Evening star., 1940-06-28
Brevity Of Message
Typical Of 6. 0. P.'s
Presidential Hope
Very Appreciotive and
Humble Successful
Candidate Says

Candidate Says
By Staff Correspondent of The Star.
PHILADELPHIA, June 28.-Wen-
dell L. WILKES first message to the
country as the Republican standard
bearer was promise to fight for
prosperity, defense and national
unity.
The messages brevity and direct
ness were typical of this dynamic
Hoosier lawyer and businessman,
whose two-month whirlwind cam
paign swept him to victory over
rivals who had been in the race all
year.
He was sitting on a couch in his
downtown hotel headquarters, his
ear glued to radio as the roll call
of the final ballot gradually brought
the realization that he had been
chosen to lead the Republican party
In this years campaign.
Crowds Come and Go.
Ordinarily a successful political
leader at such a moment of victory
would have been closeted with his
high command of close advisers, but
not Wendell Willkie. He was seated
in reception room with doors wide
open, surrounded by newspapermen
and campaign enthusiasts.
He had been there throughout the
day, following the slow process of
balloting, which showed him climb
ing steadily as each hour passed.
When he finally passed the 500
mark, which gave him the nomina-
tion, a battery of news photogra-
piers swarmed about him and called
for "big smile" as flashlight bulbs
went of like a Fourth of July cele-
bration, to the accompaniment of
shouts of joy from his campaign
workers.
But the cry of the picturemen for
a smile was not necessary. He was
wearing that broad, contagious grin
that had been no small part of his
rapid rise to popularity among those
who heard or saw him during the
weeks since he pitched actively into
the race.
Obeys Photographers.
He stood on chair and patiently
obeyed the staccato commands Of
the photographers to look this
way" and wave your arms" Then,
when the reporters moved in and
asked him for a statement, he re-
piled:
i am very appreciative, very hum
BILE, very proud. This is going to be
a great battle, and I intend to give
everything I have to bring back
prosperity, defense and national
unity"
Then he hurried out of the hotel
headquarters to meet Mrs. Willkie.
But the word of his nomination had
already spread through the down.
town section, and a cheering crowd
had already jammed into the hotel
lobby.
When he stepped off an elevator it
was all a police escort could do to
get him to a waiting taxi as his
wen-Wishers pressed forward to
shake his hand. The scene was not
unlike a plunge through center in
football game, with the bluecoats
running a good interference.
Satisfied With Platform.
Before he started for home and
q rest from the hectic last hours
OF the contest, newsmen asked him
If he was satisfied with the platform
the convention adopted Wednesday.
Sure" he replied as he promised
to comment on it in more detail
later.
All during the voting he had ban
tered and joked. Before each ballot
he would offer a prediction as to the
number of votes he would get. His
predictions always were too con-
servative. He first forecast that
victory would come on the sixth, but
later, in a moment of enthusiasm,
changed it to the third When that
ballot failed to bring the nomina-
ton, he went back to the sixth.
AS midnight approached and the
tally clerks voice came over the
radio, calling the roll for the next
to the last ballot, Mr.. Willkie fol-
lowed closely the tabulation and
noted each change in the standing
of the count between himself and
his nearest rival, Senator Taft of
Ohio.
Puffs Cigarette.
Although outwardly calm, he
pufted at a cigarette and OCCASION
ally brushed back his thick black
hair. When a delegation would
switch scme of its votes to him, he
would seriously inquire where that
left the score.
He smiled when he heard one
delegate, telling the convention he
was casting his vote Tor "the peoples
choice-Willkie"
Those boys are playing SAFE" he
observed with twinkle of his eye
when one of the Territories an
nounced it was dividing it's two votes
between Mr.. Willkie and Senator
Taft.
AS the fifth ballot gave him 429,
only 70 short of the nominating
figure, he showed momentary con-
Germ lest the convention de-
eide to adjourn overnight without
reaching decision, but a few min
utes later, chairman Martin called
for the sixth and decisive roll call
and the Willkie victory was assured.
That was when he said:
Boys, that's not bad for eight
weeks work, is it?"