Evening star., 1944-09-13
Restrained Campaign
by Dewey Is Seen as
Tuned 10 War Burden
BY J. A. O'LEARY,
Star Staff CORRESPONDENT.

BY J. A. OIEARY,
Star Staff CORRESPONDENT.
EN- ROUTE WITH DEWEY.-The
war has left It's mark on political
campaigning this year.
Gov. Thomas e. Dewey's first
swing across the country to the
Pacific Coast = still in its early
stages. but already 1t is apparent
that the Republicans are trying to
present their candidate and their
platform to the people in manner
befitting the serious days through
which the Nation Is passing.
Mechanically, the Dewey train is
not much different from the one
that carried Wendell Willkie thou
sands of miles back and forth across
the country in 1910. But any SINH
larity in the two styles of campaign
ing is almost entirely coincidental.
Dewey Makes Few Stops.
Mr.. Wilkes train stopped at
hundreds of small towns from coast
to coast and the crusading standard
bearer OF 1910 never missed chance
to step out on the rear platform and
plead with his fellow Americans not
to break the two-term tradition of
Washington and Jefferson.
People would often remark, HE
talks too much" but Mr.. Willkie
polled 22,300, 900 notes.-the largest
ever cast for a Republican candi-
date. President Roosevelt rolled up
total of 27,200,000. But in COM
parison with the 1886 election; this
was a drop of z33, 900 in Mr.. Roose-
velt's popular vote, while Mr.. Willkie
brought out to the polls $500 600
more than had voted for ALI M
Landon.
Thus far Gov. Dewey's train has
made few stops between the cities
where his major speeches are sched-
uled for delivery. and then mainly
for railroad oprational purposes.
Trains Route Not Advertised.
The exact route of the train be-
tween major points has not been
advertised, presumably because Re-
publican strategists are understood
to feel that anything resembling a
transforming tour would be out of
place In wartime.
Occasionally, however, the word
gets out that the candidates train
Is passing that way. and small groups
gather near the tracks. On such
occasions Gov. Dewey steps out on
the platform, waves a friendly greet
ing, or steps down and chats with
the onlookers while the engines are
being changed. But he does not
make a political speech to them.
Two cone-shaped loudspeakers
protrude from the rear of the can
didate's car at the end of the train.
but thus far they have not been
used. Except for these amplifying
horns you would never notice the
Dewey train passing
Dewey Technique Not Dramatic.
Probably there are some today
who will say, Gov. Dewey talks too
little" but in his first two major
speeches he has left no doubt that
he will be no less vigorous than
Mr.. Willkie in his opposition to
New Deal domestic philosophy. In
fact he has paved the way to center
his campaign on home-front prob
lens by coming out for the general
plan of world peace organization
being considered by the administra- ;.
tion, including the use of force. Il
But, in place of the crusading
oratory of his predecessor, Gov.
Dewey has substituted a new tech
nique for getting his message down
to the grass roots of the electorate.
1t is not dramatic and, after the
first few days. It ceased to be news
to the large staff of correspondents
covering the Republican nominee,
but 1t may prove as effective as Mr.
Wilkes method of trying to speak
personally to millions of voters. In
word, it is organization.
In every city he has visited the
Governor has arranged to confer.
informally, with groups of men and
women from all essential walks of
life-labor, agriculture, business. war
veterans and Negroes. They are
not nationally famous individuals,
but in their respective States they
mingle with and know the view
points of thousands of voters. And
these little round-table meetings
Gov Dewey holds with them gives
him chance to find out what they
are thinking and they. in turn, get
chance to size up the Republican
candidate and that party's program.
COP Governors Helping.
This consultation technique is
only one manifestation of the en-
phasis the present young leaders of
the Republican party are putting on
organization this year. Another is
the prominent place being given to
the Republican Governors, who now
direct the regional affairs of three
fourths OF the American people in
rs States. Close teamwork between
the COP national organizations and
these 26 Republican State organiza-
tions Is one of Gov. Dewey's big
assets. .--.
The train carrying Gov. Dewey
to the West Coast consists of 10
coaches-about the same as the
1910 campaign train-mainly be-
cause more than 80 newspaper,
radio and picture representatives
have been assigned to cover the
campaign.
In addition to the sleeping
space there Is work car, consisting
of two long boards for typewriter
stands along each side of the aisle
where seats ordinarily would be.
Small folding chairs are lined up
along the typewriter stands. An
amplifier has been installed in the
work car, In event Gov. Dewey
should later make any rear-plat-
form addresses.
Lounge for Conferences