The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1944-11-02
News Behind
The News
Ry Paul MallOn
Voters Increase
In Many Centers
By Paul MallOn

MIR. Roosevelt'S voice vibrated
with what sounded like patriotic
fervor when he urged his party
workers to get the vote registered
and recorded this year as never
before.
He made it seem almost non
partisan patriotism the way he put
Il, reminding all citizens of their
duty. Most observers wrote it
down as the same old political line
most candidates use on election
eve, this time delivered earlier.
But he must have spoken from
inner knowledge of a condition
which may decide the election
and more.
This campaign so far has been
almost entirely conferred upon
undercover organization by both
sides to get out their vote. Un-
fortunately. no political authori-
ties here. Republican or Demo-
cratic. keep close tab on ma
tional results of this dominating
phase of the campaign. Yet
here and there facts are coming
to the surface. as. for instance.
in Baltimore.
There registration has increased
10 percent over 1912. Of the
$4,000 additional voters in that
steel, aircraft, war-worker port.
$4,000 were Democratic, only 5000
Republican Todd figures and indie
pendent voters apparently ac-
counting for the missing 10000.
Nearly one-sixth of the whole city
registration was Negro C335, $50
white and 81, 1865 Negro.
The greatest rush of regiStrants
was in a Today period before
the time limit, indicating clearly
someone was doing an extraordin-
airy job along Mr.. RS line, in fact,
enough to swing the entire state of
Maryland in a close election.
From Ohio and Indiana, how
ever, congressman have brought
reports that the local Democratic
organizations in some counties
are not functioning at all.
Whether they are silently re-
sentful or just hopeless the report
ing congressman do not now. They
are, however, convinced Demo-
cratic organizing is not up to
standard.
Not in Party Offices
Up to now no labor organization
has taken over the local machin-
cry of either major political party.
In many cases labor votes have
dominated districts and controlled
the party politicians, but union
men were not in party offices.
I believe Go tried to &c.
its men into the Democratic or
san;zation in Michigan a year
or so back. but failed.
The most authentic national
reports available-as a whole
thus indicate CLOS efforts have
been spottY so far.
In war working centers they
failed in their campaign to bring
the voting booths into the fac.
tories, thus to provide greater vot-
ing facilities for their people thar
citizens generally enjoy, but they
have been able to edge themselves
toward positions usually handled
by Democratic leaders many of
whom are away to war this year,.
In most midwest counties there
apparently is no CLIO activity, or
signs of success.
COP Has Edge
The Republicans, of course, have
their 26 governors and Dewey has
worked out with them, and with
the Republican congressman, an
extraordinarily close cooperative
system which he expects to pro-
duce the registering and voting
results for his party.
Mr.. Roosevelt may have spok-
en- therefore. less periodically
than from a troubled heart.
Some of his associates are even
more troubled at the prospect
that Go may move in to take
county chairmanships after this
campaign.
It may not be enough then that
he repudiate the Communists on
his coat tails. They are digging
into the lining and the seams.
There is a commonly prevailing
nation the Republicans will win
congress even if Governor Dewey
loses.
i This is an easy assumption
which takes the fullest possible
liberties with the inner facts OF
the situation.
| A careful check suggests rather
that the election of Dewey is es-
sention to bring both houses OF
congress into the Republican col
umn, or rather it is, unless the
voters 60 in for an unprecedented
amount of fickef-Sp1itting and turn