Evening star., 1940-06-07

~ >'ss' II. II o Velt
will be his opponent.
Not that 1 think he would be
the easiest man TO beat Mr. Willkie
hastened to add, but he's the au-
thor and the ablest advocate of the
New Deal and the people have a
right to hear from him. Hes all
wet IN most of his ideas on domestic
policy, and I'd like nothing better
than to stand up and trade sUats
with him.
1t has been put down against me
that l am in the public utility busl-
ness. All right! There are a lot
OF things I could say about that
alleged campaign liability and one
OF the things l would say u the
President on the stump is this:
When I took charge of the
Commonwealth g. Southern seven
years ago, about the same time that
you became President, the average
domestic consumption of electricity
per household in the communities
1t served was 600 kiloWatt hours q
year and the average domestic rate
was Just over cents per klloWatt
hour.
Today the average domestic con-
| sumption Of Commonwealth e.
southern electricity is 1890 kiloWatt
hourS and the average rate is %
cents. This is lower average rate
and higher average use than for
any comparable company. The rate
IS 70 per cent below the national
average; the use is 35 per cent above
the national average
i would say this to Mr.. Roosevelt.
and l would ask him: Have you done
as good job in lowering taxes and
increasing governmental service as I
nave done in lowering rates and
increasing the use of electricity?'
ut Would Be a Pleasure,
Yes, it would be a pleasure to
submit myself to examination by the
| head OF the New Deal. The New
Deal has been examining me for
seven years and, as far as l am con-
ceIned, 1t can go on for 10 years. I
suppose I've testified before more
congressional committees than anv
other living man. I've sought EN-
out, because wanted to get a sound
ing board for what I believe are
common-sens4o ideas about busi-
ness and government"
1t is obvious that Mr.. Willkie is. as
ne says, enjoying himself. He does
not hide his delight at the way the
terder shoot of his candidacy has
blossomed into a fairly hardy plant,
His chances?
You know as much about that as
I do" Willkie replied, But III say
this: I'm out ahead of trend.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was ahead
of a major trend in 1882 and it
carried him into the presidency. I'd
like to think that I'm a hell of
fellow, but haven't any illusions
on that score. I've simply been
dramatized before the country as the
result OF a new trend. How deep
and wide and pervasive it is I don't
pretend to know, but it's there and
I happen to be in front of it.
Eager Tor domination.
Maybe" he unused, maybe there
is something in all this. Some of
the politicians are beginning to take
notice. In the last few weeks, ma
tlonal convention delegates from Is
States have come in to see me. Maybe
they think I am the man who can
stand up with Roosevelt in debate
and take swat for swat-give him
back as good as get I don't know.
Figure out my chances for yourself.
"Of course I would be gratifed to
get the nomination and be elected
President. Any man of my age-Im
48-who is interested in public
affairs, in social and economic ques-
tions, who is in good health and has
no fear that skelton is going to be
dragged out of his closet, who like
to do things-any man so situated
would naturally be delighted to be
thought OF for the presidency. Any
man who is coy in these circum-
stances is plain faker.
Il am convinced that the necessity
of building up our national defenses
has increased the demand of the
American people for somebody who
has social sense and at the same
time knows the value of dollar
and knows how to make the wheels
60 round. I'll stand on my record,
and anybody who says that on the
record I'm not entitled to aspire to
public Office can 90 take a running
jump in the lake"