WILLKIE-FOR-PRESIDENT BOOM STARTED BY FRESHMAN GROUP

Wendell Willkie, "dark horse" of the Republican party has finally struck root in Harvard with the establishment of a Willkie-for-President movement centering in Grays Hall under the direction of David Place '43, rabid supporter of the midwest utility king.

The eight or nine enthusiasts who are already circulating blank petitions to be signed and sent to the Republican nominating convention in Philadelphia June 24 are banking on a Taft-Dewey deadlock to bring their candidate to the fore as presidential timber.

With Dean McMahan and other prominent members of the University staff already pledged as Willkieites, the leaders of the movement hope to enlarge their list and if there is enough potential support to get Willkie himself to speak at a rally when he is in Boston next week.