Evening star., 1948-11-05
Election Repercussions

the conventions that President Roosevelt would
defeat Mr.. Willkie. The publication brought
down upon my head the condemnation of
many Republicans, Of which class was one.
But the result is known.
It was in the 1914 campaign that "the pitcher
went to the we'll once too often" When asked
for prediction pinned the crown Of victory
upon the brow Of Gov. Dewey. A press associ-
alton gave wide publicity to my views
The election proved that, like the late John L.
Sullivan, Il went into the ring once too often"
So took my place in the dog house after
asking the Literary Digest to move over.
am trying now to make room for the new
arrivals rejecting upon the fact that the name
jeremiah in the biblical lore is associated with
lamentations along with dubious prophecy.
JERRY A. MATHEWS.
To the Editor Of The Star:
The old adage, Don't count your chickens
before they are hatched,' applies, with q
vengeance. to the Republican Party.
While Truman was touring the country,
tearing into his opponents, with tremendous
vigor, Dewey, for the most part, resorted to
pleasant, picturesque phrases, in which he
dwelt on the beauties of America, the towering
trees, the broad prairies and our glorious herit-
age.
The prospect of an additional four years
of the New Deal, with Harry Truman at the
helm, Is hardly conducive to hilarity. How
ever, the States Rights Party may be ex-
pected to aid the Republicans In maintaining
normal balance. And so, there's a silver lining
to the cloud
EDMUND K GoLDsBoRoUGH.
To the Editor Of The Star:
I presume I represent a rather large block
of voters residing in the environs of WASH
ington who arrived at the polls on election
day and were confronted for the first time
with the names of their State candidates for
Office and what issues were being put up to
the voters. When I came to vote, found
listed two State candidates for Congress and
nine questions concerning State or county
constitutional changes of which was COM
pletely unaware.
The questions were cloaked in such legal
language as to make it impossible to decide
quickly what the issue was and what yes or
no vote meant. Consequently. with the infor-
nation had could simply vote for pres(-
Dental candidate and leave completely blank
my vote on the State candidate or issues
Unfortunately. those of us who work in the
District of Columbia and reside in nearby
Maryland or Virginia do not readily have access
to the media of information existing In other
parts of these States.
Maybe some of your readers would have sug-
gestions as to how the citizenry outside the
range OF newspapers which present State issues
might become better informed about these, or
maybe if ignorance is bliss It's better to remain
that way. LEROY vORIs.
Silver Spring, Md. e.
To the Editor of The Star:
For years have been listening to newspaper
and radio commentators. pollsters and other
political prognosticators and experts thaD.
I've read and listened to them all. and for
the most part believed what they said, for
had foolishly assumed that they knew what
they were talking about.
Because of their education, experience and
training in public affairs, considered their
judgment, predictions and opinions as sound
and reliable I gave them a great deal of
credit and often quoted them in private con-
versations. Very often have defended them
the pollsters and the political commentators
on the grounds have mentioned above had
become so used to them that was passing
on their opinions as my own. knowingly and
unknowingly 1t made me feel smart and
well-informed
But from now on I'm a free agent. I'm 60
ing to do my own thinking, and I'm going to
take the rantings Of the so-called political
experts as so much space filters. 1t turned
out that the only person who knew what he
was talking about in this election was Presi-
dent Truman himself!
On the basis Of what the experts" had pre-
dicted would have bet my last nickel that
Truman would have been a gone goose The
day before the election no one could have
convinced me in a thousand years that Mr..
Dewey would not be cur next President. What
a difference "A hours makes!
I am no longer interested in, nor will
ever again take seriously, the writings of Gould
Lincoln. Doris Fleeson, Lowell Mellett. Dorothy
Thompson, David Lawrence. ct al. Compared
to them I considered myself an tgnoramus IN
political matters; now learn that am not
quite as dumb as had thought.
As for the pollsters-Mr. Roper, Mr.. Crossley
and Dr.. Gallup-I'm still laughing. Truman
was right when he said that their faces will
be red day after election day. There is nothing
for them to do now but close up shop and 60
of into hiding. Their usefulness is over If,
to be sure, they had any usefulness in the
first place. II they insist on carrying on with
their ridiculous polls- they can be sure that
this boy is not paying any attention. They're
through, washed up.
AS Lowell Thomas said over the radio on
election night: 'What fools we newsmen bel"
GEORGE BRISK.
To the Editor Of The Star:
Harry Truman has breathed the breath Of
life into the Democratic donkey and by his
own efforts alone dragged him back from the
political boneyard. Now that donkey. romp-
ing around tail STRAIGHT out head held high
snorting, Is all any one can hear or see in the
barnyard. You would think that "Old Hickory"
himself had just pulled the bride of and
turned the old long g-eared devil loose to wallow.
lack SPRATT.
To the Editor Of The Star:
One of the most valuable lessons to come
out of this campaign is the fact that millions
of Americans voted for Mr. Truman desnte