Evening star., 1946-10-27

TIL an K haze no contests this year.
Democrats have not made an effective
answer to them. The greatest Demo-
cratic appeal, which has been imple-
mented by the CIO and the National
Citizens PAC, has been to get out the
vote" The theory, proved in past elec-
tions, has been that the heavier the
vote, the better Democratic chances.
Behind this was the fact that the low
income voters, of which there are many
more than voters in the middle and
upper income brackets, were more likely
to vote Democratic than Republican.
Whether this will hold true this year
remains to be seen. The Republicans
argue that the low income voters are
just as resentful against the Wash-
ington administration as the better
heeled citizens
The Democratic prosperity argument
has not worked with the farmers for
several past elections, presidential as
we'll as congressional. They are expected
tration this year, despite their compar-
ative opulence. They apparently think
they would be even better of in the
free market" the Republicans are
promising. The dissatisfaction of the
farmers was responsible for many Demo-
cratic Senators and Representatives vot-
ing against recommendations of Presi-
dents Roosevelt and Truman, thus
breaking up the nominal control the
Democrats have had over both houses.
The prosperous urban voters, especially
the housewives, were becoming so dis
satisfied with the administration over
the meat shortages that President Tru-
man and his advisers thought it polit-
ically wise to decontrol livestock and
meat prices and to promise accelerated
decentrol of other items and wages. The
effect of the meat decontrol order in the
coming election is still an unanswered
questioned. The higher livestock prices
undoubtedly will help such Democratic
candidates as Senator OMahoney in
Wyoming.
Racial BlOcS May Sn1t.
But what effect will it have on the
urban voters? The Republicans are
claiming that they were for decontrol
all the time and that they forced Presi-
dent Truman to surrender. Who will
get the blame if ground round steak,
although in butcher shops, is selling for
dollar a pound on election day and is
beyond the reach of the low income
voter? Will this demonstration of a
high priced free market" help the Re-
publicans or the Democrats? Will the
voter think Of the lower controlled prices
when little meat was available? You
pays your dollar and takes your choice.
In addition to the dissatisfied farmers
and housewives. the Republicans are
counting on major shift of racial bloc
voters, particularly the Negroes, from
the Democratic to the Republican side.
The Negro vote, once generally con-
sidered Republican except in the largest
| cities, went Democratic because of
President Roosevelts social program,
Mrs. Roosevelt's personal activities and
| relief payments. 1t has been drifting
back to the Republicans. The reason for
| this has been the congressional failure,
| under Roosevelt and Truman, to make
| good on presidential recommendations
| for abolition of the poll tax, for enact
| ment of permanent fair employment
practices legislation, for a Federal anti
| lynching law and for higher minimum
wage law. The Negro politicians have a
/ word for it-"Bilboism." The Repub-
licans, unincumbered by a solid South
have made more effective promises on
these legislative items, with the excep-
! ton of higher minimum wage law.
COP Gains in World Problems.
The international situation and the
Wallace Byrnes and Wallace Baruch
| controversies have worked to the ad-
vantage Of the Republicans, especially
with the racial bloc voters, although it
is questionable whether the average
voter sees more than the particular
segment that affects him.
Even Democratic politicians admit
Nldt q 4A6A pCASCAodSC VI tACSC AdSAdl
groups are muttering that they will vote
| Republican. The Jews are said to be
disgruntled over the failure of the ad-
ministration to open British inundated
Palestine to displaced Jews; the Poles are
said to be up In arms over the Russian
| partition of Poland; the Italians with
/ the peace negotiations, and the Irish
| Catholics with Truman's initial tender
handling of Secretary Wallace and his
| "go-easy' policy with Communistic Rus
sia. the country which has aroused the
Vatican for its anticlerical actions in
| Poland, Czechoslavakia and Yugoslavia.
| The Republicans have tried to make
an issue Of the CIO-PAC co-optration
with the Democratic organization in
the urban constituency, calling this an
alliance with the Reds" and. the Com
] munists." There is little evidence that