Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1940-08-20
Ickes Blasts
Wilkiie For
Challenge
Replying to WILKES
Address, Secretary OF
Interior Charges, Gun
pardonable r e + e r .
ences" to President.

washington, aug. ZO.-\AI J-ocC-
rotary lckeS, Sarcastically calling
Wendell Willkie a simple, barefoot
Wall street lawyer" last night ac-
cused the Republican presidential
nominee Of "unpatriotic demagog-
uery" and 'unpardonablc references
to President Roosevelt
In a radio speech described as a
reply to WILKES acceptance address
at Elwood, Ind, the interior depart
ment head asserted that WILKES
criticism of Mr.. Roosevelts CCndurt
OF foreign affairs was 'cOntemptlble.'
Concerning Wilkes challenge to
Mr.. Roosevelt 10 meet him on the
same platform in JOINT debates, lcke,
siad:
"One cannot challenge the Presi-
dent of the United States TO go about
the country transforming, after the
pre-radio fashion of the past century,
without laying himself open t. the
charge that he is indulging in cheap
bravado.
The gravity o. Mi. WILKES Of
Tense consisted of the fact that he
was reflecting upon the dignity and
striking at the prestige Of an office,
which, as canaldate himself for the
presidency, it ought to be his Jealous
DUTY to uphold and defend. The Pres
ident cannot adjourn the battle Of
Britain in order to ride the circuit
with Mr.. Willkie. The presidency is
not a job for a mOuntebank.
AT that, Mr.. Roosevelt has been
effectively debating the Wendell
WILKES of this country for years and
will continue to do 50.
IF Mr.. Willkie is so earger for Il
debate in order to hold his audience,
| suggest that he challenge his rum
ming mate, Senator McNary, with
whom he is at greater variance on
domestic and foreign issues than his
speech OF acceptance shows him 10
be with the President"
Ickes said the Willkie speech had
failed to live up to its advance
"build-up"
"A man cannot make IN effective
assault On the new deal when he ac-
cepts the new deal in principle he
said.
He expressed thanks to Willkie for
agreeing with Mr.. Roosevelt on such
topics as selective service and ma
terial aid to Britain, but "deplored"
the nominees action in tossing "a
sop to the bitter anti-RoOsevelt iSO-
lationistS" by accusing the President
of melting the country to war ana
misleading other nations.
r,rocclNrrn,, lam nf fhn
imagination does this candidate con-
clude that this Presidents has not
taken the country into his confidence
on foreign policy" Ickes demanded.
Have the dangers against which
President Roosevelt repeatedly warn
ed failed to materialize? Is the Hit
Ter attack on England a manufac-
tured panic?
Does not Mr.. Willliie remember
that, time and again, the President
sought to arouse the American peo-
pie to the danger in the European
situation, only to have his request
for defense appropriations attacked
again and again as excessive and un-
necessary; only to have his warnings
met again and again with jibes and
ieers from Mr.. WILKES neWlound
friends, and to be accused, as Mr..
Willkie shabbily accused him on Sat-
urday, of inVenting war Scares Tor
selfish political purposes?"
Willkie, the speaker observed. &C
cepts the new deal reforms in prin-
ciple but where was he when the
Republicans were fighting tooth-and-
nail against all of these measures"
"All through this period" lckes