The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1944-09-21
News ~
Behind!
THE{NE:'|ll;llS|{|IE5:1
Present Status of the
Presidential Race
ByRULMALLON

vote counting.
A magazine poll of the political
experts in the Washington press
coSps indicates a rather stronger
rotation of Roosevelt victory.
This reflects, I think, the popular
disbelief that anyone could ever
beat MIR. Roosevelt, the natural
sports notion that nearly always
makes the champion the favorite.
Generally the public cannot con-
ceive of a champ losing, as he has
never lost before.
Yet the inside unquotable re-
ports of the congressman from
back home actually give Dewey
an even or better chance TO win.
as matters stand today.
Discard all republican reports, as
these might be partisan. Consider
only those of Democratic legisla-
tors. They have been so discour-
aging as to alarm and even emblt-
ter the Democratic political leaders
who are urging the President to
drop his "non-partisan" campaign
and start a partisan one-and he
will September %.
The spearhead of the fourth term
movement was the Hillman CLIO
political action committee, and all
the politicos can see its effective
ness has been dulled, if not splin$-
cred. The other unions, and some
CLIO unions, would not stand for it.
Wagering odds have dropped
from 21a to / on Roosevelt to 9 to
5 in the best racing circles.
Take Maryland, which always
has been listed as sure-Roosevelt
state. Today there is Democratic
cloakroom saying, possibly over
/. drawn but nevertheless significant
that, "Only Senator Tydings is GO
!. 90 Democratic. These two claim
80 Roosevelt majority would be
y $4,000 today, bit Roosevelt. carried
Maryland four years ago by u.s.
900. ~,r = - -
I know a southern Democratic
leader who thinks Dewey will win
and is making preparations ac-
cordingly. Others insistently list
Texas, Mississippi and Virginia as
doubtful.
There are reports that the Roose-
welt Bremerton speech in the news
reels received little or no applause
generally, while the campaign pic
lures of the Dewey family were
well received. Democratic leaders
are now taking care of this defic-
iency and, within the past week,
ROnSnuaIf orNvN1or1cn odoiv, ho-
peared in the movie theatres.
Farm Vote Lost
All reports agree the farm vote
is lost beyond redemption and the
business vote for Roosevelt was
damaged by the departure of lit
tie businessman Nelson and big
businessman Wilson from WPB in
favor of IVA engineer.
Earlier considerable portion of
the business vote, and possibly all
the top financial vote, would have
gone to Roosevelt, on the spending
recovery promise plus information
alism.
On the other hand. New Eng
land is still classed as largely
doubtful tbY Republicans altho
Dewey has gone a long way TO-
ward satisfying the Willkie ele-
there. Probably Willkie
:pecfs TO come out for Dewey
Just before election as he did on
the eve of the election of 1912
in New York.
These developments as a whole
may explain MIR. Roosevelt's deci-
sion to make a labor speech in
Philadelphia and follow with
others.
After all 22,304,755 votes were
cast against him four years ago
'27,243, 466 for him and all symp-
toms of sentiment suggest. this op-
position has been greatly enlarged.
These 22,304,755 are nearly as
many as elected him president in
1882 (22,821, $50. His totals in '36
and 40 ran 27,000,0OO.
Now many a campaign has been
Won on Labor Day only to be lost
two months later on election day.
think Willkie, for instance, was
stronger at this stage of the race
tour years ago, than when the 22,-
3o4,755 votes were cast. for him.
have seen Mr.. Roosevelt COM
pietely turn over campaign stu
alton stacked mountain-high
against him. He has been more
clever as campaigner than in any
other phase of his duties. Yet
nothing which has developed so
lar in this campaign yet points to
that outcome again.
y -
TO date, the Dewey campaign
has been by far the smarter.
Anyone who thinks this brief CT
tation is not objective reporting,
IS merely deluding himself. There
exists in this country silent,
strong opposition to Mr.. Roosevelt.
-~TeSentful opposition which is not
: Mlging much in political debate.
which may not show itself at DO
Htlcal meetings or in press reports.
| think the fourth term will be
sravely in doubt until these votes
are counted. Republicans are sit
ting back waiting.