Evening star., 1940-09-30
Mr.. Wilkes Problem

Western tour and his report" on it
at Yonkers Saturday night, the main
issue of this campaign has been
rather clearly defined. In the five
weeks remaining before election day,
Mr.. WILKES problem will be to pre-
sent this issue in such fashion that
its full implications can be grasped
by the millions of So-called inde-
pendent voters whose ultimate de-
cision between the candidates will
determine the outcome of the elec-
ton.
The Republican nominees task is
not an easy one. He must contend,
first of all. with an explosive inter-
national situation which tends to
divert attention from domestic queS-
tions, and since he is in substantial
agreement with the President on
matters pertaining to our foreign re-
lations Mr. Willkie must interest the
voters in domestic issues if he is to
be elected. Secondly, he is under
tlIC pOllglSdl VI pei
approving the proper objectives Of
most of the New Deals social reforms.
His fundamental difference with
the New Deal-and it is vitality i'm
portant one-iS essentially philo-
sophical Mr. Willkie indicts the
Roosevelt administration for its ap-
peal to class consciousness, for its
manifold efforts to create mass
feeling of dependence upon gov
ernment for security at the expense
Of individual independence and ini-
tiative. D In Mr.. WILKES judgment.
these efforts are motivated by mar
row political considerations which
have been responsible for the admin
istration's indiscriminate attacks on
business and industry, with the result
that the Nation has Stagnated in
stead of progressing along normal
lines His appeal, then, rests pri-
marily upon an argument for a
change of philosophical outlook
rather than the substitution of one
legislative program for another, or,
as he expresses it, for abandonment
of the principle that Americans are
the Governments people in favor of
the principle that the American Gov
ernment is the peoples Government.
This, as the Republican candidate
has discovered, is not the most IA
vorable campaign material. 1t is
necessary for him to persuade mil
lions of voters, who have been made
to feel in variety of ways that they
are personally obligated to the New
Deal, that they should cast off their
supposed benefactor in return for
what is at best somewhat Intangible
brighter future. Human nature be-
ing what it is, political candidate
calling for sacrifice and self-denial
faces an uphill fight against an op-
ponent who has demonstrated. his
determination to care for the needs
of today, without too much thought
of what tomorrow may bring.
But there are certain factors in
Mr.. WILKES favor He is delivering
a message Of pr6found Importance,
and doing 1t with obvious conviction
and sincerity. His radio presence is
improving and he has demonstrated
that he has the will and the ability
to present his case personally to an
astonishingly large number of voters.
Finally, Mr.. Willkie is presenting an
issue which some one had to submit
to the American people. He may not
be able to check the trend toward
reliance on government instead Of
on ones self, but it may well be
doubted whether any other man in
the Republican party could have
made a more effective effort to that
end.