Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-10-10
Dewey Top Advisers
Are Optimistic Over
Campaign Progress
BY j. A. O'LEARY,
Star Staff Correspondent,

month before the election Gov
Thomas E. Dewey's advisers ar
optimistic over the type of cam
paign the Republican nominee ha
conducted to date and believe h,
has set the stage for the stronges
race any opponent has given Presi'
dent Roosevelt since he entered thu
White House.
The keystone of the Dewey
strategy appears to be to keep the
important question Of world CO.
operation for peace entirely out Of
the realm of partisan debate. This
was emphasized again yesterday
afternoon, when Gov. Dewey lost
no time in describing the peace or
ganization outlined by the Dunn
barton Oaks conferees as "a fine be-
ginning"
While pointing out that much re-
mains to be done in working out
the details, he nevertheless called
for prompt action rather than to
delay in the search for perfection"
Centers on Domestic Issue.
With this issue lifted to a nom
partisan level, Gov. Dewey has pro-
ceeded to open up with all Of his
prosecutor background on the New
Deal domestically, and without hest
tating to make his fight against the
President himself.
President Roosevelt has made only
two political speeches thus far, but
both times Gov. Dewey has been or
the air lanes within 48 hours with
hard-punching answers. The eff
feet has been to give this campaign
more of the atmosphere of a joint
debate than was apparent either in
1886 or 1910.
Perhaps the most unusual feature
of the Dewey campaign up to now
has been the spacing of his major
addresses. He has not attempted to
flood the voters with oratory day
after day. His long Western tour
embraced only seven major speeches,
and comparatively few rear-plat-
form talks from his train.
No Major Talks This Week.
He started out with calm disser-
tations on foreign policy, on labor,
social security, and the 'indispens-
able man." but he did not begin
slugging verbally with the President.
until Mr.. Roosevelt gave him an
opening in his address to the Team
sters' Union.
Gov. Dewey has made only two
major speeches in the past two
weeks, discussion of taxes from his
Office in Albany and his visit to
Charleston Saturday. He has no
major talks scheduled for this week,
but he has already taken part in
Polish celebration in New York City
Sunday, and will take leading part
in similar demonstration by Ital-
ian-Americans in the metropolis on
Thursday. Columbus Day.
Before leaving Albany this morn
ing to attend the funeral of Wen
dell L. Willkie, Gov. Dewey issued
Columbus Day proclamation, in
which he declared that liberated
Italy is today friend and an ally"
The italian people, he said, were
betrayed by their own government
and forced into a war they did not
want. :
Praises Italian Patriots.
To-day" his proclamation con-
tinued, italian Patriots are fighting
against the enemy, and the wide
spread hatred of Germany on the
part of the masses of the people is
the best proof that Italy is with us
in the struggle for freedom and
decency in the world"
His participation in these Pulaski
and Columbus Day celebrations will
probably prove more effective than
If he had been out of New York this
week, making campaign appear
ances.
The Republican nominee is slated
to speak in st. Louis next Monday
night, but will return to New York
Immediately to take part on October
18 in the New York Herald Tribunes
annual forum on current problems.
The following week he will return
to the Midwest for speeches in
Minneapolis, Chicago and possibly
other strategic points.
Final Week in East.
This will enable him to spend the
final week before the election, from
October 80 to November 4, along
the Eastern Seaboard, where the
race is likely to be decided. One
date for that week has been set for
Boston, but Gov. Dewey's whole
schedule for the final month re-
mains so flexible that he could move
promptly to the points party leaders
deem most desirable.
In this Eastern region there are
four States alone that have an ag-
gregate of lis electoral votes-Mas-
sachusetts and New Jersey, with 16
each: New York. At, and Pennsyl-
vania, SO. 1t is a safe assumption
that Gov. Dewey will concentrate
on those populous regions in the
closing days of the campaign.
Much of the optimism that exists
among Gov. Dewey's advisers is
based on belief that he has good
chance to carry New York. They
also are understood to feel that if
he wins his own State many of the
same factors operating to bring that
about would be likely to exist in adj
joining large States, like Pennsyl-
vania and New Jersey.
Campaign Follows Careful Plan.
But, regardless of their optimistic
outlook, one fact stands out, namely,
that the Dewey campaign is being
conducted according to carefully
laid plans, designed to reach a eli
max just before the voters 60 to the
polls, instead of moving to it's peak
in early october, with the attendant
danger of slipping back on the home
stretch. Spacing out the major
speeches is an essential part of this
strategy.
After attending the funeral serv-
Ices for Mr.. Willkie in New York
City this afternoon, Gov. Dewey
will return Immediately to Albany,
until Thursday. when he again will
be in New York City for the Column