Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-18
Kentucky 6. 0. P.
Sees State UpheavaI
For Wi||kie
Democrats, Sure Of
Victory, Not Campaigning
Until Eleventh Hour

Until Eleventh Hour
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Staff Correspondent.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Oct. 18-
Democrats take it pretty much for
granted that Kentucky is as good
as in the Roosevelt bag. More i'm
partial observers give the Roose-
Wallace ticket simply a de-
cided edge over the Willkie- McNary
entry of the G. o. P.
The story as told by the Willkie
workers in Kentucky, however, is
vastly different. They insist they
sense a political upheaval, a revo-
luton, which will rival that of 1928
when former President Hoover car
ried the State with a lead Of IT,
900 over AL Smith. They are re-
lying principally on disgrunted
Democrats, Democrats who do not
fancy a third term President, who
do not like the New Deal or the
conditions it has brought upon the
country.
There are signs that a consid-
cradle number of Democrats are
anti-Roosevelt because of the third
term issue. Whether this opposition
is confined only to Democrats with
economic advantages and passes
by the rank-and- file small farmer
and the worker Is the question. 1t
is claimed by the Willkie campaign
ers that out of a $4,000 membership
in the Willkie Club in this area, IS
per cent are registered Democrats.
That's a very considerable percent
age, and if such a sentiment pre-
vailed the State over, Mr.. Willkie
would really have a chance in Ken
lucky.
Democrats Await 18th Hour.
The Republicans are staging a
very active campaign. In COM
parison, the Democrats have done
little Apparently their only worry
is whether the vote will come out
and they believe that by an inten-
sive, 18th hour. tWo-Week campaign,
they can get it out-and by spend
ing some money to get the voters
to the polls on election day. AS
they put it here. the Democrats
have not staged any ''speakings' yet
Their orators have not been out
beating the bushes. The campaign
will get more actively underway to-
morrow when party rallies will be
held in each of the nine congress
sional districts-except one. which
is TO take place few days later.
Kentucky's two Democratic Sena-
tors. Alben W. Barley, leader OF
the Upper House, and A. B. Happy
Chandler, have been absent from
the campaign so far. Senator
Chandler, who is up for election
himself. has had appendicitis, was
operated on a week or so ago. and
will be able to do little before the
campaign ends. He may make a
few radio speeches. but that is all
that can be expected Of him. Sena-
tor Barley has been attending to
the business of the Senate in WASH
ington
The Democrats have a strong
organiza ton They count upon its
springing into action quickly. They
believe that Kentucky is thoroughly
sold on the New Deal. and they
point to what happened here in 1898,
when Senator Barley, backed by
President Roosevelt personally, rode
over then Gov. Chandler for the
Democratic senatorial nomination
and romped home a winner by big
margin, 10000, in the November
election. President Roosevelt, in
1896. carried Kentucky with lead
of $4,000. Barley and Chandler
later buried the Ratchet and appear
to be working together. 1t is be-
lieved here that Senator Chandler
will run right along with President
Roosevelt in the vote, and that the
only thing which might defeat him
would be an unexpected victory for
Mr.. Willkie in Kentucky.
Young Lawyer Opposes Chandler.
Senator Chandler, after the death
of Senator Logan. resigned from the
governorship and Keen Johnson was
elevated from the office of lieutenant
governor automatically to the gov
ernorship and under agreement with
Chandler, promptly appointed
Chandler Senator to fill the Logan
vacancy. This action, frowned upon
by members Of the Senate In the
past. apparently has had no effect
upon Senator Chambers chances for
re-electi n. 1t has rolled off him
like water of ducks back.
Chambers Republican opponent is a
young lawyer. Walter B. Smith. from
Bell County, in the mountains.
The regular Republican organiza-
ton in Kentucky apparently is
working tremendously with the VOL
unteer Willkie clubs. and both
groups are campaigning intensively.
Seventy Willkie clubs have been
formed in the 100 counties and all
are functioning. One Of their aims
is to get their voters to the polls on
election day and they are gearing
for the task.
The European war situation and
the policy of doing everything pos