Evening star., 1940-09-27

ed. The roar Of applause subsidized
after few moments, but broke forth
again with greater volume when the
presiding ofIicer introduced him as
the new leader of the American
people"
Before starting his speech. he told
them that he and Mrs. Willkie had
been deeply touched by the gener-
Gus reception. The enthusiasm of
the Omaha meeting was the more
unusual because some of his cam
paign advisers had not figured that
his chances in Nebraska were as
bright as In some of the other West
ern States.
Shortly before reaching Omaha,
Mr.. Willkie stopped in Sioux City,
Iowa, to ride in downtown parade
and speak to large crowd in the
stockyards bali park.
Declaring that the error of this
administration has been to handle
the problems of each group sepa-
rately. the Republican nominee said
in Omaha. Each group has found
it necessary to fight for whatever
advantage 1t can gain" He added:
The farmer, the worker, the in
ventor and the businessman have
been like four horses attached to the
same evener, the reins in the hands
of a reckless driver, and all horses
lunging spasmodically in different
directions
Gov. Stassen, who accompanied
the Willkie special from Fargo, N.
Oak, to Omaha, said that. as Of
today, he believed Mr.. Willkie would
carry Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota,
North Dakota. South Dakota, Hi
nois and Wisconsin, among the
Western States he has visited.
The MinneSotan said the outlook
"is good" in oregon, home State OF
Senator McNary. the vice presiden-
tial nominee. He gave Mr.. Willkie
a fighting chance in Missouri and
Washington.
But the real battleground-the
field where the large blocs Of elec-
toral votes are at stake-still lies
ahead of Mr. Willkie as he prepares
to carry his campaign during the
next two weeks into New York.
Pennsylvania, Ohio. Michigan and
New England.
Sees Low Point Passed.
Gov. Stassen is confident the Will
kie campaign reached its low point
| two weeks ago, while the nominee
marked time at Rushville, Ind,
waiting to begin his drive.
In the wake of the 7.200-mile
journey of the Willkie special down
into the Southwest. up the Pacific
Coast and back across the North
west, reports have come to Gov.
Stassen indicating that the oppor-
tunity to see and hear the Repub-
lican nominee had the effect of
arousing new hope in party workers
and started them working with re-
neWed vigor.
The seven Western States where
Gov. Stassen feels Mr.. Willkie now
holds the advantage have 78 elec-
toral votes. He did not imply that
he regarded this list as the limit of
Republican prospects in the West,
but the most favorable areas now.
All of these States helped build up
the Roosevelt landslide of 1886
when Alf M. Landon carried only
Maine and Vermont.
From now on. however, Mr. Will
kie will be fighting for the bigger
prizes-New York's At, Ohios 26,
Pennsylvania 36. Michigan's 19,
Massachusetts, with II, and other
New England States.
High lights of Mr.. Wilkes farm
speech at Omaha. which went by
radio from coast to coast, we're:
Assurance that he would name
who knows agriculture, man who
holds as firmly as l do the absolute
conviction that our national objec-
tives for American farmers must
be attained"
A promise to avail himself of the
ability and experience Of his run
ming mate, Senator McNary, who
has worked on farm legislation in
Congress for more than 20 years.
He placed first and foremost" the
soil conservation program. to which.
he said. no party can claim a copy
right. He proposed that To
greater extent than therefore, gen.
uine conservation practices be made
the basis for benefit payments"
That commodity loans, despite
some inherent dangers. should be
retained until some better method
of assisting farmers to finance their
surpluses can be worked out"
Would Extend Rural Electrification.
A declaration that he has been
advocating rural Identification since
1888 and thinks the present pro-
gram should be developed and ex-
tended. He said he suggested to
authorities in Washington That
Congress make available a reason
able sum, say s100,000000, from
which either municipal plants. or
private plants, could borrow money
from rural lines. or some portion of
them. provided the borrowers agreed
to distribute electricity to the farm
ers at reasonable rates"
Recognition that an adequate sys-
tenn of farm credit must be con-
tinued, with interest rates as low
as the cost of money will permit.
but with lending operations super
vised by a Government agency in
dependent of the Agriculture De-
partment land free from political
control"
That crop insurance should be
continued until there has been
enough experience to determine
whether it will be a success in the