Evening star., 1940-10-20
Pennsylvania 6. 0.P.
Expects Victory From
3-to-2 Registration
Democrats, However. Soy
Presidents Popularity
Will Pull Him Through
BY CHARLES G. MILLER,
Special Correspondent Of The Star.

6peClHl SUIIeoPVuuCut VI AuC 0tais
HARRISBURG, Pa, Oct. ia
feeling of confidence has replaced
the uncertainty that characterized
the early days Of the presidential
campaign among Pennsylvania Re-
publican leaders. They believe that
the great increase in party enroll
ment is in their favor and that
while victory will not be the land
slide that once accompanied the TAX
ing of the vote for President In
Pennsylvania, it will be gratifying in
view of the fact that the President
four years ago had $4,000 plu-
rality.
More than half the onicial reg
istration figures have been compiled
at the State Bureau of Elections,
and indications are that for the
first time more than 100000 per-
sons will have qualified themselves
to cast ballots in this State. Based
on the returns of 1886, more than
4.0OO,OO of the electors will vote.
Enrolment returns show the Re-
publicans made the better record
in most counties. Some counties
show gains for both parties, but
most have had Republican gains
and Democratic losses.
So noticeable was this trend that
Democratic State Chairman Mere
dith Meyers issued q statement say
ing his party is not interested In
the enrolment figures" 1t is his
contention that, no matter what
the Republican lead may be. Presi-
dent Roosevelt's strength still is
powerful enough to cause a sum-
cient number Of Republicans to de-
sert their party to insure Demo-
cratic victory.
The Republican Answer.
To this sort of argument Repub-
lican State Chairman James F. Tor
rance has pointed out that If the
peoples desire here Is so intent on
re-electing the President, the Demo-
cratic enrolment would have shown
a general increase all through the
counties. The Republican enroll
ment, it is expected, from the par
tial tabulation, will be around s.
100000 and the Democratic about
100000.
While both Republican and Demo-
cratic leaders give their presidential
candidate public leads of 500, 900 to
TOO, 900, none in speaking of the
record expects any such plurality.
President Roosevelt has paid the
State two visits and plans an
other, and Wendell l.. Willkie, hav-
ing once campaigned across the en-
tire State, will return next Thurs
day and Friday.
Typical of the situation is the
contest in Allegheny, where the
Democrats outrank Republicans In
enrolment by $4,000, but where .
newspaper poll shows Mr.. Willkie
leading. Henry A. Wallace spoke
Wednesday in Pittsburgh, the
county seat, for the Roosevelt ticket,
and the following day the Demo-
Gratis brought in Mayor Fiorello La
Guardia of New York, while the Re-
pubicans the same night had Dis
trict Attorney Thomas E. Dewey of
New York as q speaker. More Sena-
tors and Representatives from other
States are making speeches to aid
in the senatorial and congressional
fights than ever before.
Pinchot's Following Light.
Former Gov. Clifford Pinchot, who
opposed q second term for the Presi-
dent, is out for the third-term candi-
date. He has . very light following
left In the State, his old county
leaders now being all Willkie
workers. Some of his friends pro-
posed him as . counterattraction
the same night Mr.. Dewey spoke
at Pittsburgh, but the Democrats
frowned down the idea.
Not an outstanding Democrat has
commented publicly upon his Roose-
welt announcement, not q Repub-
lican leader has condemned it. He
defeated the State organization
twice when he ran as q Republican
for Governor, but it whipped him
badly when he tried for q third term,
on three occasions when he ran
for Senator, and once when he ran
for da1AUatA at large