Evening star., 1940-10-20
Wi||kie Will Attack
Three Points Vital
To Indiana S "A Votes
Democratic Leaders
Apprehensive as G. O.P.
Candidate Bores In
BY WILLIAM L. TOMS,


INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Oct. 19.-
Ten days hence Wendell L. Willkie
will have visited three strategic
points in the Hoosier State whose
capture would assure him its IA elec-
toral votes.
First of these so-called tough
spots" Is the industrial city of Ev-
ansville, metropolis of the pocket
formed by the confluence of the
OHIO and Wabash Rivers. 1t was
the vote from Evansville which aid
ed materially in saving the Demo-
cratic State ticket from defeat two
years ago. and, curiously, that city
produced the only Democratic State
nominee unable to weather the
1888 G. o P. upSurge. Evansville,
citadel of Southwestern Indiana
Democracy, also is the seat of some
OF the most valuable properties Of
the Commonwealth & Southern,
utility which Mr.. Willkie once
headed.
Early in the campaign Mr.. Willkie
demonstrated his pleasure in invad-
ing tough territory, and Evansville
ranks as just that. The size of his
crowd and his, reception will be
the best evidence of his standing
in Indiana's 9Th congressional dis
trict.
Has More Chance Elsewhere.
EyanSVille's leaning to the party
in power may not be paralleled else
where in the long east-west river
district. The hills and knobs of
Southern Indiana have it within
their power to erase the advan-
tage the New Deal may be able
to preserve in Evansville. Even
before Mr.. Wilkes visit there
the State G. o. p. leaders were
claiming sentiment in that region.
Barring a complete upset, Mr..
WILKES chances Of gaining a vote
margin in Lake County, where the
great steel mills of the Calumet
district operate, are none too good.
This county, the States 1st con.
gressional district, has been as
definitely Democratic the last two
presidential elections as 1t had been
Republican hitherto. But Mr.. Will
kie can and probably will, through
his presence there next Tuesday,
pare down the New Deal margin.
Most fertile of all the territory
he is invading is Indianapolis. Com
ing here Monday, October %, the
Hoosier-born Mr.. Willkie may ex-
pect the largest political turnout
the city ever saw. That prediction
is made with due consideration to
the throngs attracted here by AL
fred E. Smith in 1928 and by Pres
ident Roosevelt In 1882 and 1886.
The capital city lies close to the
Willkie popularity belt formed by
the sister cities of Elwood and Rush
vile.
Democrats Apprehensive.
Democratic leaders for some time
have been fearful of the inroads
Mr.. Willkie has been making in
this city. One high official confided
to this writer only a few days ago
the conviction that the G. o. P.
would carry the city and county.
The Negro vote, the balance of
power here since the turn of the
century, which has been going Dem.
ocratic with regularity, now appears
to be moving in the other direc-
ton. Mr.. Willkie Is certain to
cash in heavily with the large
number of voters Of German an
cestry, and there are indications
that he will fare well, also, with
the voters Of Italian descent.
The Indiana situation, then, may
be summed up as follows: Mr..
Wilkes gains in Evansville and
Indianapolis should be sufncient to
counteract his difficulty in indus
trial Lake County, and If this
proves the case the remainder Of
Indiana will succeed in deliver
ing him those precious II electoral
yofne