Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-10-09
Effect Of Wilkes
Death on Election
|Stirs Speculation
BY J. A. OLEARY,
Star stan CORRESPONDENT

ALBANY, Oct. 8. - Wendell L..
WILKES death took out Of the presi-
dental campaign one big question
mark, namely, whether he would
have taken stand on the Roose-
velt-Dewey race in the closing weeks
OF the campaign.
In it's place arose as a new sub
ject for speculation the question OF
what effect his sudden passing may
have on the election.
In paying tribute to the 1910 Re-
publican standard bearer last night,
Herbert Brownell, chairman Of the
Republican National Committee,
said he conferred with Mr.. Willkie
q few days before he entered the
hospital and was Impressed again,
as always, by his deep and sincere
devotion to American principles and
his faith in the Republican party
as the medium for their preserva-
ton"
Nevertheless, Mr.. Willkie himself
had made no public Statement be-
yond discussion of the platforms
of the two major parties in maya
zine articles. There are some who
think he had not reached final
decision, but was waiting to see how
the issues developed.
Mr.. Willkie demonstrated in 1910
he had a large personal following
because his vote Of 22,304,755 was
{, SOC, 900 more than the Republican
national ticket polled in 1895. At
the same time, President Roosevelt's
vote of 27,243. 466 in 1910 was only
233, 900 less than he received in 1895.
Independent Following Strong.
Friends of Mr.. Willkie believed he
still had a strong following among
independent voters, who might have
been influenced by any stand he
took. Many students of politics,
however, seriously question the
ability of any well-known figure in
public life to guide his own personal
adherents into the camp of another
candidate.
Mr.. WILKES brief but meteoric
career in politics demonstrated that
he placed more emphasis on issues
and principles than on party labels,
and his silence on the current cam
paign had encouraged some Demo-
Gratis to hope that he might, at least,
have continued to stay on the side
lines. Some Of those who knew him
have been of the opinion, how
ever, that some time before election
day he would have announced his
intention to vote the Republican
ticket. His death leaves the whole
question open to speculation.
AS soon as Gov. Dewey learned
OF Mr.. Wilkes death he issued a
statement describing him as "one
OF the great men of our times" and
added, his death will be mourned
throughout the world"
Newspapermen who ACCOMPANIED
Mr.. Willkie on his strenuous cam
paign four years ago and who are
now covering Gov. Dewey's bid for,
election also received with sorrow
the news of the 1910 standard bear
er's death. Entirely aside from pol
itics, Mr.. Willkie developed a close
friendship with the correspondents
who were assigned to follow him on
what is believed to have been
record-breaking campaign in the
number of speeches delivered and
in the intensity Of effort the candi-
date put into it.
Campaigned as Crusader.
sMr. Willkie went at his task like
crusader, speaking a dozen or
more times a day to audiences large
or small. in hamlets as well as cities.
He put all his huge frame and
dynamic personality into his appeals
to the voters and seemed to have
treless energy. He had a ready
smile that disappeared only when
he was driving home some salient
point. He had faculty for making
friends.
Newsmen recalled yesterday the
familiar greeting. People Of Amer
ica,' with which he usually began
his campaign speeches. They re-
membered, also, his repeated ad-
monition that only the produc-
tive can be strong. and only the
strong can be free"
No one can foretell with any GER
tainty what effect his death will
have on the current campaign, but
it has given the politically minded
one more factor to weigh in a year
marked by many unusual condi-
lions, such as the absence of mil
lions of men in the armed forces
and the migration of millions of
others to war jobs outside of their
home States.
Mr.. Brownell ordered all Offices of
the Republican National Commit
tee closed during the funeral, as q
further mark of respect to the
partys 1910 standard bearer.