Evening star., 1948-10-02
The Political Mil
Mountain Stotes Seen
Swinging Toward Dewey
COP Making Inroads in Area Due
to Detection of Many Democrats
By Gould Lincoln


By Gould Lincoln
HELENA, Mont, Oct. 2-Of the six noun
tain States, Montana, wyoming Nevada, Idaho,
Utah and Colorado Franklin D. Roosevelt car
ried four and Thomas E. Dewey carried two
in the 1914 presidential election. The signs
are for better showing by Gov. Dewey in
the coming bout with President Truman.
Montana, for example, is regarded as a fair
bet to turn up in the Republican column on
November 2.
Indeed, according to some of the political
Uiseacres, not all of them Republican, 1t is
better than a fair bet and even a good ene
In several Of the States, the Republicans made
congressional gains in the 1946 elections. Gov.
Dewey carried wyoming and Colorado In that
election
There seems no good reason to believe that
Mr.. Truman is a stronger candidate against
Gov. Dewey in these mountain States than was
Mr.. Roosevelt. Indeed, quite the reverse. Partic-
ularly is this true whenit is remembered that
Henry A. Wallace Is running in some Of them
as a presidential candidate on the new Pro-
gressive Party ticket and his running mate is
Senator Glen Taylor Of Idaho.
Big Left-Wing Vote Seen.
In Montana, where there is plenty Of left
wing radical labor and where the radical farm
ers' union is in operation, Mr.. Wallace will get
an appreciable vote and 1t will be taken from
MI. Truman, rather than from Gov. Dewey.
What following Glen Taylor, who was elected
as Democrat, has in Idaho will certainly not
benefit Mr. Truman when it comes to that
State.
OF the four States which Mr.. Roosevelt CAR
ried in 1914, his greatest margin Of victory
was in Utah, where he was $4,000 votes ahead
in total vote of 248,00O. Mr.. Truman's visit
to Salt Lake City yielded him no such en-
thusiastic greeting as F. D. r. used to get.
Idaho went for Mr.. Roosevelt with q scant
1000 votes in a total vote Of 207 900; Nevada
by 5000 in total vote Of $4,000; Montana by
$4,000 in total vote of 900.
Utah in 1916 elected a Republican Senator
and split its House delegation between the two
parties Montana did the same. Idaho elected
a Republican Senator and Republicans to its
two House seats Nevada elected Republican
as its sole member OF the House, and Re-
publican Senator. These were gains for the
COP.
The Democrats argue that these Republican
victories were two years ago and aye outmoded.
They figure that the Taft-Hartley Labor Act
will turn the tables in the coming election, for
getting that the law is popular with many Of
the voters in these States, even if it doesn't
please the leaders of organized labor.
Struggle In Montana.
In Montana the most desperate struggle In
the general election is for United States Sem
ator Murray's seat Senator Murray, a DEM
ocrat, has to fear defections because Of the
hatred the old Wheeler Democrats have for
him. Tom j. Davis, the Republican Senatorial
candidate, Is a newcomer to politics but has
proved himself strong campaigner since the
electioneering got under way. ZOO,
Mr. Truman, for his part, faces the probable
detection of many left wing Roosevelt sup
porters who will 60 to Mr.. Wallace. The Dem
Gratis, best chance for victory is in the guber-
material race where Gov. Ford Republican. is
seeking third term. He has to fear some
Republican opposition for he has been in Office
eight years and made some enemies. Gov.
Ford, according to reports here wanted to
take crack at the Senate but other Repub-
lican leaders warned him off, fearing that the
primary, with Gov Ford in it, would cause
bitterness.
What's hurting President Truman in Mon
tana and other mountain States Is the under
lying desire Of many of the voters for a change
of administration in Washington. This is the
attitude of many Of the independent voters,
so-called, who wear any party collar lightly.