Evening star., 1944-11-08
Star Keeps D. c. Area
Informed on Returns
By Phone and Radio

BY radio and telephone, The
Star kept a vast audience in the
Metropolitan Area informed o1
the election returns as quickly
as they were flashed by wire and
over the air from every section
of the country.
In cooperation with Radio Sta
ton WMAL, the Blue Network and
the Associated Press, this newspaper
carried out a carefully planned elec-
ton service which kept countless
thousands abreast of each develop
ment.
Returns hot from the Associated
Press wires were relayed instantly
over WMAL at a broadcasting studio
set up in The Stars city room.
Analysts Give Resumes.
Resumes of the election news were
given from time to time by Gould
Lincoln, chief political writer of The
Star, aided by j. A.. OLeary, who
covered the Dewey campaign; j. A..
Fox, who travelled with President
Roosevelt, and viii P. Kennedy, vet
eran reporter and analyst.
Meanwhile, 16 special telephones
we're manned by reporters, each han
ding returns from group OF States.
Those who inquired for returns from
New York, Florida or New Mexico
were switched to the appropriate
phone and given the latest results.
The semicircle of telephones was
arranged around huge blackboard
where q tabulation of returns from
every State was kept up as addi-
tional figures came from the Asso-
ciated Press. The men and women
at the phones had only to glance at
the States they were assigned to
keep track of the latest results.
This service was started at pm.
and kept up until past midnight. 1t
was resumed again this NOR 1ing,
when, with most of the presidential
returns in, more information from
congressional and gubernatorial
races trickled in.
Nearby Voting Results.
Other reporters covered nearby
precincts of particular interest to
residents of the District and Metro
politan Area. Results of the voting
in Montgomery and Prince Georges
Counties, Md, and in Arlington.
Fairfax and Alexandria City Coun-
ties in Virginia were flashed in as
soon as they were counted and sent
out by radio and telephone.
Thus, within a few minutes sitter
the voting in Montgomery County
disclosed the defeat of the proposed
new charter. the news was made |
public 1t was revealed. as quickly, |
that Gov. Dewey had carried Mont
gomery.
There was keen interest in the
contest between Representative |
Smith, Democrat, of Virginia. a res
ident of Alexandria, and Mrs. Eliza
beth Chiffon Murray, running as an
independent Democrat. Mr.. Smiths
overwhelming victory was made
known early in the evening.
Soon after nearby results were
broadcast and phoned to the wait
ing public, Russell Belderson, chair
man of the District Democratic Gen.
trail Committee, and James c. |
Wilkes, chairman of the Republican
State Committee for the District,
broadcast from the radio studio at
The Star. They predicted eventual
suffrage for the voteless District.
Party Headquarters Heard.
Listeners over WMAL were
switched at intervals during the
evening to Republican and Demo-
cratic headquarters in New York, to
Hyde Park, where President Roose-
welt spent election day; to Gov
Dewey's headquarters in New York
and to the headquarters of Gov !
Bricker and Senator Truman for
interesting descriptions of the scenes
there. Nationally known commenta-
tors discussed trends in the returns |
and the significance of voting in
various localities.
High points Of the WMAL elec-
ton program were broadcast to the
ater audiences at the Earle, Palace,
Capitol, Keith's Columbia, Metro
DOlitan and TranS-Lux. |