The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-10-09
All Nation Mourns
 WiIIkie Demise
IoOntinued from Page D

klA knew hlB greatest growth in staa ture. With tho approval of hls one- time opponent, proaldene Rooseveles Willklo went Go Russia, Go China, aa the Header ot the loyal opposition" --a. h. was received abroad Willklo struck the American notes tho un- pressed business suit, tho casual hat and lNck of .tolderol impressed all who met him,
 Wnlkie blcamO more liberal with the years. He defended Q colnmunisl < on the basis of olvtl liberties. Ho spoke for the Negro, and challengod tho platforms of both parties in inaA for their handling of the race uues- ton.
 Ile withheld specific endorsement of his COP successor, Gov. Thomas n, Dewey of New York, and attacked isolationist clements within the party.
 Willkle's book, "One World" a3 simple exposition of his belief in the lnterdependenee of nations which he wrote after his glohal tour, be- came Q best sONer, his magazine are ticles became political statements oi note. s.fa
 Rapid Rise @
 Ills rapid rise to fame was no surprise to his friends. As Q atrug- gling, ehulllent lawyer in tho loRal department of tho FlrOstone Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, O., just back from France as an army captain In World War Onet Willklo Nt 21, was Q man who could 40 from Q salary of e2,b00 Co 9B,000 in eight months. By this time hO was a rein- lively solid citizen; hA had but away the red turtle neck sweater that was the pride and Joy of Indiana Uni- yersity and it LSAW College, and had married Edith Wllk, a pretty assistant librarian from Rushvillen, Ind. 47f
 Willkle was on his way, Ten years later, in 1929, he left the middlewest Co become e partner in the New York low iirm of Weadoek and WeadOok and general counsel to Commonwealth and Southern, Fout years later h0 was It's president, and Q furious battler in one of the New Deals greatest fights. Authough 0 and s., struggling to maintain the franchise of private enterprise against Tennessee Valley Authority eneroachment, lost their battle. Willkies legal work and fiery tactlcg served him as c sprlngboard to no. tional fame.
 When in ioso however. Willie was first mentioned as presidential timber there were few politicians who took him-seriouSly. Several ra. dio appearances and then the ass founding demonstration of a roaring gallery at Philadelphia captured for him the Republican nomination al- most before the stunned leaders new what had happened,
 Strenuous Campaign
 His strenuous campaign followed. He spoke from railroad platforms. from city hall steps, in field and in factory. His rasplng voice with It's slurred Syllables became Q bye word. The correspondents who cove cred him were amazed by his ener- gy. Only once his voice gave out, but never his health. While his crew of supporters and his train of advisers fell ill with colds and fa- tigue, Wfllkie drove on. EkA
 His defeat barely scratched Will~ kie's surface. In lo42, with the country at war, he was on the go again, this time to Russia to see Premier Joseph Stalin and to on. chant the Russians with his friend. liness. In China on route, huge crowds turned out to honor him. Ha was Q guest of 0eneralisslmo Chiang Kai-shek and was instrumental in persuading Madame Chiang to make he tour of the United states.
 Willkie lived simply He didn't even carry watch. He didn't drive 0 car.
 His only son, Philip. was educat. cd at Harvard, graduating there with honors, before going into tho navy as an Ensign. Willkie's home was an apartment on Fifth Avo- nue, close to the Metropolitan Mu- scum. His proudest possession was his Indiana farmlands.