Evening star., 1942-04-14
Illinois Goes 10 Polls
In First Big Primary
Since Start Of War
Condidotes Tor Senator,
26 House Scots to
Be Named Today
Bs the Associated Press,

CHICAGO. April 14-Illinois vot-
ers came out by the hundreds Of
Thousands today to demonstrate how
a democracy works in wartime.
They marked ballots in the first
major election held in the United
States since Pearl Harbor. With
complete freedom Of choice, they
nominated candidates for United
States Senators for 26 House seats
and large category Of State and
local ofiices.
The paramount issue was success
ful prosecution OF the war. AL can
didates agreed that It must be won,
and quickly. The big question in
the minds Of political observers was:
How many voters will leave their
occupations to exercise one OF the
rights they are fighting for?"
Estimates Vary on Vote.
Favorable weather throughout the
State lent hope that the pleas of
Gov. Dwight H. GrGeen, himself not
a candidate, and others for q big
turnout of voters would be granted.
Secretary Of State Edward j..
Hughes has predicted pre-occupa-
ton with the war would hold the
vote TO about .585 900, which would
be the lowest in 20 years. But Ben
L. Berve, Republican State chair
man, and others place the total
higher.
Polling places in the States s.6l2
precincts opened at 6 am. central
war time) and will close at S pm.
While all the major candidates
stood stanchly on a victory plat
form, each had q collateral issue Of
its own. In the Republican primary
it was the pre-war tsolationism OF
Senator Brooks. Senator Brooks was
elected a an anti-interventionist
and that's the way he voted In the
Senate.
Light vete May Aid Brooks.
State Treasurer Warren Wright.
his principal opponent. same out In
favor Of President Roosevelt's In
ternational policies four days before
the Japs reached Pearl Harbor. He
has not hesitsted to make q point
Of this during the campaign.
A light vote, politicians figure.
would help Senator Brooks and
hurt Mr.. Wright, whose working
supporters have had to be spread
rather thinly through the State.
For the same reason q light vote
would benefit Representative Nc
Keough, the Democratic senatorial
candidate brought out by the Kelly
Nash organization and supported
by 1t here with the accumulated
political power Of 10 years In ONCE.
Mr.. McKeough has represented q
Chicago district IN the House since
1894.
His bid for the nomination has
been bitterly opposed by . Chicago
professor. Paul H. Douglas. In ad-
dition to teaching economies at the
University Of Chicago. Or. Douglas
Is q Chicago alderman.
Collateral Issue.
I. was his energetic campaign
which raised the collateral issue In
the Democratic party. the familiar
charge Of machine politics" Con-
ceding the nomination of Senator
Brooks by the Republicans, DR..
Douglas has argued that . candi-
date supported by Kelly Mash would
have . machine label II nominated
and would not be able to attract the
Independent voters he believes the
Democrats will need to beat Sena-
tor Brooks In November. Both Mr..
McKeough and DR.. Douglas are
100 per cent for President Roose.
velt.
In addition to the senatorial con-
test and the congressional races, the
voters were nominating candidates
for State treasurer and State super
intendent Of public instruction, for
n seats In the State Senate and 153
In the House. State central COM
m1tteemen, shertffs, county judges
and other ofnces were at stake
locally.