Evening star., 1940-10-20
Record Registration
In New York StartIes
All Political Leaders
Both Sides Try to Find
What Big Turnout
In City Means
Nv =. specisl Correspondent Of The Star.

In City Meons
Nv . specisl Correspondent Of The Star.
NEW YORK, Oct. 1s-New York
State, with its rich prize Of 47 cleo
toral votes, in all probability will
be the decisive factor In the coming
presidential election, but the out
come in the State will be in doubt
right down to election day.
This is the opinion Of political
observers here as Republican and
Democratic leaders studied develop
ments during the week.
While leaders Of both the two
major parties publicly claim vicosry
here for their national tickets, pf-
vately they are worried and al Z
crossing their fingers and just hop
ing for the best. For the traditionai
political formulas which have
served as indicators in the past are
not functioning too well this year.
Party lines and allegiances have
been swept away and criss-crossed
in all directions and countless Ifs"
are dominating the State picture.
The major development OF the
week, which can be taken as an
example of the way past perform
ances are not counting SO much
this year, was the record-breaking
1891 ,238 registration in New York
City, a figure that exceeded the 1886
city total by 491, ,054. This all-time
high far exceeded any estimates held
by local politicians. While both
sides publicly claim to be benefited,
they admit in private that they can
not explain the tremendous out
pouring Of potential voters, and are
attempting to find its significance.
The Varying Possibilities.
The Republicans contended the
large registration represented the
so-called "stay-at-home" voters,
who, they said, are not controlled by
the local political machines and
therefore more likely to be classified
as potential supporters of Wendell
Willkie than of President Roosevelt.
The Republicans, however, are at a
loss to explain the heavy registra-
ton in the Democratic strongholds
of Brooklyn and the Broax, where
the Democratic organizations are
overwhelmingly in control.
The Democrats, likewise publicly
claiming benefits, are also privately
worried over the admitted defec-
tions Of the citys. Irish and Italian
populations and the seemingly large
number of independents. The
Democrats find solace in heavy reg
istration in the predominantly Jew.
ish districts as we'll as in organiza-
ton districts, but they, like the Re-
pubhcans, are not so happy about
it in private.
Impartial analysis of the regis
tration figures during the week tend
ed to give the Democrats an edge
in Brooklyn and the Bronx, and the
Republicans an advantage in Man.
haitian and Queens.
In Brooklyn, where the registra-
tion increased 49, POI from the
l,0l5,127 figure four years ago. and
in the Bronx, where 654,457
registered this year as compared
with 551.105 in 1886, both increases
were laid to organizational work of
the Democratic machines of Edward
j. Flynn, Democratic national
chairman and Bronx leader, and
Frank v. Kelley, Brooklyn leader.
Manhattan May Favor Willkie.
In Manhattan. bailiwick of Tam
many Hall, which has been luke
warm to the Roosevelt administra-
ton since 1882, the increase from
751,078 to 825, 900 was expected t.
be more favorable to the Willkie
cause than the New Deal. as was
the case in Queens. where 635, Sill
registered this year as against 5l0..
BAT In 1896. -.
In Richmond, the fifth borough
registration increased from 72,527
in 1896 to 1884 this year. This
increase was expected to be favor
able to the Democrats, but since
Richmond will probably go Demo-
cratic by about 10000 votes, it is
not large enough to be taken into
consideration when compared to the
larger votes in the other four
boroughs.
The Democrats, for the first time
In the campaign, were put on the
defensive here during the week.
The discovery and newspaper pub
lication of the smear" pamphlet
directed against Mr.. Willki'e Ger
man ancestry, printed but not
released by the colored division of
the Democratic National Com
mittee, and its reputation by Mr..
Flynn did not help the Democratic
cause.
. Concern Shown by Actions,
The announcement from WASH
ington that President Roosevelt
would make four formal political
speeches in the next two weeks and
a roundup talk on election eve was
taken here as an indication that
the Chief Executive and his advisors
are concerned about the gains of the
Republican candidate. The decision
OF Mayor La Guardia to take the
stump for the President was another
sign.
AS the campaign entered its
1inal two weeks, both sides were
Standlng by to put the finishing
toucnes on their campaigns here.
Mr.. Wiilkie Is scheduled to return
three times during the next two
weeks for personal appearances.
with the presidency apparently
riding with the victor in the State,
Dotn sizes are now ready to shoot
tne works here. At present neither
mas any particular advantage.