The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1946-02-10
Also Look Upon Democrat
ic Party AS Organization
OF The People
One of a series of trticIes ana
zing political sentiment today
on parties, candidates and is
sues.
BY GEORGE GALLUP
Director, American Institute 81
Public Oninion

Public Opinion
PRINCETON, N. j., Feb. 9.-As
Republicans prepare for their an
nual Lincoln Day dinner meetings
on Tuesday, one underlying prob
lem confronts the party's strate-
gists.
That problem is how to convince
the country that the Republican
party is as much interested in the
welfare of Americans of average
and below average income as it
is in the welfare of the more money
ed classes. In the minds OF mil
lions of voters the G. o. P. is still
tagged as the party OF privilege
and wealth.
After establishing itself as
major party nearly century ago,
the G. o. P. drew its support from
virtually all segments Of the pop
ulation outside the South. 1t en-
joyed a reputation as the party
of prosperity, Of good times and
the full dinner pail"
Today, however, the majority
Of voters consider it the party In
terested largely in men and women
Of above average income. Only a
few-about oae-fifth-believe the
G. o. P. is vitality concerned with
the welfare Of the men and women
Of average income who make up
the middle economic class.
AS for citizens Of the below aver
age income group, practically no
one in the country-only one person
in ten-thinks they are the main in
terest of the Republican Party.
Which party is actually best for
any particulars group is, Of course,
a matter of opinion. Experts in
the G.. O. P. could undoubtedly
put up a case to prove that large
segmeots Of the public have form
ed the wrong impression Of the
Republican party. Today's poll
simply reports the impressions and
opinions found Throughout the coun-
try, irrespective of whether they
are justified or unjustified. @
The problem for tae G. o. P.
is clearly outlined in the result Of
an Institute survey in which field
reporters gathered the views Of
men and women in all walks of
life.
The vote:
(Which political party-the
Democratic or the Republican-do
you think is most interested in per-
sons of above average income?'
Democratic .14%
Republican ................57
No difference ..............17
No opinion IL
(Which political party is most
interested in persons Of average in
come?''
Democratic ....e.........46 1875
Republican ................21
No difference .......o....2l
NO opinion ................1Z
(Which political party is most
interested in persons of below aver
age income?"
Democratic ...............61%
Republican ........oo....10
No difference ............18
No opinion ................11
Clearly the Democrats have sold
the country the idea that they are
the party of the common man and
the underprivileged. Until some
thing is done to reverse that i'm
preston, the G. o. P. will find
difficulty in becoming the majority
party again.
The poll shows interesting con-
trasts between the attitudes OF
! Democrats and Republicans them
! selves.
The Republican party is the one
most interested in above average
income voters, say the Democrats.
Republican voters put the Demo.
Gratis ahead of themselves as the
party most interested in below
average income voters.
AS for the fellow in between
the voters Of average income