Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-15
Illinois 6. 0.P. Counts
Heavily on Effect
Of Wi||kie's Speeches
Democrats Bottle to Cut
Downstote Majority
And Hold Chicago Vote
BY LAURIN II. HEALY,

SpcNAai VIII cspOlucIt VI SldI
CHICAGO, Sept. 14-Wendell L.
Willkie opened his Pacific Coast
campaign tour with four speeches
in Chicago Friday and six more
throughout cities in the northern
half of Illinois today, and Repub-
lican chieftains in this doubtful
State counted heavily on the in
spirational effect his visit would
have to start the wheels rolling for
G.. o. P. victory here November s.
Throughout the towns and viii
lagos of Illinois Republican and
Democratic caravans of State cam
didates carried their campaign this
week, and will without rest until
the last two weeks of October. Both
sides were trying their best to corral
every last vote in Illinois outside
Chicago.
Downstate Illinois is conceded by
Democrats and Republicans alike
as Republican. The former were
ready to admit that the country
districts would give the G. o. P.
100000 vote majority. Republicans
claimed higher one. To build it
three separate troupes of Repub-
lcan performers will tour the State.
Senator Slattery headed a Demo-
cratic caravan in the downstate
counties this week and in a dozen
speeches reaffirmed his steadfast
adherence to the foreign and do
nestle policies of President Roose-
welt. Harry B. Hershey. Taylorville
attorney, who was picked by the
Kelly-Nash Democratic leaders to
run for Governor, heads the other.
Extolllng Roosevelt and humanity"
as his principal vote-getting theme,
Mr.. Hershey tried to cut down the
downstate Republican majority.
DoWnstate, controlled almost en-
tirely by county Republican office
holders, must outweigh Chicago with
its powerful Kelly-Nash ward organ
izations if Mr.. Willkie is to get
Illinois 20 electoral votes.
Mayor Kelly's Cook County Gen.
eral Committee sets its well-oiled
machine into high gear this week
to bring out the Chicago vote. Ward
committeeman from slums and the
Gold Coast alike brought in reports
of preliminary canvasses to show
President Roosevelt will carry Chi
cago by more than his half-million
majority of 1886. The Democrats
appare ntly were preparing for a
quletly-manageo campaign and a
small vote so Its organization would
hold the edge.
But what sentiment is vocal in
Chicago is for Willkie Volunteer
groups of office workers, stenog-
raphers and businessmen have
sprung up overnight to work for the
utilities executive Willkie clubs
have been organized among lawyers,
steel men, advertising men and even
warehouse storage operators.
A group of young bushes execu-
tives formed volunteer group to
organize Wlllkie support in the l6
wards of Chicago wherein has lain
the entire Democratic majority Of
Illinois In recent years. In the rest
of the State the two parties have
stood fairly even, but in these under
privileged wards the Kelly-Nash
organization has built up majorities
ranging up to 100000 votes.
The businessmen's group already
has secured 1000 volunteers to
canvass precincts, man the polls and
perform the functions of the weak
G. o. P. regular organizations in
these wards.
The question was asked anxiously
throughout Chicago Democratic
circles: Will these amateur poll
ticians and businessmen, whipped
into frenzy by their love for Mr.
Willkie, turn the tide? The answer
is not yet evident.