Evening star., 1942-10-07
BY GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Stan Writer,

~ wv SSeco OH cteCItOH WOSpSCLS.
BY GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Stan Writer.
DES MONIES, Iowa, Oct. T.
Iowa, traditionally Republican
until the dark days of 1882, looks
70 be happy hunting ground for
the COP in the coming elections
Democratic leaders deny this, but
more neutral observers see nc
reason why the Democrats
should do better in 1912 than
they did in 1910.
In 1910 the Republicans reelected
Gov. Wilson, carried the State fol-
Wendell L. Willkie against President
Roosevelt and his running mate
Henry A. Wallace, an Iowan him.
self, and elected seven members OF
the House to two for the Democrats
For four years the Republicans
have been in control of the State
government. In 88 counties out OF
total of 80, the Republicans hold
all the county Offices. In % counties
the Democrats have not even named
candidates for the State Legisla-
ture. 1t is obvious that any Demo
crat in this State has an uphill
hight for a State wide office.
Anxiety in State.
While the people of Iowa, Repub-
licans and Democrats alike, are
strongly back of the war effort
there is feeling of anxiety and
confusion among them which does
not help the Democrats. There is
no question that many of them dc
not understand the need of the
coming gas rationing-with pipe
lines pouring gas and oil into the
State in large quantities.
The principal contest here CEN
ters around the office of United
States Senator, now held by Senator
Herring, Democrat. He is opposed
by Gov. George A. Wilson.
Senator Herring was Governor OF
the State for two terms from 1888
to 1887, when he entered the Senate
Gov. Wilson is completing his second
term. The heydey of Democratic
strength in Iowa ran from 1892 to
1896. President Roosevelt defeated
former President Hoover in 1882
with a State margin of $4,000. In
1896 he trimmed ALI M. Landon by
$4,000. In 1910 he lost to Mr.. Will
kie by $4,000 votes.
Gov. Wilson was elected chief
executive of the State in 1898 by
10000 votes, and again in 1910, by
$4,000. 1t is true that in 1888 Sen
ator Gillette, Democrat, was re-
elected, but only by less than 1000
votes. He was running against for
mer Senator Dickinson, not strong
candidate. He had defeated Sena-
tor Dickinson in 1896 by $4,000 votes.
These figures are given to show
the sluff1ng off of Democratic
strength which has been going on
steadily in Iowa during the last
six years.
Herring Needs Republicans.
Senator Herring has a wide circle
of friends in Iowa Among them are
many Republicans. If he is to win
this year, it must be with the sup
port of a considerable number of
Republicans, plus the Democrats
and Independents. Whether his per-
sonal popularity will be sufficient to
offset the obvious Republican trend
in the State is the whole question.
Gov. Wilson has given the State
an excellent administration. Iowa
is in good financial condition, with
a surplus of some $l4,000,000 to
draw on if it becomes necessary.
He has brought about a reduction
in taxes. at the same time He has
undertaken to "streamline" the
State government, looping off a
sizeable number of State employees
and bringing the highway and other
bureaus under the budget system.
These latter operations have made
him enemies.
His personal popularity is not as
great as that of his senatorial oppo-
nent. Nevertheless, he is rated a
strong candidate by the Republicans.
With a Republican trend in swing,
IT. looks as though he had a good
chance of victory on election day.
The Democrats, however, are
vaping an intensive campaign to
MT Senator Herring across. Ihey
insist that their party organization
&c far better than 1t was two years
% particularly among the women.
indeed. they insist that the women S
vote will play an important part on
election day and will help TO turn
the tide for Senator Herring.
D.r,ocrats Look to Good Times.
The Democrats are counting on
the war-support for the Presloent
IN Congress. They count 100 on
the good prices which the farmers
are Getting for their produce, grain
livestock and dairy products. Ihey
1ook tn the labor vote, with LABOR
employed at high wages. IN tne war
nlants which have been oeVeiopeo
on a large scale in Iowa. 49,.
For estimating party chances. the
vote In Iowa is divided into three
proups-the farm vote, the city Vote'
end the vote in the small towns:
For wears the Democrats have nao
the advantage in the farm vote the
Republicans in the towns. ana 1he
citv vote has split pretty evenly.
For many years Wallace's Farmer
and iowa Homestead, "a farm puoli-
cation with a very wide circulation,
has taken surveys of farm sentl-
rnent in election years. 1t is doing
so today. 1t has demonstrated
and so have the election results
that the Democrats must have at
least 56 per cent of the farm vote
in order to carry a Statewide cleo
tion The figures of past elections
have borne out this formula.
So far two surveys-made by ques-
tioning hundreds Of Iowa farmers IN
ali parts of the State to obtain a
cross section of sentiment-have not
indicated that Senator Herring or
the Democratic gubernatorial candl-
date, former Gov. Nelson G. kras-
chel, are within reach OF this per-
centaee of the farm vote.
Surveys Published.
The first of these surveys was an.
L., A,,o,rsf IT. showed