Evening star., 1940-10-06
Republicans Certain
OF Wi||kie-McNary
Victory in Oregon
Popularity Of Senator
And Third-Term Issue
Seen os Big Factors
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Staff Correspondent.

presidential race. The Republicans,
Notwithstanding similar claims
made by the Democrats, are really
confident they will carry this State.
The two principal reasons for this
Republican confidence are the vice
presidential candidacy of Senator
McNary and the manner in which
the G. o. P. took the New Deal to
town in the 1888 elections. They
believe also that they have the
better of the New Dealers on
number of issues-principally the
third term issue. They say this
issue really seems to mean some
thing to the voters in Oregon.
Charlie" McNary is far and away
the most popular political figure
in the State. He has made busi-
ness of looking after the interests
of Oregon and Oregonians during
his long service in the Senate. He
is given most of the credit for the
Bonneville Dam. with its great
power development. which puts him
right with the public power en-
thusiasts. And the farmers regard
him as the pioneer worker in their
interests in the last quarter century.
Flynn Speaks Kindly of McNary.
1t was noticeable that when
Democratic National Chairman Ed
ward J. Flynn reached town Fri
day he was careful to speak very
kindly in his press conference of
Senator McNary. The soft pedal
is on. SO far AS the New Dealers
are concerned. when it comes to
attacks on Oregon's senior Sena-
tor The Democrats are hoping
that Mr.. McNary will be kept so
busy campaigning for the national
ticket in the Middle West and else
where that he will not have time
to stump Oregon. The Republicans,
however. are sure he will come
home for the Tindup of the cam
paign, with at least two major
speeches for the Oregon voters
The Democrats haven't forgotten
that in 1886, when President Roose-
welt was carrying the State by
144OOO over ALI Landon. Senator
McNary defeated his Democratic op-
ponent by 5000 votes. When you
talk with the Democratic political
leaders, they insist that Mr.. RooSe-
welt is strong in Oregon today, and
that he will sweep the State again.
But there is a certain amount of
wishful thinking on their part.
The OregonianS are taking this
election seriously. While Demo-
Gratis seek to belittle Mr.. Wilkes
he drew. the Republicans take very
different slant They maintain that
he did himself a lot of good with his
power speech. in which he declared
for the completion of the Bonneville
and Grand Coulee Dam projects, and
the distribution of power according
to the wishes of the people, expressed
at the polls. A favorite gag of the
Democrats here is to comment,
I'VE hope Mr., WILKES voice doesn't
fail him This is based on the
theory that Mr.. Willkie has not
proved himself a good campaigner,
but there is bit of bravado in this
comment and it comes with more
difficulty as the days go by.
Martin Heads Willkie Group.
In the elections two years ago the
Republicans came through with
bang. They elected a Republican
Governor. Senator and two out of
the three members of the House.
They carried the State by approxi-
mately $1,000 votes. The contrast
between that result and what hap
pened in 1886 and in 1882 is beacon
light for the G. o. P. 1t is true
that the Democrats that year en-
gagged in a terrific row. the more
conservative group favoring the re-
nomination of Gov. Martin, and the
New Dealers doing all they could
against him. That same fight is
having some effect now, for Mr..
Martin, who was defeated for Gov
ernor, is now heading the Demo-
crats-for- -Willkie organization.
The Republicans have heard with
some glee that the administration
is sending Secretary of the Interior
Ickes into the State to speak on Mr..
Willkie and his power record. They
are planning a warm welcome for
Mr.. Ickes. 1t was the Secretary of
the Interior who mixed in the Dem
ocratic strife over the gubernatorial
nomination in 1898, opposing the re-
nomination of Gov. Martin. AS the
Republicans tell it, it was Senator
McNary and Gov. Martin who went
over the head of Mr.. Ickes and really
got the Bonneville Dam under way.
They went direct to President
Roosevelt when Mr.. Ickes was a
stumbling block in the way of the
dam project. Just send us Ickes,"
is the way the Republicans put it.
During his stay in Portland, DEM
ocratic Chairman Flynn was asked
whether Mr.. Ickes was really COM
ing to Oregon and whether he would
discuss the Bonneville Dam. Mr.
Flynn said he did not know any,
thing about the plan to send the
Secretary here and he certainly did
not know what Mr.. Ickes would
speak about if he did come.
Oregon-until the Hoover debacle
of 1932-was a predominately Re-
publican State. Hughes carried it
in 1916 and Wilson in 1912 won its
electoral vote only because of a di-
vision between the forces which sup
ported Taft and Theodore Roosevelt.
Harding, Coolidge and Hoover-in
1928-swept the State in presidential
election years.
Wallace Draws Small Crowd.
Vice Presidential Nominee Wal
lace came into the State recently in
an effort to offset the McNary
strength with the farmers, but Mr..
Wallace's didn't do so we'll. His
crowds were comparatively small.
In Portland he undertook to sit down
with the labor leaders-but found
that the C. I. o. and A. F. of L.
representatives would not meet to-
gether. He saw them separately
apd did not get much satisfaction