Evening star., 1944-10-04
Roosevelt Forces
Claiming $4,000
Margin in Montana
BY GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Staff CORRESPONDENT.

1 oeoA SsaAA VIZ So1SoAuShbs
/ HELENA, Mont, Oct. 4.-Only
a Republican landslide could
carry Montana for Gov. Thomas
E. Dewey In the presidential
race. Democrats in charge Of
the campaign are predicting Mr..
Roosevelt will have a margin Of
10000 over Gov. Dewey, in an
expected light vote.
The President won here by 5000
votes over Wendell L. Willkie four
years ago.
/ The race may be closer than the
Democrats believe. But whether 1t
is or not, Mr.. Roosevelt certainly
has a considerable edge as Of today.
This is admitted even by some Of
Mr.. Roosevelt's enemies.
The Republicans, however. are
working hard at their organization.
They believe, first, that Gov. Dewey
has made a favorable impression on
many voters In the State and second
that a considerable number Of Dem
ocrats will not again vote for Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
Count on Disaffections.
They are counting not only on
Democratic disaffections, but also
on increased Republican sentiment
among farmers, cattlemen and small
businessmen.
Democrats counter with the claim
that the farmers in the eastern part
Of the State ar generally aligned
with the Farmers Union, which Is
supporting Mr.. Roosevelt. They ad-
NIT that in the western area the
American Farm Bureau Federation
and the Grange are stronger and
that they will lose many Of the
farm votes in that section.
One factor which may aid the
Republicans is the migration Of
many workers-some of them in the
mines to Coast States to take jobs
in shipyards and other war plants.
Most of these people were drawn
from Democratic ranks. The State
has not been awarded war plants
within its own borders, so this is
a definite loss and will help reduce
the size OF the vote cast in No
vember.
Evidences Of Trend.
Evidences of a Republican trend
in Montana have occurred in the
last few years. For example, the
Republicans elected a Governor
Sam C. Ford, in 1910 when Mr..
Roosevelt was carrying the State
Two years ago Senator Murray,
Democrat, squeaked through with a
margin of only 1912 votes in his
contest with Wellington D. Rankin,
brother of former Representative
Jeannette Rankin. II this trend is
still on, Republicans say, there may
be a surprise on election day.
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, who
has been foe Of the Roose-
welt administration on many occa-
sions, will not lift a finger to help
win fourth term for Mr.. Roose-
welt. He plans to take no part in
the campaign.
Four years ago Senator Wheeler
carried the State by 10000
while Mr.. Roosevelt was winning
by 1900. 1t was Senator Wheeler
who led the fight in the Senate In
1887 against the Presidents bill to
pack the Supreme Court. What
Senator Wheeler and some of his
friends may do quietly about the
coming presidential election is any,
body's guess. @s
In the 1910 election Montana cast
approximately 247,000 votes In the
presidential contest. Two years ago
only 10000 voted in the senatorial
race. 1t is estimated that this years
vote will not be more than EOS, 900.
Republicans say they are not afraid
of the soldier vote, believing SOL
diers will vote as their parents
vote.
Most of the conservative forces in
the State will be found in the Re-
publican camp, both for the presi-
dency and for the reelection of
Gov. Ford, candidate to succeed
himself
Left Erickson, an associate JUS
tice of the State Supreme Court
is the Democratic nominee for
Governor. He is a big man, 38
years old. Business elements in the
State consider him radical. Ger
tainly he has the backing Of the
CIO and its Political Action Com
mittee, headed by former Represent
ative Jerry O'Connell.
Republicans are making the most
of the antagonism to the CIO Po-
litical Action Committee, headed by
Sidney Hillman. They hope to get
the votes, of fair percentage of