Evening star., 1944-10-28
Roosevelt Heads
Chicago Tonight
Philadelphia Cheers
Attack on Critics
Of His War Role
(RooseUelt Tert on Page A-4.)
BY J. A. FOX,

ROOSEVELT, Oct. 28.-President
Roosevelt today headed into the
Middle West, where polls and
prophets say the Republicans
hold the edge, to make a bid for
the % electoral votes of Illinois
and the 13 of Indiana.
On the last leg of his second road
tour of 1914, which touched Della
ware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey
yesterday, the President was sched-
uled to cross politically important
Ohio in his l3-car special train
without stopping, and then pause
briefly for back platform talk at
Fort Wayne, Ind, en- route to Chi
cago, where he addresses a rally in
Soldier Field tonight. There was,
showdown" set for Lima,
Ohio, as well as Gary, Ind.
A spokesman for the President
said tonight's speech would expand
on the business theme and stress the
necessity of cooperation between
Government and industry in the
postwar world. 1t also will take up
the issue of taxation, with empha-
sis on the need for a revenue-raising
policy slanted to encourage full en-
ployment in the peace time econ
omy.
In State where the coal mining
industry is important, the President
is expected to have something to
say about his one-time supporter,
John L. Lewis, United Mine Work
ers' chief, who now is seeking tc
sway his followers from the Demo-
cratic ticket. He also is expected to
discuss some of the "isolationists"
and angels" of the Republican
party.
Stresses Commander in Chief Role,
AS the President, at work on the
talk to be made in Chicago, moved
to the West, he had behind him a
heartening day in the Philadelphia
area where he was greeted by cheer
ing thousands during a 42-mile pa.
rade that also took in a trip across
the river to Camden and which was
last night by a fighting
speech in Shibe Park, where he was
greeted by roaring crowd estimat-
ed at around $4,000.
Taking note of the anniversary
Navy Day-and stressing his role as
Commander in Chief, Mr.. Roosevelt
there recounted the feats of the
American armed forces-and told of
the planning and preparations that
made them possible, in a direct
challenge to his Republican oppo-
sition.
This picture" he said. 'is the
answer, once and for all, to q Re-
publican candidate who said that
this administration has made 'abso-
lutely no military preparation for
the events it now claims it foresaw'."
The recital, he continued, is "the
story of the job that has been done
by an administration, which, am
told, is old and tired and quarrel
some "a descriptive phrase that
has been used by his Republi-
can opponent, Gov. Thomas E.
Dewey-and one that drew scattered
"boos" from the Philadelphia audi
ence.
Business Talk Was Expected.
The speech was delivered under
the auspices of the Philadelphia
Democratic City Committee and
Businessmen for Roosevelt, Inc, and
had been described originally as in
tended particularly for the ears of
American businessmen.
1t held hardly more than a nod
for business, however, the President
simply praising the teamwork of
farmer, laborer and businessman in
the vast war production effort, and
concluding:
'The businessmen of America
had a vital part in this war. They
have displayed the highest type of
patriotism by their devotion to their
industry, their ingenuity, their CO.
operation with their Government" !"
Along with this brief reference.
however, the President recalled with
pride that there are many Repub-
lican businessmen" in his admins
tration. Then turning quickly. he
denounced the Republican politi-
clans who, he said. have given 'the
ugly implication" that Republicans
in Congress would not cooperate
with the Chief Executive in estab-
fishing world peace organization,
In event of Democratic presiden-
tial victory.
That, it seems to me-" the Presi-
dent declared emphatically, lis a
(See ROOSEVELT, Page A-z.)