Arthur B. Langlie, mayor of Seattle and Republican candidate for Governor, speaking at the Wheeler-Osgood Company on the Tacoma tideflats. Langlie had made several speeches in Tacoma on this day in his campaign against Democrat Clarence C. Dill. Dill had defeated incumbent Governor Clarence Martin in the primaries, indicating that Washington was ready for a change. Langlie narrowly defeated Dill in the final election, becoming Governor by a margin of fewer than 6,000 votes.

Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Wheeler, Osgood Co. (Tacoma); Political campaigns;

Crowd listening to Republican Presidential candidate Wendell Willkie's address at Wheeler-Osgood Company. (T. Times)

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Public speaking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Crowds--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Seattle Mayor and Republican candidate for governor Arthur B. Langlie, in dark overcoat, campaigned at the Wheeler-Osgood Company on the Tacoma tideflats in October of 1940. He was being greeted by Harry Smith, president of the Lumber and Sawmill Workers Local at the plant. Mr. Langlie also visited the Tacoma Smelter, Hooker Chemical and the Pacific Match Co. in order to capture the labor vote. He was running against former Senator Clarence C. Dill, who had defeated incumbent Democratic governor Clarence D. Martin in the primaries. Clarence Martin had served as Washington's governor since 1933. C.C. Dill would prove a formidable opponent and Arthur Langlie carried the hotly contested election by fewer than 6,000 votes. (T. Times 10/10/1940, pg. 10) TPL-10260

Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Political campaigns; Wheeler, Osgood Co. (Tacoma); Smith, Harry; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

In October of 1940, Arthur B. Langlie, the mayor of Seattle and Republican candidate for Governor, campaigned for votes at the Wheeler-Osgood Company sash and door mill on the Tacoma tideflats. Langlie was running for the state's highest office against Democrat, and former Senator, Clarence C. Dill. Langlie won by a margin of fewer than 6,000 votes, becoming at 40 the youngest Governor of Washington until then. Governor Langlie was defeated in 1944 by Democrat Mon Wallgren, but he came back strong in 1948 and reclaimed the Governor's office. He served two more terms and become the first Washington Governor to serve a total of three terms.

Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Wheeler, Osgood Co. (Tacoma); Political campaigns;

His vehicle engulfed by employees of the Wheeler-Osgood Company, Republican candidate for President Wendell Willkie addresses the teeming crowd on September 23, 1940. These working men have climbed on car tops, roofs, and stacks of lumber to view Mr. Willkie. He stands beside the open automobile with a microphone; Mrs. Willkie is in the back seat. Because his time was extremely limited in Tacoma, Mr. Willkie's only stop in the industrial area was the Wheeler-Osgood plant where he inspected the plant for ten minutes and spoke to 200 employees. Selected to run against incumbent President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1940, Wendell Willkie was a lawyer and utilities executive as well as a former Democrat. He campaigned against Roosevelt's New Deal and the country's lack of military readiness. Although he was buried by Roosevelt in total electoral votes, he only lost the popular vote by 5 million. He went on to become a close ally of President Roosevelt and was appointed his personal representative in 1941 and 1942 to Britain, the Middle East, USSR and China. ALBUM 2. (T.Times, 9-23-40, p.1, T.Times, 9-24-40, p.1)

Willkie, Wendell, 1892-1944; Political campaigns; Presidential elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public speaking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Crowds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Willkie, Edith;