Evening star., 1939-11-04

President Roose-
welt, or his lack
Of popularity.
Probably it
would be entirely
too soon to get G. 0suld Lincoln.
q correct estimate from an election
on any Of these questions.
More interest Is centered, probably,
In the city elections in Philadel-
phia and Cleveland than in any Of
the other contests, although Ken
lucky Is electing a Governor, the
ham and eggs" program is electri-
flying the voters of California, and
the more staid Ohio Is about to vote
on pension plan which vies in
some respects with the California
proposal. Both Ohio and Pennsyl-
vania are considered pivotal States
In any national election. What hap
pens In the largest cities Of these
two States may be significant, there
fore, for 1910.
Philadelphis Situation.
But even in Philadelphia, the con-
test for Mayor is complicated by the
fact that the Democrats have put in
the field fusion ticket" headed by
City Controller Robert c. White,
and backed by number Of Republic
cans who have stood for q new city
charter. The Republican nominee
is former Judge Robert E. Lam
berton, who resigned to make the
race for Mayor.
The Republicans are stressing ma
tional issues In their campaign for
election Of their mayoralty candi-
date. declaring that what Phila-
delphia does Tuesday will be q
forerunner Of what Pennsylvania
does In the presidential election
next year. They are seeking to
keep their party members in line
for Mayor by such arguments. II
they lose, however. they will un-
doubtedly point to the fact that
White. the Democratic nominee,
was In reality a fusion candidate,
backed by some Of the Republican
groups.
The Philadelphia Democrats are
keeping away very largely from ma.
tional issues, which they insist have
nothing whatever to do with the
city government. They charge that
under Republican rule the city has
gone hundreds of millions of dollars
in debt and that it has been mis-
managed terribly, and that 1t has
been run by men who have sat In
power for years, men who are drunk
with power"
Republicans Accused.
The late Mayor Davis 8. Wilson,
elected as a Republican, was q
hybrid" He ran for the Demo-
cratic nomination for Senator in
1898 against former Gov. George
Earle and was defeated. Generally
speaking. Wilson played with the
Democrats while he Yas in office
certainly part of the time. He had
the backing Of Senator Gudey in
the Democratic senatorial primary
in 1898.
The Republican speakers argue
that Philadelphia has fallen on
evil days because of the depression,
that President Roosevelt and his
New Deal administration have made
it impossible for the country to
recover because of their economic
theories and legislation. The total
revenue Of the city has decreased
because Of lowered land values and
assessments from $65. 900 900 to $43,-
OO0, 900 In 10 years. No wonder, they
say, that the city has had to go into
debt.
The Registration Commission in
Philadelphia has announced that
1,056, 1872 citizens are qualified to
vote on Tuesday. This is the larg-
est enrolment in the city's history,
with 583,774 registered as Republi-
cans, 446, ,639 Democrats, 24,844 nom
partisan and 1875 miscellaneous.
This gives a lead of 137,135 to the
Republicans over the Democrats.
It further shows net gain of 56 1864
IN the Republican registration over
last years registration. The Demo-
cratic registration increase over
1898 is 5,993.
Cleveland Mayoralty.
On the face of these ngures the
Republicans should win. But no
one knows how many will fail to
vote on election day or how many
Will vote fusion" This week the
Philadelphia Bulletin, which is
classed as independent" In politics.
but which has had strong Republi-
can leanings In the past, came out
editorially for the Democratic or
fusion nominee.
In Cleveland Mayor Burton.
Republican, is seeking another term
and is likely to get it, although in
national elections in recent years
the city has gone strongly Demo-
cratic.
Mississippi is electing another
Democratic Governor-Senator Biz
bo's man, who defeated Senator
Harrison's in the party primary.
Kentucky, however, is putting on a
real campaign, with Judge King
oWOQes HepuDllCan, ch0uenRinR
Keen johnson, the Democratic
nominee. johnson was Lieutenant
Governor and became Governor
when Happy" Chandler gave up
the odlce and got himself appointed
to the United States Senate by
johnson. The Republicans have
made as much as they have been
able Of this transaction: Also In
some labor circles the Democratic
State administration was in bad for
q while because Mr.. Chandler, as
Governor, sent the State National
Guard to quel trouble during q
strike.
Barkley's Confidence.
Senator Barkley of Kentucky,
Democratic leader Of the Upper
House, is Of the opinion the Demo-
Gratis will carry the State for Gov
ernor by 100000 over King Swope.
Senator Chandler has been in the
State for a week campaigning for