Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-11-01
ROOSEVELT HOPE
RESTS IN CHICAGO
KeIly-Nash Task to 0utrun
Landon's Majority Down.
state.
BY BOUTWELL, DUNCAN,
Special Correspondent Of The Sttr

opeCiai Correspondent Of Inc star.
CHICAGO, October Silt is a des-
perate tug-of-war in Illinois as the
great campaign ends. To the specta-
tor it looks Like a stand-off, with the
New Deal and Republican teams strain
ing every muscle. Even to the expert
observers. the last-moment agony af-
fords small clue to the outcome Of the
struggle.
Chicago and Cook County consti-
tute the main arena. High Demo-
cratic authority has put 1t up to the
Kelly-Nash organization, which con-
trolls all patronage in the local gov
ernments, and runs both direct relief
and w. P. A. in the city. to pile up
Roosevelt majority in the metropoli-
tan. area that will outmeasure a prob
able Landon majority downstate. The
Kelly-Nash organization faces politi-
cal bankruptcy If it fails. The in
stinct OF self-preservation is driving
1t to furious efforts. Its two leaders,
Mayor Kelly and National Committee
man Pat Nash, are far from popular
with citizens generally, but the mayor
Is making emotional speeches for re-
election Of the President, and all local
government candidates on the Demo-
cratic ticket are loudly echoing the
slogan. Forward With ROOSEVELT"
Democrats Control Cook County.
The Democrats control the Cook
County election machinery, but they
face new law which requires every
voter to make his signature on an ap-
plication for his ballot. The signature
must be compared with that on his
registra ton card The Kelly-Nash
machine did its best to prevent the
passage Of the law illed the bill twice.
but on the third attempt we're baked
by oownstate members. The machine
fears the law may hamper the skill
OF its expert vote manipulators.
The Republicans are fighting val
iantly to head down the almost GER
tain Roosevelt majority in Cook
County. They are handicapped in the
matter Of organization as compared
with their opponents. The immense
pay roll brigade of the Nash-Kelly ma.
chine is fighting for its jobs. The pre-
clnct captains must deliver next Tues.
day or cease to be bailiffs, City Hall
clerks and county building attaches.
They will go the limit to deliver.
G. o. p. Claims Downstate,
Democrats talk of carrying down.
state by 100000 and Cook County by
100000. Cut both figures in half and
they sound more reasonable. Repub.
hcans talk of sweeping downstate BY
100000 and breaking about even in
Cook County. 1t is scarcely credible
that they can convert RooSevelt's 800.
1853 downstate majority in 1892 into a
Landon majority Of 100000, unless
there Is a Republican landslide. There
Is no feeling Of that in the political
air. To break even in Cook County
will require the wiping out of 22e.Os5
majority scored by Roosevelt four
years ago. If the Kelly-Nash machine,
with all its advantages, cannot prevent
that it is less efficient than most cit.
liens believe.
There may be a miracle. Landon
may overturn the 449,548 majority by
which Roosevelt carried Illinois. But
looking at the cold figures, and keep.
ing in mind the strength of the ma
chine In Cook County, it seems more
probable that Illinois will remain, by
smaller margin, in the Democratic
column. And yet the minded
forecasters are unwilling to venture
prediction with any confidence.