Evening star., 1948-10-21
The Political Mil 4~s.''
North CuroIinu Chances
orc. O. P. Seen as Slim
Opposition to Truman Ineffective
Democrats Strong
Rp Gould Lincoln

Opposition to 1ruman IneHect1Ves
Democrats Strong
By Gould Lincoln
RALEIGH N. c., Oct. 21.-North Carolina,
to which President Truman has come with
his plea for support in the solid South" pre-
sents almost the antithesis of the political
picture in its neighbor, South Carolina
Here Gov. Cherry and the Democratic State
organization have embraced Mr.. Truman, swal-
lowed for political purposes his civil rights
program and are making an all-out campaign
for his election. In South Carolina, Gov
Thurmond is the States Rights presidential
candidate against Mr.. Truman, and with him
In his race is practically the entire Democratic
State organization.
Under these conditions it is not too difficult
to figure out what will happen in these States
November 2. North Carolina, too strongly
Democratic basically for the Republicans will
give its electoral votes to Mr. Truman, and
South Carolina looks like pushover for Gov.
Thurmond.
Voted Against AL Smith.
Twenty years ago, Democrats in North Caro-
lima revolted and the State went for Herbert
Hoover against AL Smith. At that time, how
ever, the strongest Democratic leader in the
State, the late Senator Furnifolk Simmons,
Democrats. Today the States Rights Party
splits the opposition to President Truman, in
the first place. and in the second the States
Rights leadership has shown itself especially
inept.
The fanatic opposition of the Democrats in
the Bible Belt of the South in 1928 to Mr..
Smith, Catholic and wet. has its counterpart
today in the opposition of Democrats to Presi-
dent Truman on the racial issue and New
Dealism-but while feelings run deep against
Mr. Truman, the number of opponents is less.
The Republicans have a real foothold in
North Carolina but the State still remains
overwhelmingly Democratic. For example, i'll
1914 President Roosevelt carried it by $4,000
to 263000 votes for Gov. Dewey-a margin
of 264,000 for the Democratic presidential can
didate There has been, more recently, lot
of lip service, even among Democrats to the
proposition that real two-party system would
be advantageous to the South. Many Demo-
Gratis in the State have far more in common
with the Republicans of the North and West
than they have with the Democrats of Brook
lyn and Chicago. But the old aversion to
joining the Republican Party still persists.
Democrats Working Hard.
The Republican Party is nearly a real
second party in North Carolina, however,
and Democratic leaders are taking no chances
notwithstanding high-sounding philosophical
statements in support of two-party system.
They are working their heads of in this
campaign
The Republicans are spending plenty OF
money. They have for the first time estab-
lished an Eastern headquarters in the tallest
building in Raleigh Immediately after the
Democratic National Convention in Philadel.
phia, when feeling was running high against
Mr.. Truman and the Northern Democrats,
chances of carrying North Carolina for Gov.
Dewey appeared bright. The Republicans
themselves have little hope now. They claim
that 80 days ago their prospects for victory
were excellent, but sadly admit there has been
a change in the situation.
Hope for Close Race at Best.
The utmost the Republicans hope for now
is close race, and they talk of the possibility
of picking up House seat or two in the West.
ern part of the State where Republican
strength is concentrated. The district which is
most strongly Republican is, and has for years
been represented by veteran Representative
Doughton. Democrat. Against any other candi-
date the Republicans would probably carry it
this year. Mr.. Doughton's personal popularity
Is expected to put him across handily.
The Republicans have entered full ticket,
both State and national, but their chances OF
electing their candidates are so slim as to
reach almost the vanishing point. Their cam
didate for Senator is John A. Wilkinson, q
young attorney in Washington, N. c., good
speaker and an attractive character. He il
running against former Gov Broughton, and is
campaigning vigorously, with many Statewide
radio talks.
In two congressional districts, the 9th and
the 10th, Republican candidates for the House
have chances of fvictory-particularly If enough
Democrats in those districts just take day
of and do not go to the polls because they do
not wish to vote for President Truman, for
Gov. Thurmond or for Gov. Dewey.
Truman Not Popular.
Mr.. Truman is not personally popular in
North Carolina He received a friendly but
not warm greeting when he spoke here twice
on Thursday. But the Democratic organiza.
ton has put the heat on, and it is now esti-
mated by most observers that the President
will carry North Carolina by from 100000 to
10000 votes. This lead, however, might be
materially lessened if the undercurrent of feel
ing against the President does show up on
election day.
The Wallace Progressves have their slate Of
presidential electors On the ballot and the esti-
mates of the Wallace vote in the State runs all
the way from $1,000 to $4,000, depending upon
who is doing the talking.
The States Fighters may poll from $4,000 to
100000 votes. But even if Mr.. Wallace and
Gov. Thurmond received the maximum vote
accorded them in the estimates, Mr.. Truman
would probably win though with much-re-
duced plurality, over Gov. Dewey.
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