Evening star., 1940-10-11
Kansas, on Winning
Side Since 1900,
Chooses Wi||kie
6. O. P. Nominee Gaining
Strength, But Democrats
Profess Confidence
By G. GOULD LINCOLN,
Star STAFF CORRESPONDENT.

Star STAFF Correspondent.
TOPEKA, KanS., Oct. 1l.-Wen-
dell L. Willkie, Republican presiden-
tial nominee, Is Kansas choice to-
day. There is evidence, too, that
Mr.. Willkie is gaining strength in
this State, not losing it, despite
Democratic claims.
More than on any other count,
Kansas swung to Woodrow Wilson
in 1916 on the issue HE kept us out
of war" Today the Republicans
are driving home the idea that Mr.
Willkie may keep this country out
OF war, whereas every step of the
Roosevelt administration is taking
this country closer to involvement
in foreign war.
Observers here who know their
Kansas insist that Mr.. Willkie will
have very strong vote among the
women. 1t is true, they say, that Mr.
Willkie has gone along with the
President in support of military
cOnScriptiOn, in the trade of over
age destroyers to Great Britain and
other aid to the British. However
those voters-and many of them are
Kansas motherS-Who dislike the
conscription bill are more inclined
to blame President Roosevelt and
his administration for the enact
ment of that law than they are
Mr.. Willkie, who is not in Office.
Captaincy Issue Is Factor.
Furthermore, the Il want to be
a captain, too" issue, growing out
of the commissioning of Elliott
Roosevelt, 30-year-old son of the
President, as captain in the Army
Air Corps, instead of subsiding in
the Middle West, is threatening to
lose the President votes. Veterans
OF the last war are vociferous in
their criticism here. With the draft
registration coming just about two
weeks before election. the incident
is likely to be kept alive.
Ever since and including 1900,
Kansas has been a barometer State
in national elections. 1t has never
failed to be on the winning side.
SO the politicians are not overlook
ing the Sunf1ower State. Mr.. Will
kie started his swing through the
West with a speech at Coffeyville
almost month ago. The Demo-
Gratis have brought Henry F. WAL
lace, their vice presidential nomi-
nee, into the State for a couple of
speeches. Miss Perkins, Secretary
of Labor, has been here and SO has
Senator Lucas of Illinois. And
many others are to come. The
Republicans are looking forward to
big rally and speech by Senator
McNary, the G.. o. P. vice presi-
dental nominee. They are waiting
too, for the return of Senator Cap
per and Senator Reed to take the
stump for Willkie. Senator Capper
is a tower Of strength among the
farmers and Senator Reed appeals
to the progressive element of the
party.
Poll Indicates Willkie.
One of the most significant straws
In the Kansas political wind is
the result of poll taken by Hutch
inson News-Herald. 1t is published
in the 7th congressional district, in
the Dust Bowl and it shows the
count 5,206 for Willkie, and 1888
for Roosevelt. This newspaper took
a similar poll in 1886 and another
in 1888, and in each instance it
was correct. Four years ago, when
former Gov. Landon was the Re-
publican presidential candidate, the
poll gave Roosevelt 7,125 to 5,796
for Landon, the "favorite son" can
didate. And two years ago. the
poll put Gov. Payne H. Rather, Re-
publican, in the lead over his Demo-
cratic opponent. The Republicans
figure that if the Hutchinson News
Herald poll is correct in its estimate
of Willkie-Roosevelt strength, the
State will give Mr.. Willkie a lead
of about $4,000. Mr.. Roosevelt car
ried it in 1886 with lead of 5000
Two years ago the G. o. P. elected
a Governor, a Senator and six out
of seven of the House delegation.
Democratic leaders here profess,
however. to be extremely confident.
To hear them talk, the Willkie
speech at Coffeyville was a flop
he did not mention agriculture and
its problems; labor is as strong or
stronger for the President than 1t
was four years ago; Wilkes in
dorJement of the draft LEFT him
without that issue against Roose-
welt, and the Republicans are split
into warning factions-with the
Clyde Reed faction on one side and
the Landon-Ratner faction on the
other. This row grew out of fight