Evening star., 1934-10-28
BY WALTER d. ROOS.
epecial pispatch to The Star.


Special Dispatch to The Star.
v W. ARRISBURG, Pa, October
~. - Pennsylvania - for 40
II years the State which cam
paign orators have called the
Gibraltar of RepublicaniSm-
this year has been enjoying the
novelty of being classed as doubtful.
The result is that not in many
years has Pennsylvania seen a cam
paign like this. Instead of the usual
short, perfunctory Fall campaign,
with topheavy majorities assuring Re
publican victory from the start, the
spellbinders scarcely paused to catch
their breath after the May primary.
Rallies and mass meetings, normally
reserved for the last three weeks be-
fore election, have been in progress
since early Summer Voters have
been harangued until they have be-
come confused by contradictions,
charges and counter charges, deniaE
and challenges.
3,500,O00 Will Vote.
Almost 100000 persons are eligible
10 vote on November 6. Approximately
3,5Oo,00O of them are expected to cast
ballots, choosing between these candi-
dates:
epublican-Senate,D David A. Reed,
seeking reelection; Governor, At
torney General William A. Schnader; !;
Lieutenant Governor, State Senator
Harry B. Scott; secretary of internal
affairs, NJ Harvey Taylor, new Re-
publican State chairman; Judge of
Superior Court, President Judge Frank
M. Trexler, seeking reelection.
Democratic-Senate, Joseph F. Guf-
fey, Roosevelt's patronage dispenser
for this State; Governor, George H.
Earle, Sd, former Minister to Australia;
Lieutenant Governor, Thomas Ken
nedy, secretary of United
Mine Workers; secretary of internal
affairs, Thomas A. Logue; judge of
Superior Court, Chester H. Rhodes,
member of the State House of Rep
resentatives.
Voters also vii. elect "a members of
Congress, 25 State Senators and 208
members of the General Assembly
Democrats now hold IL congressional
seats and while each party is expected
to lose two or three it now holds, the
numerical division of the Pennsylvania
delegation is expected to be approx
mately the same as now.
Both Claim Victory.
Both Republicans and Democrats
are claiming victory for their State
tickets, with predicted pluralities vary
ing from 250,000 Republican to 100,-
900 Democratic.
This correspondent is among those
who believe Pennsylvania will remain
Republican on November 6, but by
margin low enough to give Democrats
continued hope for 1886. There are
many observers, however, who disagree
with this view.
Reasons for Democratic optimism
this year and Pennsylvania designa-
ton as doubtful" lie in the political
history of the State in the past two
years. In 1882, despite 100000 lead in
registration, the normal 100000 Re-
publican majority crumpled to mere
157,500 for Hoover, with Roosevelt
carrying Pittsburgh. In 1888 Demo-
cratic registration increased $50, 1000,
Democrats elected a city administra-
ton in Pittsburgh and a Democratic
Fusion ticket defeated Ware Repub-
lican candidates for some municipal
Offices in Philadelphia. In last
Springs primary the Republican con-
test became a free-for-all, with is
candidates for Governor and IA for
lieutenant governor. A ticket which
the Guffey-controlled Democratic State
Committee had Endorsed won handily
in the Democratic primary. Registra-
ton this Fall shows $4,000 more
Democrats than in 1892, but with the
Republican enrolment still exceeding
the Democratic by 100000.
The trends which have dimmed the
bright prospects of Democratic success
have all developed since the primary.
Less confidence in the Federal ad-
ministration's policies has started the
pendulum of Roosevelt popularity on
its backward swing, reducing the ef-
fectiveness of the Democratic candi-
dates plea that vote for them will
support the President.
The shattered Republican party re-
organized thoroughly after the primary