The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-08-18

VtNJuAtIE tA8ACAt Of by cold logic. Arguments of thI political spellblnders arc supposed to confirm these instincts and ore Judices rather than sway th eelec torate. and as all this oratory ii supposed to keen the country stirred up and be bad for business, 1t ii argued that the campaigns could just az well be done away with and the election held earlier.
 All this may be true in other cleo tion years. but would the result of this years nose-counting be the same if held now rather than in November Political dopesters may well figure there are more impon- derabies this qiadrennlum. mora voters withholding their decisions. more last minute changes Of opin- ion-both ways And that makes the result harder to predict.
 The Republican candidate is still pretty much of an unknown quan- tity. His big job Of selling himself to the voters still lies ahead. Dew. ey's progress thus far has been good. but he has had the stage pretty much to himself. There are those who wish he would make even more hay while the field is clear.
 BOTH RUNNING MATES
 VULNERABLE
 Both vice presidential candidates are likewise uncertain quantities. and while most people don't vote for a vice president. this year more than either vice presidential can- didafe can spoil the chances of the head of the ticket.
 Bricker is causing the Republicans plenty of embarrassment by having the America Frirsters' label unwill- inply pinned on him. Trlman's re- cord of past criticism of the Roose- welt administration and Triman's past connections with the Fender. gast machine do the President no good.
 President Roosevelt is back from the Pacific with every campaign ad- vantage in his favor. Democratic publicity ean try to build him up as the personification Of the conquer ing hero. but even if this follow-up isn't permitted. the Roosevelt re- port t0 the nation is a campaign document Of importance. Dewey's handlers giil find t hard to pull out of their hats any trick that can match or even touch 1t.
 Progress of the VET in the next few months can work to the adyaa- tage of either candidate. for the psy' cll0Iogy Of this is impossible to fig- ure out. If the war is well won, the Democratic don't-s W a p-liorses-in. tlle-mlddle of -a-waF argument loses its punch. On the other hand. suc- cessfuIiy conducted war makes heroes out of the party that man. aged it's winning.
 LABOR's COURSE MAY WEIR VOTERS EITHER WAY
 Developments in the labor sttua' ton can likewise throw lot Of votei either wey iil the next couple oi months. c. I. O. political actions may well solidify the labor vote be- hind the President and may aist cause a lot Of defeetions. John L Lewis win probably be able to forcs a Dro.Dewey resolution through hii United Mine Workers convention this fall, but whether he can de liver the U, M. ". vote to Dewey | eomething else again.
 Growth of war plant strikes aIlt labor unrest can drive a lot ol votes to Dewey. Who gets the anti labor vote is just as important factor as who gets the labor vote.
 Even the weta1ler can play al important role. Continued drouth particularly in some parts of tn middle west, can make Lot Of Dew ey votes.
 Splits in the Democratic party arr still ar unmeasured force.
 The polls all show 2 Republican trend. and political statistleians sa' the trend is inportant--not the ln' dlyldual poll result, Also. notice th' "undeelded" percentages.
 Add all these thlpes together ana get an unsettled picture. ''he elee' ton is still to be won-oT lost