Evening star., 1948-09-16
Trend in Borderline Stutesi
Favorable to Republicunsi,
Comparison of Roosevelt's Margin
in 1910 and 1914 Gives Glue II
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

having Clipped Gue OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
and as usual-in the Maine elections. the Re-
publicans are giving particular attention to
winning in the so-called border States. which
are found in the Republican column only when
there Is a sweeping COP national victory.
These are Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky,
Missouri and Oklahoma. s~sst )
In the old days the saying went, "As goesf
Maine, so goes the Nation Since 1882 Maine
has been no political barometer, however. It.
has stuck In. the Republican column. while the
country voted for Franklin D. Roosevelt. This
year the Republicans are hopeful that the huge
majorities rolled up in the Pine Tree State
really mean something. Margaret Chase
Smiths election to the Senate was overwhelm-s 5
ing, with u per cent Of the total vote cast for
her. The voters in Maine turned out in larger I
numbers than ever before-but 1t did not do
the Democrats any particular good. notwith. ,
standing the claim that big vote means !.
Democratic victory. Certainly the Republicans
got out the vote in Maine-as well as the
Democrats. N
Results Are Compared. .e7 J
Wendell Willkie lost West Virginia to Mr..
Roosevelt in 1910 by $4,000 votes, and Gov.
Dewey lost to him in 1914 by 10000 votes Tho i.
late President carried Maryland In 1910 by,
ll5,000 votes, and by $4,000 in 1914; Mr.. Roose-
welt had Kentucky by l47000 In 1910, and by4
$4,000 In 1914; in 1910 Mr. Roosevelt carried
Missouri by 147,000. and In 1914 by 460o0.t
Oklahoma went for Roosevelt by 10000 I'M
1910, and by $4,000 In 1914. Due to war con. .
ditions the vote cast in these States In 1914 !;
was less than In 1910 by substantial figures.
Even so the trend was toward the Republican,.
Certainly this was true in Maryland. :
West Virginia Democrats are setting store,
by the fact that Democratic registration ~
about 100000 In excess Of the Republican. : !
That, however, does not mean too much, and
1t is being hacked into by the application
OF the 1947 State law amending the permanent
registration act so that all those who failed
to vote in 1916 must reregister to vote this year.
Thousands Of faulty registrations are being,
removed from the books through this process,
Former Senator NJ M. Neely, Democrat. s
running against Senator Revercomb Repub-7
lican, seeking to recapture his old seat
Mr.. Nicely In the past has had bitter factionai
rows In the State and has suffered thereby.
This, however, is one Of the Senate seats the
Democrats count upon wrestling from the Re-
publcans.
Public opinion polls give the President the
better Of the race in his home State. Missouri
Missouri voters, however, are an independent,
lUt. kIC tIS1u ulcEe uhS pCSu ulOT0 FtGpuO-@
licsn than Democratic. and tho sywpattiest
of many Of the Southern" Democrats In the
State are not with Mr.. Truman. :
Truman Has Edge In Kentucky. ]
With Senator Barkley as his running mate,
Mr.. Truman is given the better Of the argyll
ment in Kentucky by political observers there.
but by not more than 10000. That Is so mar
row a margin in State with nearly q million
votes that anything may happen, particularly
as the State Rights ticket-Thurmond and
Wright-and the Wallace Taylor ticket are
both on the ballot and viii take votes away
from tho regular Democratic ticket Here.
too, is another State where the Democrats
talk Of winning . Senate seat now held by
the Republicans. Senator Cooper. Republican.
elected two years ago, 10 opposed by Repre-
sentative Virgil Chapman. not . strong candi-
date. Mr.. Chapman barely defeated John
Young Brown for the Democratic senatorial
nomination in the primary. Mr.. Cooper 10
given the edge.
Oklahoma is battle-ground. Senator Moore,
Republican, declined to run, and Representa-
tive Ross Ridley has taken on the Job of de-
feating former Gov. Kerr for this Senate seat.
Mr. Kerr Is not as strong as he used to be,
according to reports
If Gov. Dewey takes two Of these border
States, he Is virtually sure of election.