Evening star., 1948-09-26
Minnesota backers
Cautious but Expect
Dewey 10 Win State
By Gould Lincoln
Stor stoff Correspondent

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In Minnesota wear long face.
when they talk about the presi-
Dental and senatorial races
overconfidence is not their be-
setting sin. Privately and wher
pressed, they admit they believe
that both DeWey-Warren ticket
and Senator Joe" Ball will carry
the state.
As for the Republican State ticket
headed by popular Gov. Luther M
Youngdahl, they feel certain it will
go across by big margin over the
Democratic Farmer Labor ticket.
Democratic-Farmer Labor Party
leaders, for their part, insist they
have a winner in their Senatorial
candidate. the dynamic young
Mayor of Minneapolis, Hubert Hum
phrey-and they hope to win the
States electoral votes for President
Truman. This Is, however, just a
hope.
Once Strong for Wallace.
A few months ago Minnesota
looked like happy hunting ground
for Henry A. Wallace and his new
Progressive Party. Mr.. Wallace had
the support of the Benson left wing
of the old Farmer-Labor Party.
The former Senator and Governor,
Elmer Benson, was promising to
take control of the Democratic
Farmer Labor Party away from the
TrumaniteS and place it in the
hands of Mr. Wallace. He failed
miserably. Mr.. Wallace has been
going down hill here ever since,
until now the political wiseacres are
giving him no more than $4,000 votes
in the presidential race. Whatever
he gets, whether it be the $4,000
or the 100000 his more optimistic
supporters suggest, will be taken
away from Mr.. Truman.
The probabilities are that Gov.
Dewey will carry the State. There
remains, however, a lot of hard
work to be done. The farmers, who
usually vote Republican, must be
prevailed upon to turn out in large
numbers. They must be convinced
that Gov. Dewey and Republican
administration will be friendly to
agriculture. A good deal Of propa-
ganda to the effect that Gov. Dewey
was unfriendly to the rural elec-
trification administration and to
governmental price supports for
farm products was spread in 1914
and its effects have not entirely
worn off. Further, just as in 1914
when the voters were urged not to
change horses in the midst of a
war. the Democrats and Farmer
Laborites (united in one party) are
saying it's no time to change horses
when the farmers are getting the
highest prices on record for their
products. 1t may be an effective
argument. It's also an argument
the Republicans must combat
throughout this western territory.
Lost to Roosevelt by $1,000.
Four years ago, Gov. Dewey lost
to the late President Roosevelt by
$4,000 votes. This was not large
margin in total vote of more than
a million. 1t looks like a margin
that could easily be overcome
against Mr.. Truman. particularly
with a third candidate in the race
who will cut into the Truman vote
The Wallace Progressives have
still to get their presidential elec-
tors on the ballot. They are cir
culating the necessary petitions, and
since they require only 1000 sig
natures, there seems no reason to
believe that Mr.. Wallace's name
will be left off.
The Republican organization Is
strongly united back of Gov. Dewey
and Senator Ball while the Demo-
Gratis and Farmer Laborites are
divided, with minority favoring
MIR. Wallace. -Four years ago. Sena-
tor Ball opposed the election of
Gov. Dewey and supported Mr.
Roosevelt. This both enraged the
leaders of the Republican organiza-
tion and cut into Republican and
Independent vote support of Gov.
Dewey Today, however, this is being
forgiven in the interest Of party
unity and the need of holding on
to a Senate seat to maintain a
Republican majority in the upper
house in the next Congress.
Favored Stassen.
Minnesota Republicans were
greatly disappointed when the Re-
publican National Convention turned
its back on former Gov. Harold E.
Stassen and nominated Gov. Dewey.
Some of them are still inclined to
belittle Gov Dewey's strength in
this great farm area. But the man
ner in which Mr. StaSsen himself
has leaped into the campaign in
support of the Dewey Warren ticket
has helped to allay the very definite
feeling that the StaSsen enthusiasts
had against the New York Governor
The recent primary vote in the
State gave the Republicans lift
in spirit. Before the primary, polls
taken by the Minneapolis Tribune
and by others indicated the Repub-
lican National ticket and Senator
Ball might not fare we'll. In the
primary however, the Republicans
did so well-as compared to the
number of votes cast for the Demo-
crat Farmer Labor candidates that
q somewhat defeatist attitude on
the part of the Republicans has dis
appeared. For example, the Re-
publicans cast 37l 900 votes in the
Gubernatorial primary and the
Democrat Farmer Labor Party, only
16l ,000-which is a lead for the Re-
publicans of more than 100000.
Primaries Not Certain Barometer
Primary votes, when the percent
age of voters who take the trouble
to go to the polls is approximately
80 per cent of the total vote eX-
pected in the general election, are
by no means conclusive evidence oil
what may be expected in November
Further, Democratic-Farmer Labor
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