The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-10-01
KNOWING WlLLKIE


ity TO meet Wendell L. Willkie,
Republican candidate for the presi-
dency of the United States. 1t is an
opportunity OF which every person
who can possibly avail himself
should take advantage.
To meet Willkie personally is to
admire him. His frank, open man
ner. his cordial handshake. his ear
uestness and enthusiasm inspire
confidence and trust.
It Is his earnestness which handi-
caps him over the radio He is a
man OF action. He drives directly at
the point. There is no mincing of
words. no camouflage, no deceit. 1t
is this drive in his speech that
leads him to cut the corners OF die
ton. He drops some OF his vowels
and In doing that he leaves the i'm
preston with his radio audience
that he is not a finished orator. In
a way this is correct. He has not
given time to polish and Snowman
ship, essential in a good selling
campaign by radio. He is not super
fetal. He means what he says and
the fact that he is not interested in
polish and showmanship is win
ming for him a good many new
friends.
To sit in a group with Mr. Willkie
and observe at close range the
fundamental soundness OF his pur.
pose in this campaign, his faith in
mankind, his love OF life. his sin
certify. is to admire him. His every
gesture and expression comes from
the heart.
AS he chats informally with news
paper men and other friends the
subject OF showmanship frequently
enters the conversation. Mr.. Roos-
eyelt is A great Snowman. someone
remarks. You have got to pull a
rabbit out Of the hat every now and
then to match him" But Mr. Willkie
only smiles and makes II clear that
if he cannot win the confidence of
the American people by straight
forward. honest methods. he will ac-
cept defeat. he will not resort TO
trickery.
In his trip across Michigan yes
terday Mr. Willkie received most
gratifying receptions in Niles, Bat.
tie Greek, Jackson. Ann Arbor.
and Detroit. In South Bend q group
Of men and boys attempted to annoy
the speaker and his audience with
noise makers OF various descrip-
tions and in Wyandotte last night
there was a similar display OF I'M
70 friendliness on the part OF certain
groups but as Mr. Willkie rode into
Detroit he received an ovation along
the streets far more enthusiastic
than he had anticipated, and at
Olympia last night a huge crowd
greeted him with long and hearty
cheers
In Ann Arbor the crowd gathered
at the station 10 hear his speech
was estimated between twenty and
thirty thousand. Newspaper men
who have been travelling with him
since he started the campaign stat
ed that similar crowds have wei.
coined him all along his route.
There is no question but that gen.
eral opinion is changing they said,
indicating that there is a wide
spread swing TO a more business
like national administration. This
trend was especially apparent when
IN his speech last night Mr. Willkie
referred 10 the old slogan OF not
changing horses in midstream.
What ] want TO know" he said.
lis how we got into this deep water.
who got US into midstream. Ger.
tainly the man who got US into the
middle Of the stream IL not the man
to get US out
II | am elected President" he
said, there will be the greatest
housecleaning in Washington you
have ever seen. I'll clean out the
unbelieyers. the cynics. the nuts
and the bunk-artists, and | will re-
duce the needless and costly bu.
reaucracies. But the people who are
really doing the work VIII remain.
Thu army-Rill still be there, the
navy will be there and the civil
service will not only remain but It
viii be strengthened No one has
ever been greater believer in
civil service than / am.
Il believe in social security. too.
he said. but not in the kind that
takes your money with no guaran-
tee OF returning the principal
when the time comes that you need
II most. We are facing bankruptcy.
In the past seven years the national
debt has doubled and we are still
increasing It.
who is paying for this enor.
nous waste. do you Think The rich
man? Not at all You. the working
people, are paying il. Everything
you wear, everything you eat is
saturated with taxes"
As Mr.. Willkie today swings
round to Pontiac. Flint. and Grand
Rapids he will have made many new
friends in Michigan. The most re-
grettable fact. however, Is that
every man and woman in Michigan
cannot meet him personally and ap-
preciate his sincerity OF purpose
and his superior ability.