Evening star., 1940-04-11

IL IL ~'Au A1""AShSe.
nominating convention because so
many States are controlled by con-
ventions or State organizations.
This is sometimes sufficient to block
nomination.
The question Of why any Repub-
licans would oppose the Dewey
nomination turns only on his
strength as a vote-getter against
Roosevelt if the latter should be a
thjrd-term candidate. AS the cam
paign develops further, there will
be more talk of dark horse. Wen
dell WILKES popularity is growing
with sensational strides though it
has no basis in delegate strength as
yet.
Lessons to be drawn from the
Nebraska and Illinois primaries are,
however, more important from
other aspects than the presidential
nominating contest. In Illinois, for
instance, the vote rolled up for
Roosevelt was again very remark
able. 1t will be recalled that in
1896, the Illinois primaries showed
an astounding strength for the
President even though unopposed at
that time. The Garner vote is sub
stantial, but on the other hand, the
Kelly Nash -Horner combination IN
Illinois probably can carry Illinois
for Roosevelt against almost any
body.
ENCOURAGING to Democrats.
The Democrats will find much
encouragement in the Illinois result
because it is generally conceded that
the States west of the Mississippi
River are much more likely to go
Democratic next time than those
east of that dividing line.
But with Illinois and one or two
smaller States east of the Mlssls-
sippi the Democratic drive for VIC
tory by a coalition of the West and
South would seem to be a difficult
one for the Republicans to overcome.
The talk, of course, is that the
Garner vote will go along with the
Republicans, but this is only in
the event that Mr.. Roosevelt is run
ming for third term. There is no
good political reason to suppose that
all of it would desert the party II
the Democrats nominated either
Jackson or Douglas. The senatorial
race in Nebraska, in which Senator
Burke was defeated, may offer a
test. Can Mr.. Burke now run as an
independent and get Republican
support? Will the Republicans stand
by him or would a three-cornered
race insure the election Of a Re-
publican Senator?
The labor groups which so often
hold the veto power ganged up on
Senator Burke in Nebraska on the
one hand, and the New Deal office
holders attacked him on the other
flank. so it is surprising that Sena-
tor Burke got as many votes as
he did. The Republican party has
an important decision to make now
In Nebraska. 1t is questionable
whether the vote for Burke will go
over to the Republican nominee, but
It might be cast for him in a
three -cornered race.
G. O. p. Aided Van Nuys.
The Republicans were ready and
did assist Senator Van Nuys, Demo-
crat, in Indiana when he was faced
with defeat because of his anti
administration attitude, but no such
help seems as yet to have been
given to Senator Burke, who was as
plainly "purged" this time as though
this were 1888.
Unless conservative voters stand
together they are bound to lose from
the United States Senate men like
Senator Burke. The Importance OF
this is that Northern Democrats will
be tempted to follow the New Deal
as rubber stamps if it should develop
that only in the South conservatives
can win in the Democratic party.
Unless the Republican party lends
its aid in the Northern and Western
parts of the country, most Northern
Democrats will tend to embrace the
New Deal.
The size of the Illinois vote for
Roosevelt end the New Deal victory
in Nebraska over Senator Burke
will afford the political experts much
food for thought these next few
weeks. 1t will encourage the friends
of Attorney General Jackson and
Justice Douglas to feel that either,
If nominated, could win. 1t also will
influence the Republicans to con-
centrate their campaign in the East
and in certain States in the West
where there may be an even chance
for victory. With the big farm
appropriation already voted and the
big relief appropriations about to
be voted, the Democrats are begin
ming to feel more confident of the
outcome than they did several weeks
ago.
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