Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-03-27
NEWS
BEHIND
THE NEWS
BY Paul
MaIIon

WASHINGTON. March 81
W Mr.. Wllkie is beating the
bushes of Wisconsin IN a hotter
hunt for delegates than any
presidential candidate ever at
tempted before
While he trails on with great
publicity (l2 or IL Washington
political writer's were invited 10
accompany him). the other
Republican candidates, his adj
vcrsarleS, are quietly plucking
greater bulk OF delegates.
Their ease is such that hardly
a paragraph on the press ASSOC
citation wires heralds attention
10 them, and, IN some cases.
their plckingS have been con-
Cealed behind the official ans.
nouncementS that the delegates
are "uninStructed.'
nor instance, New Mexico has
l. chosen eight delegates, sup
poSedly unpledged. II my in
formation is correct, the choices
were made to read seven for
Dewey and one for Willkie.
At the head of the delegation
is Mrs. Ruth Hanna Mccormick
SimmS of the old Illinois isola-
ZIONIST Mccormick family and
Cleveland's Hanna, who is cer-
talnly not pro-Willkie.
Florida has chosen Il dele
gates Just as softly. Those who
make il their business to know
such things, line up the
delegation prospects as: Dewey
3, Wlllkie ), NJ Arthur ,,
BriCker 3.
In North Carolina. Dewey
won the whole delegation Of 25
by unanimous action of the
state convention.
IN New Hampshire, where the
L results were more widely
proclaimed. the results were
not as clear. The only two in
Structed delegates are for
Dewey. Willkie claims six of
the others who are unpledged,
including the former isolationist
leader in the Senate. George
Moses. whose designation in this
way at least raises doubts. But
accept Wilkes claim. and
three New Hampshire delegates
are doubtful, if not for Dewey.
The grand total of delegates
chosen thus far, according 10
my count, runs:
Dewey 80, Willkie -. Mac
Arthur >, Broker ,, doubtful 3.
The unacceptable conclusion
must be that while Willkie is
running away with the pub
lclty, Dewey is running away
with the delegates. When you
consider that Wisconsin has only
"a delegates, the current dis
crepancy between headlines and
heads must be apparent. Mr..
Wilkes Overwhelming difficult
ties, even if he happens TO win
Wisconsin, are likewise evident.
pUT why did Mr.. Willkie
- choose Wisconsin and invite
in the Washington political
writer's to witness Wisconsin
is old LaFollette territory. the
primary stronghold of isolation
ism in the United States La
Toilette. the elder, voted against
the last war, and led the fight
against the treaty of Versailles.
Why then fight here in the
toughest sector?
Apparently, there was no
place else to fight. In Michigan.
he -wetifd ftff- into Dewey AS
favorite son; in Illinois, into
even worse difficulties; Ohio is
Brokers; in Nebraska, he can
only run against StaSSCn. Cali
fornia has been neutralized. and
so on Thus, even the choice
Of locale for this fight is
hardly a sign of strength.
Technically. however. Willkie
has a strong advantage in Wis
consln. Dewey has only Is dele
gates entered in his name.
which means he has already
lost s of the "a before he starts.
Furthermore. he did not choose
his delegates, nor did his people.
In fact, he tried TO stop the
movement. and what is left of
his candidacy there only repre-
SentS local movement in his
behalf.
Offhand. therefore. you would
expect that Willkie would get
the bulk of the delegation when
the polls close April 4. Then
his real troubles have begun.
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