Evening star., 1944-07-29
Dewey's Blast al Fish
Increases Interest in
New York Primary
BY ]. A. O'LEARY,
Star Staff CORRESPONDENT

BY ]. A. O'LEARY,
Star Staff Correspondent
ALBANY, N. Y, July 29.-The
verbal blast Gov. Thomas E.
Dewey fred yesterday at Repre-
sentative Hamilton Fish of New
York, charging him with inject
ing a racial issue into the polit-
ical campaign, will increase in
terest in Tuesdays hotly con-
tested primary, in which Mr..
Fish is seeking the Republican
nomination for another term in
the House.
Since the 1912 election, New York
has been redistricted. and the result
is that MI Fish, now representing
the 26th district, is campaigning in
a new constituency which includes
but one county-Orange-from the
former district set-up of Orange,
Putnam and Duchess-President
Roosevelts home county. Rockland,
Sullivan and Delaware Counties
compose the remainder Of the new
29th.
Opposed by Old Foe.
Representative Fish's opponent is
Augustus w. Bennet. 46, Newburgh
lawyer. whom he defeated in the
Republican primary two years ago,
but in the event that the latter
loses again Tuesday, he will enter
the general election in November as
an independent, with Democratic as
we'll as progressive Republican back
ing, and many New York political
observers are convinced that Mr..
Bennet might turn the tables then,
and retire Representative Fish to
private life after "A years in the
House.
Representative Fish, reports from
New York indicate. has made much
Of his opponents Democratic back
ing. The latter is hitting hard at
Mr.. Fish's "isolationist" record in
Congress.
According to the New York Her
ald-Tribune, Mr.. Bennet. in this line
of attack, recalls that Mr.. Fish op-
posed dredging of the harbor at
Guam: advocated parity with the
United States for the Japanese
Navy; opposed the destroyers-for-
naval bases trade with the British
and the construction in 1887 and
1888 of more ships and aircraft car
riers, and later the peacetime train
| ing of a selection service Army. He
has also revived the story of the
dealings between a member Of Mr.
Fish's Office staff and George Syl-
vester Viereck, Nazi propagandist.
Was he popular with our Allies
or with our enemies?" Mr.. Bennet
asks.
Point BY Opposition.
The Fish opposition also is making
capital of the fact that If he were
reelected, and the Republicans
gained control OF the House. Mr..
Fish would succeed to the chair
manship of the powerful Rules
Committee
Against this is Mr.. Fish's back
ground as member Of an old New
York family; his record in the last
war when he was decorated for gall
lantry in action while leading Negro
troops and the fact that he was one
Of those responsible for the forma-
ton of the American Legion.
In the 26th district primary two
years ago, Mr.. Fish defeated Mr.
Bennet, 17,l79 to 1901, but in the
general election, when Mr.. Bennett
threw his support to Ferdinand A.
Hoyt, Democrat, Mr.. Fish received
but slightly more than a 4,0O0-vote
majority, winning 4S.753 to 1851.
Attack by Dewey.
/ Gov Dewey's attack followed ar
interview in the New York Post
quoting Mr.. Fish as saying Jews are
for President Roosevelt and the New
Deal. and suggesting 1T would be
much better for them If they split
their vote between the two ma jor
parties"
This prompted the Republican
presidential nominee to point out ir
a statement that two years ago
when he was running for Governor
he opposed the Reorganization and
reelection of Mr.. Fish. Gov
Dewey added that the statements
attributed to Mr.. Fish confirm my
judgment expressed at that time.
The Governor went on to declare
Any one who injects a racial OF
religious issue into a political cam
paign is guilty of disgraceful, un-
American act. I have always fought
that kind of thing all my life anc
always will, regardless of partisan
considerations.
Il have never accepted support o1
any such individual and 1 never
shall"
The strong terms the Governor
used in disavowing Mr.. Fish also
were taken as an indication by OBJ.
servers here that the Republican
presidential nominee will speak ou,
1