Evening star., 1940-04-04

paigns to gain more delegates and
their followers will argue they must
get into the primaries to offset the
developing Dewey strength.
3. The -third-term idea will
gain much encouragement inside
the Democratic party and there will
be more opposition to the renomina-
ton Of the President than might
have been the case if Vice President
Garner had not been able to corral
the 25 per cent proportion of the
Wisconsin vote that is credited to
him by the returns.
It Is true, as Senator La Toilette
q well-informed bystander-says,
that the voting in Wisconsin was
light, but so far as a pre-convention
primary is concerned, its Importance
does not lie in the amount of the
vote cast but in the trend revealed
by the voting.
The wisconsin primary was very
important to Dewey. He has been
regarded as colorful candidate to
be sure, but allegedly handicapped
by youth. A progressive State like
Wisconsin doesn't worry about the
age question because it has elected
young La Follettes Wisconsin is
more concerned with the progressive
Ism of candidate than anything
else and the fact that Dewey was
given the stamp of approval by Wis
consin Republicans will help him In
other Western States where the
average Eastern candidate usually
falls down.
Dewey Proves Agility.
So far as issues are concerned, one
can look in vain at the speeches and
the voting to find what the people
want. Senator Vandenberg has been
lined up with the isolationists in the
Senate and fought the repeal of the
arms embargo-something that was
doubtless pleasing to the isolation
lists, of whom there are many in Wis
consin. But District Attorney Dewey,
on finding the strength of the isola-
ZIONIST sentiment in Wisconsin
promptly made an isolationist
speech, too, proving that so far as
politics is concerned he is rather
agile.
One thing seems clear even now,
ana that Is the rise of the straddle
type Of campaign. Regional interests
differ and local considerations weigh
heavily in planning primary cam
paign. The very fact that such a
small part of the total vote comes
out to cast ballots makes it neces-
sary for candidates apparently to
satisfy what they think are group
interests.
In the Democratic race in Wiscon-
son, the vote cast in behalf of Vice
President Garner is rather remark
able. Here is candidate who has
not made single political statement
or speech on current issues and, of
course, has not visited the State of
Wisconsin, but he manages to poll
fourth of the party vote on single
issue-that American Presidents
should not be nominated for a third
term.
Party Weakened in Wisconsin,.
The Democratic party in Wisconsin
Is. relatively speaking, weak affair.
The La Follettes have drawn into
the Republican party so large pro-
portion of the total vote as to break
down the Democratic strength. And
while the La Follettes have not been
able to destroy the Democratic party
in Wisconsin, the New Deal has sup
piled sufficient help to the La Toilette
Progressives further to weaken the
Democratic organizations. The fact
that there are Roosevelt states In
the State and that they poll three
to one against the Garner dele
gates may not have the slightest
Significance so far as a Democratic
victory in the electoral college is
concerned. If the La Follettes sup
port the New Deal, the result will be
different and the La Toilette ma
chine will have every reason to play
with the Democratic nominee If he
Is Mr.. Roosevelt or a man of his Sc
lection.
The Wisconsin vote for Garner
could easily be due in part to the
resentment of Wisconsin Democrats
over the way they have been deserted
by the administration in Washing
ton, which has given support openly
to the La Toilette Progressives. But,
all in all, Wisconsins primaries tell
us that Dewey is a good vote-getter,
the third term issue will split the
Democratic party, and that even if
the President runs for a third term
and makes deal with the La Fol-
lettes, there will be close race to
decide who shall get wisconsin, s
electoral votes.