Evening star., 1946-10-19
Men Outnumbered In
Boston's S Registration
COP Heartened by Turnout of
Prospective Voters
By Doris Hees0n

Prospective NOtSIS
By Doris Fleeson
BOSTON, Oct. Coincidental with
the preaching of the price-control dam,
Boston has completed the largest off,
year registration in its history. The total
is 385 1888 of whom the majority-199,641
are women.
The Republicans look at that majority
of women and preen themselves on how
smart they were. Because the unusual
turnout has another unique feature:
For once the PACS and Democrats aren't
responsible; the Republicans did it.
Defying the hallowed credo that large
vote is Democratic vote, they gambled
that people were mad and would stay
mad Until after election.
Most people think 1t was a good
gamble.
Due to Protest Vote.
Even the Democrats concede 1t rep
resents protest vote. They argue they
will pull through for special reasons but
they are unabashedly glad that Presi-
dent Truman is not on the ticket.
In this connection on-the-scene OBJ
servers were agreed that New York
city's unusually heavy registration also
was protest vote. That came before
the President acted on decontrol, how
ever. Nor did the New York Republicans,
who have poor city organization, con-
sciously gamble on it. Not having worked
for it, they are not quite so certain it is
all theirs.
In both cities it will smash legend
and be wholly ominous for the Demo-
Gratis in 1948 if the great registration
tlrnouts materialize on November and
yield Republican victories.
There is already 1949 favor in the
elections here because ex-senator Henry
Cabot Lodge, jr., now a war veteran and
| heavy with presidential potentialities, is
| trying to get back into the Senate After
long heart-searching and considerable
| prodding he has entered the lists against
| the veteran David I. Walsh.
1t ought to be dramatic contest Of
| youth VS.. age; the man who voted for
| lease-lend (and all its amendments) and
| then went to war versus the isolationist
solon who is tied with Senator Capper of
| Kansas for second in Senate service with
| 26 years to the credit of each.
| So far Massachusetts, senatorial con-
! test has almost escaped attention. The
condidates go through the motions; they
| do not mention each other and they
are hardly discussing, much less de-
batting, the great issues that confront
the country Mr.. Lodge assails the idiot
buresucrats and Senator Walsh pro-
tects labor's gains.
Allied with Stassen.
Last winter Mr.. Lodge aligned him.
self with the StasSen forces in the
party when, in speech at Minneapolis,
he said-and he is quick to recall the
exact phrase-that IAN efficient work
ing arrangement" with Russia was pos
sible and essential. He now has no
plans to make foreign policy speech.
Senator Walsh hasn't made one,
either In fact, it is hard to find out
what the senatorial contestants do pro-
pose to talk about. Apparently they are
mutually content to let events speak
while trusting their own will come to
! tllGt1l dIlU tIldL Ii Will DC Su4I4S1CLIl.
The Republicans declare the Boston
Irish have always loved men named
Henry Cabot Lodge. The Democrats re-
tort that Senator Walsh is invincible
among his fellow Catholics.
The Democrats are somewhat uneasy
over the fact that the heaviest percent
age increase in registration came in
the ward with large Jewish popula-
ton. They realize that the Jews re-
sent President Truman's failure to move
the British on Palestine and that it
might hurt Senator Walsh especially.
But they are confident they will hold
their four House seats and elect Gov.
Tobin over Lieut.. Gov. Bradford. How
ever, Mayor Curley, whose appeal from
his conviction in Washington is about
to be decided, has complained publicly
that Gov. Tobin was unkind to him.
Mayor Curley is said, therefore, not to
be eXerting himself.