Evening star., 1948-05-20
Oregon Race Nears
Acrimonious Close
With Bitter Retorts
BY the Associated Press

PORTLAND, Oreg., May 26.-
Oregon's bitterly fought Republican
primary campaign drew to an
acrimonious close today-last Of the
presidential primary trials before
next months nominating conven-
ton.
Gov. Thomas E. Dewey of New
York and Harold E. Stassen Of
Minnesota, who for three weeks
have made Oregon the Nations
foremost presidential battle-ground,
brought their campaigns home at .
gallop. ~.
Mr.. Stassen publicly charged an
Eastern combination of Taft-Dewey
forces" was spending $250,000 In
Oregon to stem the Stassen election
tide which started In Nebraska and
Wisconsin.
The New York Governor retorted
that this represented reckless and
lagrantly untruthful statements"
and desperate, irresponsible, elev-
enth-hour tactics.
Sum Called Ridiculous"
His campaign expenses. Gov.
Dewey said, ARE not tiny fraction
Of the ridiculous sum he mentions,
and he knows it."
The Minnesotan's reference to a
supposed join-up Of Gov. Dewey and
Senator Taft of Ohio was labeled
"unfounded and false"
Stassen forces replied late last
night through Stassen headquarters
here with the statement:
I'VE are willing to rely upon the
good common sense of the people
of Oregon to decide whether or not
the amount of Eastern money and
the number Of New York State en-
ployes, from the superintendent OF
banking on down, which are being
poured into Oregon in this stop
Stassen' campaign, are out of pro-
portion to an honest appeal for
their votes"
Mr.. Stassens original charge,
made at Astoria, stated:
obviously, the IL Oregon votes
to the national convention are not
the cause Of this huge expenditure.
This Eastern combination OF
Taft-Dewey forces has been making
desperate attempt through this
Oregon primary to stop our Nation
wide public support"
100000 Republicans Registered.
Gov. Dewey's answer said, 1T is
saddening that Mr.. Stassen in the
final days should degrade the cam
paign by such reckless and fiagrant-
ly untruthful statements. - I
have come to know the people of
Oregon and I know they will resent
and repudiate these desperate. ir-
responsible eleventh-hour tactics. "
Oregonians had firsthand evi-
dence on billboards, in newspapers
and over the radio that both sides
were running up campaign bills.
But heretofore the highest CAM
paign expenditure in Oregon has
been the $64 1000 reported in the 1874
| senatorial race.
More than 100000 Republicans are
registered to vote In tomorrow's
polls-and the total registration Of
around $4,000 is the highest In
Oregon's history.
| A heavy turnout was foregone
conclusion, with predictions for IS
o.D per cent among the Republic
cans ' az - ''4,s -
Other Contests Overshadowed.
Completely overshadowed by the
neck -and-neck presidential scrap
primary contests for Governor and
q full slate of lesser State offices.
Senator Gordon was unopposed in
the Republican primary.
Today-the last day of the cam
paign-found Mr.. Stassen in a driv-
ing finish around Portland to be
capped by an old-fashioned torch
light parade through the streets of
Portland tonight.
Gov. Dewey was taking it little
easier. He scheduled a visit to the
Shrine Hospital this morning and
conferences the rest Of the day
here.
Both candidates were to make
final pleas over Statewide radio
networks today and tonight.
Polls open tomorrow at 8 am. and
close at 8 pm. Pacific Standard
Time).