Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-24
Rooseve|t's Speech
Is Seen as Signal for
Lusty Election Fight
Philadelphia Audience
Gives Ovation to
The old Compoiener'
Continued From First Page.)

waved almost nervously as the CROWD
roared its applause, but by the time
he had made his way through the
first of seven pages Of manuscript
and had been forced to stop i've
times for new outbursts he wa
showing the qualities Of Snowman
ship and oratory that led his Re.
publican opponent, Wendell Willkie
to call him "the champ"
All of this is not by way Of saying
that Mr.. Roosevelt proved last night
that he must be re-elected-that he
is Indispensable" 1t is merely te
say that Mr.. Roosevelt is now bat
Ting for his reelection in the old.
fashioned way-meeting Mr.. Willkie
at the game the latter has beer
playing for these many weeks past
that of trying to talk the voters into
according him their preference.
Illinois Trip Is Possible.
Possibility that Mr.. Roosevelt may
extend his last-minute campaign
plans to include a swing as far West
as Illinois was conceded by the White
House today. but no definite plan
was announced.
Stephen T. Early, secretary to the
President, said that Gov. STEELE Of
Illinois had been informed that the
President would like to 60 to Illi-
nois, but that no time either before
or after election had been fixed.
Michigan Democrats also art
eager to have the Chief Executive
visit their State before November
and Mr.. Early added that the Presi-
dent himself would like to 90 Il
Indiana.
All of these possibilities, Mr.. Early
concluded, boil down to a question
OF finding time and OF keeping
within a 12-hour range of Wash.
ington and the press Of important
business here.
The President was to discuss with
Secretary of State Hull today an
accumulation Of dispatches on the
foreign situation, believed to dea,
not only with the European wa,
but also with conditions in the Fal
East.
II Is no secret that one OF tn.
reasons for Mr. Roosevelt shifting
tics is the concern that his politica
advisers have been feeling at the in.
creasing Willkie strength. Today
they feel better-and there may be
reason.
In devoting this attention to the
psychological effect of Mr.. Roose-
velt's decision to emerge from the
White House cloisters for some real
campaigning, emphasis should be
accorded not only his personal
adaptability to such tactics, but also
to the substance of what he had tt
say last night.
In announcing his intention to
make a series of five prediction
speeches the President said he wa.
doing it to correct systematic ano
deliberate falsifications of fact by
the opposition. -
(Mr. WILKES name still has
not been used by Mr.. Roosevelt
in public conversation during
the campaign)
Last night he presented q bill o.
particulars on these alleged false
hoods and entered categorical de-
malls of each.
Denies PhOning Dictators.
He began, for instance, with hi
blanket attempt to refute charge:
that the President of the United
States telephoned to Mussolini ant
Hitler to sell CZecho-Slovakia dow
the river; or that the unfortunate
unemployed of the Nation are goint
to be driven into concentration
camps; or that the social securit,
funds of the Nation will not be II
existence when the workers OF to
day become old enough to apply TO
them; or that the election of tht
present Government means the enc
of American democracy within fou
years"
Echoing then his 1882 warning
that "the only thing we have II
fear is fear itself" the President &C
cused his opposition of an intent II
instill "in the minds of the people
doubt of each other, doubt Of theil
Government and doubt Of the pur'
poses of democracy"
1.-THE worst bombshell of feal
which Republican leaders have le
loose on this people" he went on
lis the accusation that this Govern
ment, without the knowledge Of thu
Congress or the people. has secretly
entered into agreements with foreign
nations"
Il give you this most solemn as.
surance," he offered in rebuttal
there is no secret treaty, no secret
obligation, no secret commitment, M
secret understanding in any shape
or form. direct or indirect, with any
other government, or any other ma.
ton in any part of the world, tc
involve this nation in any war OF
for any other purpose.
Denies Business Is Stifed.
Abruptly then he turned to a do.
nestle issue-Republican complaints
that "our whole industrial system is
prostrate-that business is stifed
and can make no profits"
To answer, he said:
Il say that these statements are
false. I say that the figures of en-
ployment, of production, of earn
ings, of general business activity
all prove that they are false"
Accusing his Republican critics lr
turn of playing a tune with over
tones which whisper, votes, votes
votes" Mr.. Roosevelt then chidec