Milford chronicle., 1940-08-23
WendeH Wilkes Speech Of
Acceptance Thrills The Nation

Because / am a business man
formerly connected with a large
company, the doctrinaires of th'
opposition have attacked me as ar
opponent Of liberalism. But l wa.
liberal before many of these meT
had heard the word, and / fought
for many Of the reforms of the elder
LaFollette, Theodore Roosevelt, and
Woodrow Wilson before another
Roosevelt adopted-and distorted
liberalism.
Opposed To MOnOpOlles
Il believe that the forces Of free
enterprise must be regulated. am
opposed to business monopoIies.
believe In collective bargaining, by
Representatives of labor's own free
choice. without any interference and
in full protection of those obvious
rights. believe in the maintenance
OF minimum standard for wages and
Of maximum standards for hours.
/ believe that such standards should
constantly improve. l believe in the
federal regulation Of interstate utili-
ties, Of securities markets, and of
banking. / believe in federal pen
sions, in adequate old age benefits,
and In unemployment allowances.
Il believe that the federal govern
ment has a responsibility to equalize
the lot of the farmer, with that Of
the manufacturer. If this cannot be
done by parity Of prices. other
means must be found-with the
least possible regimentatiOn of the
farmers affairs. l believe in the
encouragement Of cooperative buy
ing and selling. and in the full ex-
tension of rural electriication. But
American liberalism does not con-
sist merely in reforming things. It
consists also in making things.
"And / say that we must hence
forth ask certain questions Of every
reform. and of every law to regu-
late business or industry. We must
ask: Has it encouraged our indus
tries to produce? Has it created
new opportunities for our youth?
Will 1t increase our standard Of liv-
ing? Will II encourage us to open
up a new and bigger world?"
New Deal Victims
Mr. Willkie demanded that kind of
legislation, that policy. that will en-
courage business TO expand. to Gre
ate jobs for the unemployed, saying:
1T is a statement Of fact, and no
longer a political accusation, that
the New Deal has failed in its pro-
gram Of economic rehabilitation.
Anc the victims Of its failure are
the very persons whose cause It pro-
fesses to champion.
'The little business men are vic
TINS because their chances are more
restricted than ever before.
"The farmers are victims because
many Of them are forced to subsist
on what is virtually a dole. under
centralized direction from Washing
lon
"The nine or ten million unem-
ployed are victims because, their
chances for jobs are fewer.
approximately 100000 families
ire victims because they are on
relief.
"And unless we do something
about it soon, 1870, ,OOO. 900 people-an
entire nation-will become victims,
BECAUSE they stand in need of a de-
ense system which this admins
ration has so far proved itself
TO create anywhere ex-
'ept on paper.
ITO accomplish these results, the |
present administration has spent |
$50, 900. 100000.
Mr.. WilIkIe Accepts
Il accept the nomination Of the /
Republican party for President Of
he United States.
Il accept It In the spirit in which
ion in Philadelphia-the spirit of
edicatiOn. herewith dedicate my
elf with all my heart, with all my
lind, and with all my soul to MAX
ng this nation strong.
"But l say this, too. In the pur-
uit of that goal shall not lead you
own the easy road. II am chosen
he leader OF this democracy as l
m now OF the Republican party,
hall lead you down the road of sac
lfice and Of service to your coun-
~.
What / am saying is a far harsh
r thing than l should like to say in
his speech Of acceptance-a far.
aTsher thing than would have
aid had the Old World not been
wept by war during the past year.
am saying to you that we cannot
sbUild our American democracy
ithout hardship, without sacrifice.
ven without suffering. am pro-
osing that course to you as a candi-
ate for election by you" i
When the speaker finished, the
'owd went wild with enthusiasm.
ats went up In the air and shouts
"Hurrah for Willkie" came from
any thousands. They left the great
Getting repeating to each other the
ords .Willkie--the Hope Of Amer ! !
a."
-s,--s.-.-,..ua a.