Evening star., 1939-04-05
Kelly Is Reelected
In Record CHICAGO
Mayora|iy Vote
Big Republican Coins
Show illinois Now
'DebotobIe Grouhd'
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
Chicago's mayoralty election yes
terday indicates that Illinois, the
third most populous State In the
Union and pivotal in national elec-
tions, has become "debatable ground"
for the presidential contest next
year, with the Republicans COM
ing up.
In the largest vote ever cast for
mayor in the Middle West metropolis
Mayor Edward J. Kelly, Democrat,
was reelected by approximately
10000 votes over his Republican
opponent, Dwight H. Green. -Four
years ago, Kelly beat his then Re-
publican opponent by more than
100000 votes. The Republican vote
polled in Chicago yesterday was the
largest in 10 years.
A lead of 100000 to 100000 for
the Democratic Mayor might have
indicated that not only the city but
the State was still safely Democratic.
But Mayor Kelly fell far short OF
that lead yesterday.
Complete, but unofficial, returns
gave Mr.. Kelly 82O,517; Mr.. Green,
637,lO7, and Arthur P. Reilly, third
party candidate, 4,921.
Supported by Strong Machine.
Last November Senator Scott
Lucas, Democrat, was elected with
total vote of l,638,l6 to l542 ,574
for Lyons, his Republican opponent
"a lead of 95, 5,579. In 1886 Senator
Lewis, Democrat. carried Illinois
over Glenn, Republican, with a vote
of 2,142,887 to 1,545,l70, and Presi-
dent Roosevelt boWled over Alt M.
Landon, 2,2S2,999 to l,570,393.
The vote in the senatorial contest
in Chicago in 1888 was Lucas, 1924, 1893
to 569,1l6 for Lyons, Republican, or
a Democratic lead of 255,O00. Since
Lucas carried the State by only
$4,000, it is apparent that down
State" as contrasted with Chicago,
already has swung to the G. o. p,
and that his Chicago lead gave him
victory in the State. Mayor Kelly's
margin over Green yesterday was
IS 900 less than was Senator Lucas
lead over Lyons last November.
Mayor Kelly was supported by one
of the strongest political organiza-
tions in the country. the Kelly-Nash
machine in Chicago. The vote cast
yesterday presumably brought out
the total strength Of the machine
and the three to four hundred thou
sand potential voters who did not
ballot were of the more independent
variety.
Republican Gains Cited.
Senator Scott Lucas, commenting
today on the Chicago election, pre-
dicted that "a harmonious democ-
racy will keep Illinois in the Demo-
cratic column in 1910" He added
that the people of Chicago recog-
nized the fact that "the greater well
fare of their community could best
be served by adherence to the princi-
Piles of the Democratic party
Republican leaders in Illinois,
however, took very different view
of the situation. They insisted that
the vote rolled up by Mr.. Green
showed there had been a distinct
falling off in the popularity of the
New Deal in Chicago. The Repub-
licans polled only 5000 votes in
the February primary for the
mayoralty nomination while the
Democrats polled $4,000.
The voting yesterday may have
repercusslons in the action of Illi-
nois' delegation to the 1910 Demo-
cratic National Convention, particu-
larly Chicago's share of that dele
cation. Mayor Kelly and Demo-
cratic National Committeeman Nash
are keenly interested in maintaining
their supremacy in Chicago-and in
dominating the rest of the State if
they can. They are very friendly
with National Chairman James A.
Farley Down-State, Senator Lucas,
who was nominated over the Kelly
Nash candidate last year, is in the
saddle.
Senator Lucas Independent.
Senator Lucas, who has shown his
independence on a number of occa-
sions and his antagonism to some of
the more radical New Deal moves, is
not calculated to be supporter. for
example, of Secretary of Commerce
Harry L. Hopkins for the presiden-
tial nomination next year-even If
Mr. Hopkins becomes favorite son
candidate of the State of Iowa, now
that he is moving his permanent
residence from New York to his ma
tive State. Mayor Kelly and Mr..
Nash, if they feel that the New Deal
is slipping, are not likely to support
Mr.. Hopkins either, 1t was said to-
day.
Mayor Kelly, 81 years old, first be-
came Mayor of Chicago after the
late Mayor Cermak had been shot in
Florida, elected by the City Council
in 1888 He was elected at the polls
in 1885, and if he completes the new
torn, fo,. which he has been elected