Evening star., 1944-10-27
Republican Chances
In Pennsylvania Held
Best Since 1892
Continued From First Page

Continued From First Page)
and getting the voters who are in
clined to favor Mr.. Roosevelt to go
to the polls on November Z. The
major fear of the Democrats is that
many workers in war plants, with
plenty of money in their pockets
and anxious to make more, will not
take the time or trouble to go to
the polls.
Republicans in PENNSYLVANIA
have chalked up several victories
in State, municipal and congress
sional elections during the last four
years. 1t is true that Arthur H.
James, a Republican, was Governor
when Mr.. Roosevelt carried the
State four years ago. But in 1912,
during the war, the Republicans
elected another Governor, Mr.. Mar
tin. They won in more congress
sional districts, in one of the most
recent they took congressional dis
trict located in Philadelphia away
from the Democrats They believe
they are justified in saying that a
Republican trend has been under
way.
Contention of Leaders.
The contention of the Republican
leaders is that the people of Penn
sylvania are lining up against Mr.
Roosevelt and his administration
for a long series of reasons; that
the farmers and the little business
men are more off" the President
than ever before; that irritationS
have extended into the organized
labor groups. and that the labor
vote will not be as solid as it was
four years ago. They talk of a
great silent" vote, which they say
will upset the Roosevelt applicant
on election day.
There are signs of Republican
trend Gov Martin was elected
over his Democratic opponent by
2l8,000 two years ago. Philadelphia
in its mayoralty race, within a year,
gave considerable Republican
majority. Congressional districts
in by-elections have gone strongly
Republican. Even the registration
figures, now about complete, show
that the Republicans have made a
better showing than the Democrats.
The Republican registration, it is
true, has been much more heavy
than the Democratic for years, but
1t has not prevented Mr.. Roosevelt
from carrying the State. The people
in this State have habit of regis
tering Republican-just as the
people in California have a habit
of registering Democratic. How
ever, there are certain features of
the new registration that bear
watching.
Registration Advantage.
Both Republican and Democratic
workers, including especially the
CIO and its Political Action Com
mittee, worked hard to increase
registration this year. Republicans
apparently did a better job The
COP precinct workers increased
their party's enrolled strength
175,0OO above the registration ad-
vantage held by the Republicans
four years ago.
Both parties, however, lost en-
rolled strength, the Democrats hav-
ing 1881 registered, slump of
278,167 from the 1910 level, and the
Republicans having registered g.
680,208, loss of 102,682. So the
Republican party has a registration
edge over the Democratic party of
1877 ,068 as compared to its 621 ,583
enrolment advantage four years
ago. They have permanent regis
tration" in Pennsylvania. There
seems no particular reason why the
new registrants this year should not
have followed their political prefer
ence in signing up. So perhaps this
means something
There are four large racial groups
In Philadelphia which have been
strongly for Mr.. Roosevelt in past
elections-the Negroes, the voters of
Italian and Polish blood and the
Jews. 1t is believed that the Repub-
Gcans have made some inroads in
the first three group-particularly
in the Italian group.
Poll Leans to New Deal.
A poll conducted by the Philadel-
phia Bulletin is, however, encour.
aging to the fourth h-termers. Il
shows Mr.. Roosevelt with SO per
cent of the vote, Gov. Dewey with
80, and l per cent for other candi-
dates and l per cent unwilling to
answer. Several so-called national
polls have given Gov. Dewey a
much better break, particularly
when the State vote is estimated.
Senator Davis, Republican, is up
for reelection. He is opposed by
Representative Myers of Philadel-
phia. Unless Mr.. Roosevelt should
carry the State with a considerable
margin, Senator Davis is expected
to win. In the contests for House
seats the Republicans are likely to
lose a couple of Philadelphia dis
tricts, but will pick up several in
other parts of the State, perhaps
with net Republican advantage of
two.
The result of the presidential race
In Pennsylvania may or may not be
known on November 8, the day after
the balloting, because Of the large
soldier vote. 1t is estimated that at
least 100000 soldier ballots will be
cast. These ballots must be post
marked by November 7. The count
will not start until November %.
How these men in the armed ftrCes
vote might easily determine the
final result.