Evening star., 1948-09-11
The rol1.eol Mi 11i
Republicans Warned
To Push Election Efforts
Public. Opinion Polls May Cause Over
Confidence, Leaders Say
BIZ Gould LincoIn

Al the very opening Of the presidential cam.
paign, three public -opinion polls-Gallup.
Crossley and Roper-give Gov Dewey Of New
York . better chance to win than President
Truman. One of them, indeed, Elmo Roper.
goes SO far as to say Gov. Dewey has the
election In the bag-unless political miracle
or some violent change in conditions arises.
He adds he does not expect either.
AL of this gives the Republican leaders great
confidence, The danger Is that 1t may make
them overconfdent and also lessen the inter-
est of the rank-and-file voters who oppose
President Truman and support Gov. Dewey
an interest which is vital on election day.
Republican National Chairman Hugh Scott
was quick to speak out after Mr.: Roper de-
clared Gov. Dewey so far ahead that no pur-
pose was to be served by reporting the trend
of public opinion during the rest of the CAM
paign.
II wish," he said. ito call upon all Republic
cans to increase their efforts to elect Republic
cans to every office at stake this year. This is
no time to relax our efforts to build up the
biggest majority in history for the Dewey
Warren ticket, and for the many senatorial,
gubernator1a@ and House candidates who are
running this year"
Must Get Out Vote.
II too many potential voters who are op-
posed to Mr.. Truman fail to 60 to the polls
on November and instead 90 fishing or to
play golf or what have you the expected Dewey
Warren victory might well turn out flop Il
up to the Republican State, county, city and Il
precinct leaders to get the vote out-and this
looks 10 pe one year no matter what Mr.. Tru-
man may say when a big vote will be of =
RI
nominee
The publication of these gloomy reports for
Mr. Iruman-encouraging for Gov. Dewey,
may have one of two effects on the Demo.
cratic national ticket. They may greatly stim. 9
ulate the Democratic workers to get out the
vote, or they may put such a damper on the
Democratic campaign that the Truman vots
may fall of still further. 1t Is anybody's
guess about that. The Democrats, for number
OF years have had all the better of public -opin.
ION polls In the presidential campaigns. They
OLD not appear to lessen the vote in any way
which was cast for Franklin D. Roosevelt-by
making the Democratic campaign managers and
the rank and file overconfdent Probably they
won't do Gov Dewey any harm either
Need House Majority. 90
Ihere Is one very good reason why the Re-
publlcans should endeavor to get out all the
vote possible in support of the Dewey Warren
ticket. big vote for the national Republican
ticket can very well assure big majority for
the Republicans in the new House OF Repre-
sentatives, and dash the present Democratic
hopes that the Democrats will win control of
the Senate.
Gov Dewey and the Republicans today an
pear to have Mr.. Truman and the Democrats
on the run. Certainly, 1t Is no time for the
Republicans to ease up. Up to the present, the
Democratic campaign has been mostly name
calling-a cheap way Of campaigning which
usually does not pay of.
Gov. Dewey and President Truman are about
to start on campaign trips across the country.
There are vital issues-vital to the interests
OF the whole country. not just to special
groups-which the speakers should discuss, not
only In critical way but in a constructive
way. 1t may be they will do So Certainly the
people themselves should give every attention
to these discussions
The Democratic criticism to date of Gov
Dewey is that he has delegated to others-as
In the case of Harold E. Stassen's reply to Mr..
Truman In Detroit-the job of speaking out.
That kind of criticism will diminish and fade
when Gov Dewey takes to the hustings. But
whether MIR. Dewey will deal with Mr.. Truman
and his candidacy, or Just ignore the Demo-
cratic candidate and let other Republicans
answer him, remains to be seen. 1t Is one OF
the things that Is irritating the Democratic
high command today.