The Daily Alaska empire., 1948-11-02
EXPECTED 50
 MILLION WILL
 CAST BALLOTS
Weather Good in Indus frial Ceniers, Also Farm
 Distritfs-First Returns
tBy The Associated Pressl Good voting weather encouraged


 | Good voting weather encouraged possible record turnout of Americans today to ballot for President and a new Congress. Heavy forenoon voting was re- ported from many industrial cities. And good weather helps bring out big farm vote. For the country as whole. it was lair with mild temperatures.
 There was some rain in the cen- tral valleys. the Northern Rockies. and the State of Washington.
 A vote going over 500O0 ,0OO in this lst Presidential election would be record. The biggest vote in the past was 49.820,3l2 in l940, It fell nearly 100000 under that four years ago when many Ameri- cans were overseas at war. The usual race among small pre- cincts to be the first to report their vote was won this time by Hart's Location, N. H. hos AAhCAAHk NttuI0S Backers of Democratic President Harry s. Truman and Republican candidate Thomas E. Dewey both found something to cheer about Tn the first trickling returns. Hart's Location went '. for Dewey and one for Truman Franklin D. Roosevelt carried the precinct 6-4 over Dewey in l944 Cataloochee precinct in North Carolina's Smoky Mountains pop ped in next-seven for Truman and zero for Dewey Dewey got two votes there four years ago and Roosevelt got eight. i Wallace Votes i Browns Farm precinct in south ern Florida reported four for Tru man and two for States Rights candidate J. Strom Thurmond. First or the presidential. candi- dates to get his own ballot into the box was Henry A. Wallace. The early-rising Progressive party can didate put his vote in shortly after s am. tEST) at South Salem. N. "
 Big Vote Baltimore
 The early rush at Baltimore brought predictions from election officials that the total of sallots there would reach 310.0o0, about 25,o00 more than four years ago.
 Such cities as Columbus, Akron. Philadelphia, and Newark also re- ported heavy voting.
 Along with q President. the vot- CTS are picking Congress.
 Democrats and Republicans dis puted up to the end the complexion of the Senate.
 It now has 5l Republicans and 45 Democrats. Republicans said they will hold control Democrats replied they will take over.
 Barring upsets, the House would stay Republican. The two major candidates wound up their campaign drives in much the same language they used at . the start last September. Both were on national radio hookups last night.
 Vote, Candidates Urge But Truman broke away from the tradition that election eve speeches are. confined to appeals to get out and vote. He said at In- dependence. Mo. that to continue his administration lis our best in- surance against going back to the dark days of 1852"
 T believe, in particular, that the industrial workers. the farmers and the small business men of this country can best protect them selves against reaction and against imitation through the Democratic party"
 Dewey struck the unity, note he has sounded up and down the land. Said he from New York after a plea to vote regardless of how: Foremost Issue
 The foremost issue rising clear and high above all others is wheth- CT in this solemn hour the United States of America is going to be a strong, united nation--a nation that can meet the challenge of a dangerous world"
 There are nine other presiden- tial candidates. But only two of them made news.
 One is Gov. J. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, the other Henry A. Wallace
 Civil Rights Votes
 The Civil Rights revolt Thur
 Continued on Page Fivel