Evening star., 1948-10-18
Dewey
Continued From First Page

ton whether he intends to 60 to
West Virginia to help Republican
Senator Revercomb in his fight for
reelection.
His own chances of winning were as
bright as ever. But there is no such
feeling of confidence among prac-
tical politicians over who will con-
troll the Senate after the votes have
been counted two weeks hence.
The Democrats could recapture
the Senate by making a net gain
of four seats, and West Virginia is
one Of five States where Republican
lncumbents are hard-pressed to win.
Silence Is Enigma.
This fact makes the silence of the
Dewey forces ON the West Virginia
situation one of the enigmas of a
campaign in which has been built
in every other respect around the
theme of unity and party harmony
Both of Gov. Deweys campaign
trips to the Middl and Far West
were mapped out carefully to give
the maximum degree of help to
Republican candidates for the Sen
ate who are engaged in hard fights.
But this has only served to en-
phasize the fact that, to date, the
Dewey managers have left the West
Virginia race hanging in midatr.
II Gov. Dewey does not go to West
Virginia this week, it is not likely he
will have time to get there at all.
because in the final week, beginning
October "a, he is due to speak in
Cleveland, Chicago and Boston.
Two Possible Explanations.
Should he decide to leave Senator
Revercomb to his own resources.
there will be two possible explana-
tlons: l. A belief that a plea for
Senator Revercomb might do the
Republican ticket more harm else
where than it would do good in West
Virginia, in view of the difference
between the Senator and the New
York Governor over the need for
action before Congress adjourned to
hoeralize the displaced persons law.
z. A belief that Senator Rever-
comb may fare better defending his
own position on the displaced per-
sons issue in West Virginia than if
Gov. Dewey went into the State and
thereby called attention to their
conflict on that question.
In the closing days of Congress.
Gov. Dewey was represented as
wanting the law changed immedi-
ately to liberalize the rules permit
ting the entry of Jewish and Cath
olic refugees into tbs country. Sen
ator Revercomb took the position
that hearings should be held before
any changes were made and there
was no time for hearings.
Five Hard G. O. p. Fishts.
The five places where the Repub-
iicans are facing the hardest fights
this year to hold Senate seats are:
Mlnnesota-where Senator Balls
reelection is endangered BY Mayor
Hubert Humphrey of Minneapolis.
the Democratic nominee.
Kentucky-where Senator Cooper
must overcome the drawing power
OF Senator Barkley's name on the
Democratic ticket as vice presiden-
tlal candidate.
Oklahoma - where former Demo.
cratic Gov. Robert S. Kerr appears
to be leading Representative Rizley,
Republican, for the seat being VOL
UNFAIRLY relinquished by Senator
Moore.
III West Virginia-where Matthew
NJ. Nicely, former Democratic Sena-
tor, Governor and Representative.
is trying comeback to the Senate
against Senator Revercomb.
In Wyoming-where Republican
Senator Robertson finds himself in
a battle against the popular Demo-
cratic Gov. Lester C. Hunt.
Will Need Upset.
If the Democrats come out on ton
in four of these races, the Repub-
1cans will have to stage an upset
against at least one Democrat run
ming for reelection.
The Republicans believe they have
such a chance in Montana, where
the COP candidate, Tom Davis, is
making strong race against SEN
ator Murray. They also have not