis armies and navies but wholly destroy the will of the Axis peoples to fight wars.
Insofar as international relations are brought in by the Republicans, it will probably be through accusations that the President is playing power politics, which have failed in the past to preserve peace and, in the opinion of many, have led to war.
The Republicans can be expected to inquire what commitments the President may have made, other than purely military, to Messrs. Churchill and Stalin and Chiang, and to promise that if Mr. Dewey is elected, there won’t be any secrets from the people, and from Congress about what they are being let in for.
These are generalizations, of course. They are like the main topic-headings, in Roman numerals, with which the material is subdivided before even the broad detail is filled in. They are subject to change. But, in the main, you will find them fairly accurate.
Stokes: Wooing Willkie among Dewey’s chief projects
Candidate disregards personal feelings
By Thomas L. Stokes, Scripps-Howard staff writer
Albany, New York –
The wooing of Wendell Willkie has become a major project with Governor Thomas E. Dewey and the managers of his campaign for the Presidency.
Just what is Mr. Willkie’s political value to the Republican Party, measured in influence and votes, is a matter for argument. But the Dewey forces would rather have him on their side, plugging for the ticket, than outside, either in a passive or an actively belligerent role.
Governor Dewey is trying to become President and he’s going about it in a very businesslike manner, without emotion, and without regard for personal feelings. It’s no secret that the two men don’t care much for each other, which is not unusual between politicians who are rivals for public favor.
Score about even
The 1940 candidate got quite a shoving around at Chicago, or rather he was just locked out coldly, but he did a little shoving around on his own when he issued his rather caustic statement about the foreign affairs plank in the platform. The party and Mr. Willkie are about even now.
But Governor Dewey, since his nomination, has made several gestures in Mr. Willkie’s direction which are plain enough in their intent. At his first press conference in Chicago, he announced that he expected to consult Mr. Willkie along with other party leaders about his campaign. And now two of the Willkie satellites, National Committeeman Ralph H. Cake of Oregon, his pre-convention campaign manager, and Sinclair Weeks of Massachusetts have been included on the newly-appointed executive committee selected by Governor Dewey and National Chairman Herbert Brownell Jr.
Willkie’s future in doubt
Mr. Weeks, likewise, was among the first invited here to confer with the candidate, as a member of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation which will see Governor Dewey here Monday. Indirect overtures through go-betweens are also now going on.
Involved basically in Mr. Willkie’s decision as to his course is whether he wants to continue in politics. This raises another question: What is Mr. Willkie’s political future? Some count him out as far as actual public office is concerned. Some think he may yet come into his own. Most agree that he is likely to keep his hand in.
Whatever are his political prospects, it also seems agreed that he probably would improve his positions with the politicians by getting into the game actively, that is, by seeking some public office below the Presidency. If he should be successful, he would have an advantageous position from which to try to advance himself to his heart’s desire, the Presidency.
May run for Senate
There is a good deal of talk about the possibility of him seeking the Republican nomination for the Senate from New York to run against Senator Robert Wagner in November.
This would offer an avenue of rapprochement with Governor Dewey and the party, and his presence on the ticket might help Republicans to swing this state against Mr. Roosevelt, with Mr. Willkie’s appeal to liberals Republicans, some Democrats, and to left-wing elements, particularly on the score of foreign policy.
Mr. Willkie has made his fight on principle on the question of international collaboration. For that reason, he attacked the platform plank. But that plank, in the end, will mean what Governor Dewey says it means, and if he satisfies Mr. Willkie, this would clear the way for the latter’s acceptance of the ticket and its program, foreign and domestic.
Jap bombers found ripped at Saipan base
Area shows results of U.S. air raids
By Mac R. Johnson, United Press staff writer
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Roosevelt: China front vital
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Democrats map work on platform
Subcommittee named; women included
Washington (UP) –
The Democrats were ready to begin spade work on their proposed “thumbnail” platform today with appointment of a 23-member Platform Subcommittee headed jointly by House Democratic Leader John W. McCormack (D-MA) and Rep. Mary J. Norton (D-NJ).
The appointments were made by Chairman Robert E. Hannegan of the Democratic National Committee. He said that the group would start immediately to formulate tentative planks for submittal to the full committee, which will be named after the convention opens July 19. The subcommittee will meet in Chicago two days before the convention gets underway.
Women to have big voice
Women will be given a big voice in drafting the platform. Eleven were appointed to the subcommittee. Those named:
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Senators Robert F. Wagner (D-NY), Carl A. Hatch (D-NM), Joseph O’Mahoney (D-WY), Harry S. Truman (D-MO), Claude Pepper (D-FL), Theodore F. Green (D-RI) and James M. Tunnell (D-DE).
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Reps. McCormack, Norton, Thomas D’Alesandro Jr. (D-MD), George J. Burke (D-MI) and Ed W. Izac (D-CA).
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Doris I. Byrne of New York, Mrs. W. T. Bost of North Carolina, Mrs. Albert E. Hill of Tennessee, Mrs. Scott Stewart of Utah, Mrs. Lucille Stewart of Kansas, Mrs. Charles G. Ryan of Nebraska, Mrs. Nellie T. Ross of Wyoming, Mrs. Sue Ruble of Oklahoma, Mrs. Fred M. Vinson of Kentucky (wife of the economic stabilization director), Mrs. Julia Porter of California and Joseph Daniels (presidential secretary).
Platform to be short
Senator Tunnell said the platform would be “short like the Ten Commandments, with a good many ditto marks at that.”
The Democrats will require less than the 4,600 words used by the Republicans, he said, “because we have a long record platform that reaches back to the end of the Hoover era.”
He acknowledged that a brief platform would relieve his party from spelling out a stand on racial issues which might antagonize the South.
“But,” he said, “I shouldn’t pay much attention to the Republican platform in that regard. They don’t.” The GOP adopted a plank advocating a permanent Fair Employment Practices Committee.
Dewey confers with Congressmen
Seeks views of Republican leaders
Albany, New York (UP) –
Governor Thomas E. Dewey began a series of conferences with Republican Congressional leaders today to discuss the issues of his campaign for the Presidency.
The Governor said he plans to obtain the views of as many Republican Congressmen as possible and, at the same time, offer his own ideas on important problems facing the country.
Mr. Dewey talked with Senator Arthur Vandenberg (R-MI) on foreign policy for two hours at the Executive Mansion last night, indicating that international affairs will play an important part in his drive to oust the Democratic administration in Washington.
Ten-word policy
Mr. Vandenberg, Republican expert on foreign policy, said he and the Governor were in complete accord and that the GOP position could be stated in 10 words: “We intend to preserve America and cooperate with the world.”
The Michigan Senator, second Republican Congressman to talk with Mr. Dewey, said the Governor’s acceptance speech “went over big in the Midwest” and predicted his election in November. He said Mr. Dewey was sure of 300 of the 531 electoral votes, but declined to explain how he arrived at that figure.
More conferences scheduled
Mr. Dewey will hold one more conference with Congressional representatives today before leaving for a weekend visit to his Pawling, New York, farm. Senators Warren R. Austin and George D. Aiken and Rep. Charles A. Plumley (R-VT) will lunch with Mr. Dewey. They will discuss campaign issues.
Mr. Dewey will resume conferences with Republican Congressional representatives Monday, when the Massachusetts delegation, including House Minority Leader Joseph W. Martin and Governor Leverett Saltonstall (a candidate for the U.S. Senate), visit him.
Is Dewey strong opponent? President declines to say
Mr. Roosevelt also refuses to answer query whether he’s found a running mate
Washington (UP) –
President Roosevelt was peppered with political questions at his news conference today, but wouldn’t give any information.
He said the answers probably would be evident sometime around next November – or maybe this month (the Democratic Convention meets July 19).
Meeting with reporters for the first time since the Republican Party nominated New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey for President, Mr. Roosevelt faced a barrage of political questions.
“Have you found a candidate for Vice President yet?” he was asked. This, the President said, sounded like an unfriendly question. He smiled, declined to answer it.
Not writing platform
Another reporter wanted to know what views Mr. Roosevelt, “as head of the Democratic Party,” had about the 1944 party platform. The President replied that he was not writing any platforms.
The question “Would you care to say whether you think Governor Dewey will be a strong opponent?” produced a roar of laughter in which Mr. Roosevelt joined.
Instead of answering, he said he was making notes for history on the procedure and methods of White House correspondents.
“Do you mean you don’t want to answer the question?” the reporter persisted. The President shook his head, chiding the reporter, a woman, for being a Pollyanna and a cheerful little girl.
Roving Reporter
By Ernie Pyle
In Normandy, France – (by wireless)
The six hours of nighttime go swiftly for our ack-ack battery, which is a blessing. Time races when you are firing. And in the long lulls between the waves of enemy planes you doze and catnap and the time gets away.
Once, during a lull long after midnight, half a dozen of the boys in our gun pit start singing softly. Their voices are excellent. Very low and sweetly they sing in perfect harmony such songs as “I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad” and “Tipperary.”
There isn’t anything forced, or dramatic, about it. It’s just half a dozen young fellows singing because they like to sing – and the fact that they are in a gun pit in France shooting at people, trying to kill them, is just a circumstance.
The night grows bitterly chill. Between firings every man drapes an Army blanket around his shoulders, and sometimes up over his head, cape-like. In the darkness they are just silhouettes, looking strange and foreign like Arabs.
After 2 o’clock, there is a long lull. Gradually the boys wrap up in their blankets and lie down on the floor of the pit and fall asleep. Pretty soon you hear them snoring. I talk with the gun commander for a few minutes, in low tones. Then my eyes get heavy too.
Night silent as the grave
I wrap a blanket around me and sit down on the floor of the pit, leaning against the wall. The night is now as silent as a grave. Not a shot, not a movement anywhere.
My head slacks over to one side. But I can’t relax enough to sleep in that position. And it is so cold. I am so sleepy I hurt, and I berate myself because I can’t go to sleep like the others.
But I’m asleep all the time. For suddenly a voice shouts “Stand by!” – and it is as shocking as a bucket of cold water in your face. You look quickly at your watch and realize that an hour has passed. All the silent forms come frantically to life. Blankets fly. Men bump into each other.
“Commence firing!” rings out above the confusion, and immediately the great gun is blasting away, and smoke again fills the gun pit.
Sleep and rouse up. Catnap and fire. The night wears on. Sometimes a passing truck sounds exactly like a faraway plane. Frightened French dogs bark in distant barnyards.
Things are always confusing and mysterious in war. Just before dawn, an airplane draws nearer and nearer, lower and lower, yet we get no order to shoot and we wonder why. But machine guns and Bofors guns for miles around go after it.
The plane comes booming on in, in a long dive. He seems to be heading right at us. We feel like ducking low in the pit. He actually crosses the end of our field less than a hundred yards from us, and only two or three hundred feet up. Our hearts are pounding.
We don’t know who he is or what he is doing. Our own planes are not supposed to be in the air. Yet if this is a German, why doesn’t he bomb or strafe us? We never find out.
Ghostly shape in the sky
The first hint of dawn comes. Most of us are asleep again. Suddenly one of the boys calls out, “Look! What’s that?”
We stare into the faint light, and there just above us goes a great, silent, grotesque shape, floating slowly through the air. It is a ghostly sight.
Then we recognize it, and all of us feel a sense of relief. It is one of our barrage balloons which has broken loose and is drifting to earth. Something snags it in the next field, and it hangs there poised above the apple trees until somebody comes and gets it long after daylight.
As fuller light comes, we start lighting cigarettes in the open. The battery commander asks over the phone how many shells were fired, and tells us our tentative score for the night is seven planes shot down. The crew is proud and pleased.
Dawn brings an imagined warmth and we throw off our blankets. Our eyes feel gravelly and our heads groggy. The blast of the gun has kicked up so much dirt that our faces are as grimy as though we had driven all night in a dust storm. The green Norman countryside is wet and glistening with dew.
Then we hear our own planes drumming in the distance. Suddenly they pop out of a cloud bank and are over us. Security for another day has come, and we surrender willingly the burden of protecting the beaches. The last “Rest!” is given and we put the gun away until another darkness comes.
G.I.s who slept with Pyle want realism in movie
Anzio veterans say good picture would show Ernie scared, just like they were
By Scripps-Howard Service
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Poll: Public revises upward guess on end of war
Nazis given six months; Japs year and half
By George Gallup, Director, American Institute of Public Opinion
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Doerr touted as American’s ‘most valuable’
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Mistrial asked in sedition case
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WAC colonel is ‘eyes, ears’ for Gen. George Marshall
She advances to her present high rank from auxiliary in only two years
By North American Newspaper Alliance
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U.S. flier bags record of 6 Nazis in one fight
U.S. 8th Air Force fighter base, England (UP) –
Capt. Fred Christensen of Watertown, Massachusetts, set a record for the number of enemy planes destroyed in a single action today, shooting down six Ju 52s – Germany’s biggest transport plane.
Capt. Christensen was leading a flight in Col. Hubert Zemke’s famed Thunderbolt group when they sighted 12 Junkers circling prior to landing over an airfield in Germany.
In a few seconds, the Americans had shot down ten of the transports.
Six fell before Capt. Christensen’s guns, bringing his total of planes downed in combat to 22 and putting him among the upper brackets of fighter aces in the European Theater.