Evening star., 1940-07-04

cVcH II IL NC FTeSlQenC Roosevelt,
will face a real fight for victory.
What has come over them to
bring such a startling change? There
is the same serious situation that
confronts America, with Hitler
sweeping over Europe and the threat
of trouble in the Far East There is
the same argument available that
this Is no time to swap horses, that
President Roosevelt, with his ex-
perience and knowledge of foreign
affairs, is needed at the helm of the
craft of State. There is the same
cry that Mr.. Roosevelt has been the
friend of the working man andS the
farmer and retains their affections.
And yet there is hesitancy where
before there was only confidence
that the President and his New
Deal administration could not lose
in November.
Willkie Did 1t.
The change in public opinion
grows out of the action of the Re-
publican National Convention, which
picked a new champion to run for
the G. Q. P. against President
Roosevelt or any other Democrat
who may be selected by the party's
national convention which starts
two weeks hence in Chicago. Wen
dell l.. Willkie, his personality, his
ability to speak and to dramatic
events, have been esponsible-not
to mention that enormously favor
able press which has attended the
nomination of the New Yorker for
the presidential nomination.
Wilkes accomplishment-win-
ming the Republican nomination
against odds after a comparatively
brief campaign-has given the Dem
ocrats something to think about.
and they are thinking hard. After
all, even if they discount the ac-
complishment by saying that Mr..
Willkie had the backing of all the
big interests which have been favor
able to the G. o. P. in the past, they
still have fresh in their memories the
fact that Willkie has aroused pop
ular demonstrations that are liter
ally astounding. Rank and file Re-
publicans are not so very different
from rank and file Democrats. They
together 60 to make up the great
bulk of the American people. From
all accounts, Mr.. Willkie has made
deep impression on audiences which
contain workers as well as those
made up of employers. He has in
spired confidence, and most of all,
he has given the American people a
new face which appeals to them.
Makes Decided Impression.
1t is too early to say in July what
is to happen in November with
absolute certainty. But 1t was also
too early in March to say what
would happen in June in Phila-
oelphia. The campaign for and
against Mr.. Willkie has yet to de-
velop. The Democratic candidate
against him has still to be NOM
mated. The wars abroad may have
their distinct effect on domestic
politics. There is always the chance
that this country may become in
volved in these wars. But it is not
early to say that Mr.. Willkie has
made a profound-at least wide
spread-impression on the people,
and that goes for people all over the
country.
If President Roosevelt is to run
again, as so many of the Democratic
leaders now insist he must, he will
be a formidable opponent for Mr..
Willkie. The President, however,
will have to carry the added weight
of anti-third term sentiment in this
country. He will be faced, too, with
the inclination of the public to run
after something new, to take
gamble. The last eight years have
not been particularly happy-de-
spite the Roosevelt victory song of
Happy Days Are Here Again"
There will be more and more incli-
nation to discount the old slogan
Roosevelt at least is trying to do
something"
Working for the President, if he
runs, will be the fact that there is
an inclination in times of stress to
stick to a man who has been in
Office and who knows the ropes and
who has been doing his best to
build up the national defense.
There will be his record, which has
appealed to labor generally and to
the farmers in many instances.
And in the end the laborers and
the farmers and the men and women
who are on relief of one kind or
another will settle this coming elec-