Evening star., 1948-10-12
The Political Mill ~
Illinois Polls Indicute
Big Republican Sweep
Dewey Lead Over Truman of at Least
100000 Votes Is Forecast

S NSf0DssS0ss SWSSP
Dewey Lead Over Truman of at Least
100000 Votes Is Forecast
By Gould Lincoln
CHICAGO, Oct. IA Republican sweep Of
huge proportions In Illinois Is indicated by all
the usual tests. Republican leaders say fatty
that their own private polls, In Chicago and
downstate forecast a Dewey lead over Presi-
dent Truman Of at least 100000, and that II
the present trend continues, 1t may reach half
a million. Polls taken by both the Chicago
Tribune, strongly Republican and by the Sun
Times, just as strongly Democratic in its edi.
torial policy, give almost identical results.
-Four years ago, Illinois was in the Roosevelt
column with a lead Of 100000 votes. Two years
ago, there was . great reversal, with the Re.
publicans smashing into Cook County, which
includes the Democratic stronghold and giving
the machine terrible licking in the matter
of votes. The COP elected that year 20 out
Of the rs members of the House Of Represen.
tatives. The Democrats were left with only
five members Of the House from the Chicago
area and one downstate.
Here the atmosphere is filled with Repub-
lican confidence and Democratic dependency,
despite the fact that Chicago elected Demo-
CIdtAC NQdyOI ny DlE FOCe III 1S4t-MhTCln
Kennedy. Mr.. Kennedy ran against Re-
publican candidate admittedly weak. Further.
the Mayor is successful businessman, highly
regarded by Republicans as well as Democrats
He had never been connected with the Kelly.
Nash machine. Mayor Kennedy Is today doing
his best for the Democratic ticket, national,
State and county, but the tide is seemingly
against him.
Wallace Not on Ballot.
The Republican national ticket does not have
the benefit in Illinois Of big Wallace vote in
the coming election, because Henry Wallace
and his Progressive Party were unable to get
on the Statewide ballot. At best Mr.. Wallace
can get only write-in votes. Nevertheless Gov
ernors Dewey and Warren are running far
ahead of President Truman and Senator Bark
ley in the polls. The State election board and
the State courts turned down the Wallaceites in
a plea for q place on the ballot, because the
evidence indicated that the Wallace petitions
did not have the requisite number Of genuine
signatures
However, the Progressives are on the ballot
IN Cook County, and have put candidates
for the House and for county Offices in the
field and their votes may materially affect
results in those elections. It Is within the
realm of probability that many Of the Wallace
supporters will simply not vote in the presi-
dental election, though it is reported that some
of them are now dropping back to Truman
support.
Jacob M. Arvey, Democratic boss in place Of
former Mayor Ed Kelley and chairman of the
Democratic Cook County Committee, has a
tough job on his hands. Mr.. Arvey was one
Of those pre-convention opponents Of the nomi-
nation Of President Truman to succeed himself.
Indeed, he took a lead in the revolt, in which
other city bosses joined him. Mr.. Arvey was
emphatic in his declaration at that time that
The Democrats did not have the slightest chance
Of victory with Mr.. Truman as head Of the
ticket He insisted that if the President were
and for State and county Office. also would be
sunk.
Complete Flip Flop.
Boss Arvey, like so many other Democrats,
has had to do complete Zip hop, since the
nomination Of MIR. Truman. Having told his
people what poor thing Mr.. Truman was-in
a political way-and convinced many Of them.
he is now asserting that Mr.. Truman is q
great President and should be elected.
The only thing that could upset the APPLE
cart for the Republicans In Illinois would be
q great upsurge for Mr.. Truman in the final
weeks Of the campaign, and despite the fact
that labor leaders Of the CIO and AFL are
working hard for the Democratic ticket, no
such upsurge is in sight It is possible, too.
that overconidence of the Republicans with
consequent let down, might materially af-
feet the result. The Republicans, however, are
going to town in their efforts to make certain
victory for the many other party candidates
on the ballot, State and county.
Gov Dewey is slated to come into Chicago
October 26 for a great political rally. Gov.
Warren has already been here. There has
been no indication OF any letdown in the Re-
publican campaigning. Since Illinois has %
votes in the electoral college, the State is .
major prize in the presidential contest. If Gov.
Dewey can add Illinois to New York and Penn
sylvania, with their ~ and IS electoral votes,
respectively, he will be well on his way to the
necessary 266 electoral votes to win the presi-
dency.