Evening star., 1940-04-02

didates in the Democratic primary
the Hershey -Slattery ticket. In the
Republican primary the races are
likely to be close, but the edge is
given to Mr.. Brooks in the sena-
torial nomination contest and to
Mi. Green in the gubernatorial.
The Republicans are moaning in
Cook County because about 10000
OF them last year entered the Demo-
cratic primary in an effort to knock
OIL Mayor Kelly. Mr.. Courtney had
been put forward in an effort to
dislodge the Mayor. Under the law
now on the books, these Republicans
may not return to their old party
allegiance and vote in a Republican
primary until 1941. They are, of
course, free to vote as they like in
the general election in November.
Polls taken by the Chicago Tribune
show that there has apparently been
a decided swing from the Demo-
cratic to the Republican party in
Illinois. The swing is caused, it is
asserted, by the disgust of the peo-
pie over the State and city govern
ment. by dissatisfaction with the
New Deal. Even the Illinois farm
ers. who have stood by the Presi-
dent in recent years in large num-
bers, are moving back to the G. o. P.
Irked BY U. S. Debt.
The farmers do not like the idea
that the Roosevelt administration
has brought the Federal debt to a
point where it passes the total value
of the farms in the United States.
They do not relish the fact that, be-
cause of the way relief is handled,
they cannot get enough labor to
work on their farms when harvest
time rolls round. More recently
they have looked askance at the ef-
forts of Secretary of Agriculture
Wallace to take into the Department
OF Agriculture the Farm Credit Ad-
mlnlstration. The charge is made
that If the credit agency becomes
part OF the Agriculture Department.
1t may be used to coerce farmers to
comply" with the farm programs
put out by the A. A. A.
The Tribune poll shows that Mr.
Dewey. despite the fact he has no
opponent in the Republican presi-
dental primary. has more straw
votes cast for him than has Presi-
dent Roosevelt. If the voters in the
primary next Tuesday cast a large
vote for Mr.. Dewey, as they now ap-
pear intent on doing, the primary
result, even though it is not legally
binding but merely advisory" is
likely to have its effect on the Illi-
nols delegates, So in number. when
they go to the Republican National
Convention. Many of the delegates
scheduled to be elected have already
expressed a preference for Mr..
dewey. although they are not run
ming as Dewey-pledged candidates.
Vice President Garner's support
ers. with practically no organization
IN Illinois, are still hopeful of rolling
up substantial vote for their can
didate as a protest against the third
term. They feel that if Mr.. Garner
can make such showing, the third
termers will come to realize that
they are playing with fire when they
seek to renominate and re-elect
President Roosevelt.
Impressive Showing FOreseen.
In 1886 the Democrats in their
party primary rolled up a total vote
Of 1597.418 to LOTT POS for the Re-
publicans, lead of more than 5OO,-
900 The size of the vote cast in the
primaries this year will be compared
with those figures. Even with a
large number of Republicans unable
to vote in the party primary because
of their support of Mr.. Courtney for
Mayor last year. it is expected that
the G. O. P. showing will be impress
sive.
Republican leaders, and other
more impartial observers here, insist
that Illinois will be found in the Re-
publican column next November.
They make no Observation-Disclosures
the President is renominated by the
Democrats or not.