Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-15
526,799 Registration
Lead Of 6. 0. p. Fails
To Awe Democrats
They Expect Switches
To Retrieve Advantage
As in Previous Years
BY CHARLES Il. MILLER,


HARRISBURG, Pa, Sept. IA
Coincident with the opening of the
campaign here this week by the
State candidates of the Republican
and Democratic parties, drive to
add half a million names to their
party enrollments was undertaken
by both party organizations. Regis
trations in Pennsylvania 81 coun-
ties before the campaign opened
showed a definite Republican trend.
but the party has far to go to reach
its record enrolment of 2,911 ,068
attained in 1882.
Usually no official State registra-
ton figures are available here until
after November elections. But this
summer the State Elections Bureau
made a tabulation, completed only
q few days ago, showing 1858 ,322
Republicans and 2,O36,5 Democrats
enrolled at present.
These figures give the Republi-
cans a lead of 526799. Since last
year, the Republican registration
books show, 14114 more potential
voters have joined their party,
while the Democrats show 53,122
lost.
G. O. P. Lead Not Too Heartening.
The lead of more than half mil
lion in registration is not too heart
ening to the republican leaders and
Tia loss of $4,000 Is not especially
discouraging to the Democrats. The
Republican enrolment today is
347,746 below its high-water mark
of eight years ago, while the Demo-
Gratis have only l62,753 fewer now
than two years ago, when they
established their enrolment record
of 2,2O9,276.
Both sides are confident of vic
tory in November, Republican State
Chairman James F. Torrance pre-
dieting a Willkie victory by half a
million. 1t is his belief that Penn
sylvania. which went Democratic in
a presidential election for the first
time since the Civil War in 1886.
Is tired of the New Deal.
Democratic State Chairman Mere
dith Meyers contends that Presi-
dent Roosevelt, always strong in
this State, again will take enough
votes from the Republicans to carry
1t.
In 1882, when President Roose-
welt was elected for his first term,
the Republican enrolled lead here
over the Democrats was 2,077 ,091,
but that year President Hoover car
ried Pennsylvania by only 1882
votes. Four years ago the Repub-
licans had 600,205 more enrolled
voters, but President Roosevelt won
by 663,488
G. o. P. Sees Need of Work.
1t is upon these records that
the Democrats in large part place
their faith this year. The Repub-
licans, having them in mind, too
see the need for their extensive
campaign for new voters. Assisting
the State organizations are the
members of the Willkie Clubs, whose
State chairman, William H Har-
man, hopes that the million I'M
registered Pennsylvanians can be
lined up in support of Wendell L.
Willkie.
While the State candidates have
been making few political addresses
during the summer, this week saw
the actual opening of the Demo-
cratic campaign of Senator Guffey,
who made several speeches. When
time permits him to get away from
Washington he will tour the State
with State Treasurer F. Clair Ross,
who is a candidate for auditor gen.
eral, and G. Harold Wagner, can
didate for State treasurer.
The Republicans also started their
active tour of the State. Jay Cooke,
candidate for the Gufsey seat, with
State Senator Frederick T. Gelder,
running for auditor general, and
James F. Malone, jr., for State
treasurer, visited five counties this
week.