The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-29
The Man Who Came F rom
Nowhere" Elected COPS
Nominee for Presidency
Onetime Democrat Who Changed His
Mind. Is Choice Of Convention
On Dramatic Sixth Ballot
BY LYLE c. WILSON

CONVENTION HALL. Philadelphia - The Republican
party rallied today behind the leadership Of Wendell Lewis
Wikie of Indiana and New York. its politically miraculous
nominee for president of the United States.
Willkie nominated at :02 (EDT) today after
six ballots in which he moved down first District Attorney
Thomas F. Dewey of New York. then Sen Robert A. Taft
of Ohio
the old foxes Of Pennsylv ania passed the vote to
caucus midway in the roll call, and finally sent
solid " votes aboard the Willke bandwagon That
made the count $780, or 50 the sol bare majority
and the battle
There discussion among convention leaders
Of the nominee appearing before the convention Wlke
said he would discuss this with Convention Chairman Joseph
w. Martin, jr He would appear not to deliver formal
acceptance addessas President Roosevelt did at the 1882
and 1886 Democratic eonventions-but only to say few
words
He will maintain the Republican tradition Of
formal acceptance speech in his home town later in
Efforts to bring wlke to the hall Immediately after
his nomination overrued by the Wilkie strategy
board, but he sent message to the convention through
Permanent Chairman Joseph w Martin. jrq who said
morning:
q want to say that had message phoned me
from the nominee of this convention Mr.. Wilkie
wants to thank you for your loyalty and for your
generosity in supporting him enthusiastically
"IIe is grateful that this verdict has come in
free convention, where there has been dehberation
such Is other party had in political history.
He wants me TO tell you that he is ready and willing
and well prepared TO take up the fight TO the
principles Of the Republican party TO victory.
He further asks me to ask you to give him your
undying support.
for the real principles OF America. But he needs the
support of every delegate in this convention and Of
every and woman in America who believes in
American principles
Delegates who had said OF Wilkes lightning-like last
minute campaign for the nomination. that he couldn't
siby wn top of the Wie bandwagon today, and
promising deathless devotion TO the Wilkie
1t WILKES business that created most OF the
opposition to him and the confidence veteran poll
ticians that he could not be nominated Wikie had
of the traditional political connections His office at 90
Pine ST. only few steps from Wall Street and he is head
of Commonwealth and Southern corporation, which
of the big public utilities systems
Wllkie first came into the prominence that led
10 his nomination = a critic Of the Kooseye cit admin
isration's power policies. lie had a buging yocab-
ularly and handy way Of hitting hard in print and
on the platform, and, with those weapons. he batted
Tennessee Valley Authority when the New Deal
tended il into the Commonwealth and Southern's
Tennessee valley domain. Wilkie lost and has closed
the incident with the assertion that public utilities
properties owned by the government should
continue TO be operated by the government But he
is opposed to the government extending ownership
in that any other business.
But what many old time politician considered his
greatest handicap his allegiance TO the Demo
party He voted for contributed 10 President
Rooseves election in 1892 But by 1886 he had departed
that political company to support All NJ Landon the 6. o.
nominee of that year. And in 1888 he registered
Republican
All of those things added up according TO the rules
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