Evening star., 1940-07-17
Roosevelt 10 Accept
Nomination, WiI|kie
Again Predicts
Says He Prefers to
Oppose President
Than Any Other
Ne xbs AsSoriotod presS

oppose Tres!oent
Than Any Other
BY the Associated Press.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo, July
l7-Wendell L. Willkie, predicting
that President Roosevelt would re.
ceive and accept third-term NOM
ination, renewed today his decla-
ration that he would rather run
against the President than any other
Democrat.
Mr.. Willkie said the Chief Execu-
tive was the best representative Of
the New Deal side of the coming
campaign and that he would like to
have a fight against him.
Sitting on couch in his hotel
apartment, the Republican NOM
tnee listened by radio last night to
Senator Barkley's talk accepting the
Craftsmanship of the Democratic
Convention. He yawned several
times, lay back occasionally on heavy
green-striped pillows and thumhed
through newspapers and book.
When Senator Barkley endet. his
talk with the statement that fresi-
dent Roosevelt has never had and
has not today any desire or purpose
to continue in the Office of Presi-
dent" Mr.. Willkie dictated this
comment to reporters:
"Ill make the same prediction I
made the other night-that the
President will be renominated on
the first ballot and will accept the
nomination"
Complimentary, He Says.
Again when Senator Barkley as
serted that the Republicans had
wanted color" in their nominee
and added that they picked a man
who had been a Republican for
only short time, Mr.. Willkie de-
clared the statement was "the most
complimentary thing have received
since my nomination"
The statement of one convention
speaker that Mr.. Willkie would be
sent a twist of tobacco to keep
him from chewing the rag" drew
the remark from the Republican
nominee, That's a remarkable bit
of humor"
Mrs. Willkie, hearing her hus-
bands radio from a nearby room,
walked in once during Senator
Barkley's talk and asked:
"Is he talking about you,
Wendell?"
The Republican nominee respond
ed that the Senator had been talking
about him, but that he was dis
cussing something else at the
moment.
When Senator Barkley mentioned
the Republican candidate before
saying that it was not his purpose
to review the New Deal history, Mr..
Willkie grinned and remarked:
He gets me before history"
The address by the Democratic
leader Mr. Willkie said, was "all
defensive, but reasonably good
defensive talk"
Declares Worries Are Over.
During the convention demonstra-
tion that followed Senator Barkley's
mention of Mr.. Roosevelt. Mr..
Willkie turned to reporters in his
suite and said, Il think my worries
are over" He added he always had
wanted to run against the President
and that it appeared the Chief
Executive would be the nominee.
This is the answer" Mr.. Willkie
said, indicating the radio. Nov I
can take it easy" And he leaned
back comfortably on the couch.
The nominee smiled when a con-
vention delegate shouted in the
microphone, I'VE want ROOSEVELT"
They are stealing my slogan"
Mr.. Willkie said, referring to the
campaign cry, I'VE want Willkie!"
The New Yorker listened atten-
lively to brief -committal
statement by James A. Farley re-
garding Senator Barkley's third
term declaration, but he had no
comment. Mr.. Farley said the
Barkley statement spoke for itself,
that he (Farley) was still candi-
date for the Democratic nomina-
ton and that his name would be
presented by Senator Glass of Vir-
ginia.
At one point, as he listened to
Senator Barkley's speech, Mr.. Will
kie said it appeared to be pretty
thin
Praise for Bankhead.
Asked for comment on Speaker
Bankhead's keynote address at Chi
cago, Mr.. Willkie issued this state
ment:
II found myself in complete ac-
cord with Speaker Bankhead in his
condemnation of the speculative Or
gies of the 1920s. I agreed with
him in his structures about the un-
loading on the public during the
same period of common stocks be-
yond their true value.
Il always have thought that such
speculation was to be condemned,
whether it was in the securities of
utilities companies, vending machine
companies, or took the form of gam
bling in foreign exchange, such as
German marks.
II am very proud that had abso-
1uCely IOIlllllS W uO Will l1ldC plldoc
of American economic life.
IT have devoted substantial part
of my time during the past 7l2
years to protecting the investments
of the people against the assaults of
their own Government.
Il also was very happy to hear
Speaker Bankhead commend the
passage of the act creating the Fed
eral Deposit Insurance Corp, which
guaranteed bank deposits up to
$4,000. My very good friend Senator
Vandenberg of Michigan was chiefly
responsible for securing the passage
Of that act"
Convention