Evening star., 1940-08-20
The Political Mill
America Moves Nearer National Defense
THROUGH Wilkes Stund on Draft

Of course, If there are to be any
such joint debates. No one has ever
accused him of lack of courage. But
If he declines to accept this chal-
lenge to joint debate, his failure to
meet Willkie will not rest well with
a good many people who have looked
upon him as the undisputed cham
pion talker of the times.
Called Best American Tradition.
AS Mr.. Willkie points out, a joint
debate between the leader of the
New Deal and the leader of the New
Deal opposition would be in the best
American tradition. 1t Is an his
torical fact that the joint debates
political and at the same time
Observation-Disclosures Lincoln and
Douglas influenced the destiny of
this Nation vitality in the days before
the Civil War. There is in South
Carolina a law which compels candi-
dates for political Office to appear
and speak from the same platforms
during a campaign. In 1888 in Ohio,
Senator Robert A. Taft and former
Senator Bulkley, seeking election to
the Senate, engaged in a series of
Joint debates up and down Ohio
discussing the issues Ohio turned
against the New Deal in that elec-
ton.
The issues involved in the present
presidential campaign are too vital
for Mr.. Roosevelt to attempt to laugh
off the Willkie proposal to debate
them. They 60 far deeper, as Mr..
Willkie suggested, than the mere
oust the ms.
Mr.. Roosevelt has shown himself
unpredictable in the past. He may
come around to accept the Willkie
challenge. If he does the presiden-
tial campaign will be tremendously
enhanced in interest, while the is
sues will remain as compelling as
ever.
Think of Stock Gambling.
What Mr.. Willkie said in favor of
Government regulation of some
kinds of business will not please
some of his supporters. They have
in the backs of their heads return
to the days and customs of 1929
In those days the people sought to
get something for nothing by gam
bling on stocks and bonds. Today
great many people are getting some
thing for nothing, also, from the
Government, and vote for the New
Deal to perpetuate the handouts.
The Republican nominee did not
mince words when he discussed the
need of helping to preserve the
British fleet. He made no mention
of the proposed sale of half hun
dred or more of American World
War destroyers to the British. But
that sale might have been read into
his words.
While Mr.. Willkie Is standing for
many of the things that President
Roosevelt is attempting to do to
build up the defenses of this coun-
try. he has hit solidly at the Presi-
dents handling of this country's
foreign relations, charging that Mr..
Roosevelt has attacked other ma
tions in his addresses and messages
without adequately preparing this
country to back up such attacks. At
the same time Mr.. WILKES own po-
sition in opposition to the Hitler
ideas of life and government was
shown to be as strongly antagonistic
as ever was that of President Roose-
welt.
At once Mr.. Willkie brings into
the foreground as a major issue the
failure of the President properly to
prepare this country to defend It
self against foreign attack. while
at the same time counting such at
tack.
Mr.. WILKES acceptance speech
has strengthened his candidacy.
That is the general verdict Of the
press-with some exceptions. 1t is
the general verdict of many politi-
cal observers. He was heard by
millions of Americans via the radio,
as well as by the 100000 who gath
cred at Elwood, Ind, for the noti-
fication ceremony. and If his radio
voice is not as honeyed as that of
Franklin Delano Roosevelt. at least
it is compelling in its sincerity.