The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-07-11

CIV STAFF WRTTER)

(By STAFF WRIIEN)
WASHINGTON. - The Nomi-
nation of Wendell Willkie as the
Republican candidate for the
Presidency has strengthened the
belief of political observers here
that President Roosevelt Will De
the nominee of the Democratic
convention.
There is general agreement, not
only among Republicans but also
among Democrats, that MIR. Will
kie is the best possible man, from
the viewpoint of practical poll
have named. That, as the shreWo
tics. whom the Opposition could
1ookers-on in Washington see IT,
makes it incumbent upon the De-
mocrats to name their best pos
sible man. And that man, all
agree, is the President himself
Nobody but bred-in-the-oone
partisans of one party or the OF
her is making any positive pre-
dictions about the outcome OF the
election. Too many things may
happen between now and Novem-
Der to make soothsaying safe. But
as matters stand now the smartest
and most experienced political
observers are inclined to give the
two patries at least an even
chance if Mr.. Roosevelt decides to
run against Mr.. Willkie. ,
Several factors enter into that
line of figuring. There is the ma
tionwide trend against the New
Deal. which has been apparent
for two years or more and which
seems to be still growing. No OF
her Republican who could have
been nominated at Philadelphia IS
in a better position to capitalize
on that discomfort than Mr.. Will
kie: for he is in the unique posi-
tion of a man who was a Demo-
crat up to two or three years
ago and is now the leader OF
the Republican party. The best
opinion here is that such an out
standing example of the break
down of party lines is bound to
influence some millions of voters.
Personal Magnetism
There is much more than that
behind the feeling that Mr.. Will
kie has a good chance even again
st such a doughty opponent as
Mr.. Roosevelt himself. In his
brief campaign for the nomina-
ton. which he personally did not
begin to take seriously until ear
ly May this ysear, he has de-
monstrated that he has magne-
tic appeal to the public. what the
movie folks call "oomph." Of the
other leading contenders in his
party, only Tom Dewey has any
thing approaching that sort OF
personal magnetism.
But ability as a campaiener is
not the ONLY requisite. Wendell
Willkie really won the nomina-
ton because the great. uncoun-
table mass of voters had become
convinced that he was not only
honest. sincere and a fearless
fighter but that he stood for the
things in which the people BELLE
we'd. and not for the kind of fac
ing-both-Ways which they were
accustomed to hearing from polti-
teal candidates.
Washington. which has seen
and listened to every sort of po-
litician from the beginning. has
become a good Judge of political
bunk. The old-time experienced
observers here have been express
sing themselves freely. Their
general belief is that a candidate
for the Presidency who says what
he honestly believes, regardless
of whether his hearers like it or
not, will be at least a refreshing
novelty.
Platform a Patchwork
The Republican platform is
looked upon by most as being a
patchwork of efforts to please
everybody, as party platforms
generally are. It is the work of
politicians. Mr.. Willkie, not being
a politician in the common sense
of the term, is expected to make
his own platform. The belief here
is that he will come great deal
closer to advocating assistance to
the British Empire than the con-
vention's declaration went.
He has been called an Inter
ventionist" by some of the same
politicos who have been accu-
sing Mr.. Roosevelt of trying to
draw this country into the Eu-
ropean war. It seems clear that
he has no enthusiasm for the
s'peace-at-any-price" policy which
was urged upon the resolutions
committee by many Republicans.
IL =: VTTooIs1o 4o1o'c ho1iof 4ho+ in