Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-20
Ey the Associated Press.

WILKES speech at the Mime
dpolis Auditorium tonight:
am pleased indeed to be pre-
scented to this great gathering of
Americans here in the upper
Mississippi Valley by your dis
tinguished Senator Shipstead,
who is so distinctly product of
your traditions.
I am also happy to have here
beside me your able Governor,
Harold Stassen. You all know
my high opinion of him and l
am proud of his warm and loyal
friendship.
We are gathered here tonight
in the course of a political cam
paign which will determine the
future of our country. All
through America there is an ever
rising tide of opinion that the
great hope of our Nation de-
ponds on a change in Washington
next month.
There is a growing determlna-
ton upon the part of the men
and women of America, regard
less of party affiliations, that
there shall be an end to the
unsound conduct of the affairs
of their national Government.
The people know that free
and spontaneous unity behind a
new and effective leadership will
take them up the road to prog
ress. They are determined to set
out together upon the American
road behind our leadership.
Regards His Campaign
As a Crusade to Save Nation.
This historic campaign Of ours
will move to a conclusion within
the next three weeks. shall con-
tinue ever more intenSlvely to
discuss and rediscuSs with the
people all the vital issues of the
campaign. There can and there
shall be no relaxation OF our
efforts, for we regard this cam
paign as crusade to save
America.
recognize that tonight we are
together here in the heart of
the great agricultural section of
America. The valley of the Up
per Mississippi and its tributaries
has long been the source OF a
large portion of the food supplies
of the whole Nation. Your State
of Minnesota last year was first
in the Union in the production
of butter, greatest in the acreage
of barley and fax. The State of
Iowa. immediately to the south
of us. was first in the produce
ton of corn and hogs. The State
of Wisconsin. to the east. was
first in the total production of
all dairy products. The States
of North and South Dakota to
the west were hight in the pro-
duction of wheat. And all OF
these States together form one
of the worlds most diversified
and productive agricultural re-
gions.
Perhaps one of the finest and
most important things about
these productive lands of the
Upper Mississippi Valley is that
they are titled by the sons and
daughters of all of the nations OF
the Old World. who are real
patriotic citizens of the United
States.
Passion for Freedom
Brought by Settlers.
Here to these vast productive
lands your fathers and mothers
brought from the Old World the
best traditions of thrift and in
dustry and a burning passion for
freedom. Here they came to es-
cape from the expressions of an
other day and to build a new
Nation and a new way of life for
themselves and their children.
1t is this spirit that has devel-
oped this great region.
1t is this spirit that has built
all of America.
It is this spirit that we seek to
preserve today.
We know that you people of
this vast farm region-realistic
Americans that you are-belleve
that most of the solutions to your
problems will emerge from your
own free and independent efforts
and through your own voluntary
organiza tions, and not from any
academic political theorists in
government.
1t is that freedom and that
independence you people came
to this country to get, and 1 be-
lieve in your ability and your
desire to keep that great hertz
age intact.
know you also recognize that
all the groups of our American
people have a common stake in
the general progress and welfare
of the people in agriculture, in
dustry and commerce
You also know that each of
these groups, and particularly
agriculture, needs to feel that
government is ever their servant
in solving the important prob
lens in which the assistance of
government is necessary.
AS to such problems, we pledge
to you the full assistance of the
power of our administration in
their constructive solution.
OF Labor and Farmers.
Would Convene Conference
I discussed in some detail re-
Gently at Omaha the outline of
our farm program. I want to
stress particularly my sugges-
ton, in that speech, that if I am
elected I shall Immediately con-
vene a conference composed OF
representatives of agriculture,
labor. industry and the consum-
err. shall invite to represent
you at that conference men with
actual farm experience, and
especially the representatives Of