Evening star., 1948-10-13
Odds Now in Favor
W6reen and Brooks
In Illinois Race
By Gould Lincoln
Sfor Staff CORRESPONDENT

CHICAGO, Oct. 13.-Gov.
Dwight Green, running for a
third term, and Senator Brooks,
seeking reelection on the I'LL
nois Republican ticket, have
been principal targets of the
States Democrats. For time
1t appeared that either or both
Of them might be casualties in
the coming election. Today, the
odds favor them.
Too many Republicans, as some
of the Democratic leaders admit,
will vote the ticket straight, fearing
that If they split their ballots they
may not be counted. With Gov.
Dewey and Gov. Warren likely to
carry the State by large majority.
the Democratic gubernatorial and
senatorial candidates are In diff
Guilty.
Prof. Paul H. Douglas Of Chicago
University is opposing Senator
Brooks. He is the husband of for
mer Representative Emily Taft
Douglas, who was defeated in the
1916 elections. Prof. Douglas is
World War II veteran and Senator
Brooks served in Warld War I.
Prof. Douglas Is a violent New
Dealer and Senator Brooks has al
ways had the Chicago Tribune's
backing. Before the japanese at
tack on Pearl Harbor, Senator
Brooks was an isolationist.
Stevenson is Strong Candidate.
In the gubernatorial race, the
Democrats have put forward Adlai
z. Stevenson, an excellent candi-
date with experience in interna-
tional affairs, through past connec-
ton with the State Department and
with the American delegation to
the United Nations. He Is q grand
son of Adlai Stevenson, Vice Presi-
dent in the second Cleveland admin
istration. This Is Mr.. Stevensons
first campaign for public ONCE, and
from all reports he has done good
3oo.
Mr.. Stevenson has q wide circle
Of Republican as well as Demo-
cratic friends in Chicago's better
wards. Some of these Republicans
will vote for him. This Is the So
called cocktail hour" vote-so
dubbed by practical politician who
insisted that Mr. Stevenson has
made no material inroads into Re-
publican strength.
Managers for Gov. Green, how
ever, have been worried because so
many men and women who travel
In the same social strata as the
Governor and Mr.. Stevenson, have
indicated preference for the latter.
Green Solid With Veterans.
Gov. Green has been under fire
on the ground that many of his
appointees to Office have been
mediocre If not worse. He has been
in Office for 8 years, and in that
time a Governor usually manages
to tread on lot Of toes and make
some enemies.
On the other hand Gov. Green
has made himself solid with the war
veterans. He himself, is a veteran,
having served In the Army Air
Corps Of World War. He was in
strumental in having passed $685.
600, 900 bonus for Illinois veterans Of
World War II.
He also has support of farm Or
ganization leaders and many
farmers. The Centralia mine disas-
ter a year ago, which was played up
as a body blow to Gov. Green. does
not today appear as effective a
weapon against him as is did soon.
after the disaster happened. The
Centralia victims or their families
have been well taken care for and
recompensed as far as possible.
The Chicago Tribune and the Chi
cago Sun-Times polls, which have
indicated that Gov. Dewey will win
over President Truman by perhaps
$4,000 votes in Illinois, show that
both Gov. Green and Senator
Brooks have a long lead over their
Democratic opponents.
In Chicago, Democratic strong
hold, these straw votes indicated that
Gov. Green is only one-f1fth of /
percentage point behind Mr.. Steven
son. Since Gov. Green is expected
to run far ahead OF Mr.. Stevenson
"downstate" and In Cook County
outside Of Chicago, the Governors
chances appear far brighter than
they did a short time ago. These
are early return from polls that will
cover the State.
Three Haft Contests.
In the contests for House seats
most of the Republican incumbents
are almost certain to win. In three
or four districts. however, there are
hard-fought contests. Representa-
tive Vail, in the I'd district, has a
fight on his honds; so has Repre-
sentative Busbey in the Sd district
and Representative Twyman in the
9Th district.
The Republicans are putting up
4 figth in the 1st district, heavily
Negro and at present represented
by William L. Dawson. However,
President Truman has retained
great deal Of the old Roosevelt vot-
ing strength among the Negro
voters because of his civil rights
program.
In another Chicago district the
Republicans have nominated Her
bert Geisler, 40-year-old blind
attorney, who goes everywhere with
seeing eye dog as his companion.
Mr. Geisler Is popular-he won elec-
ton as alderman in heavily Dem
ocratic ward last year. He has an
uphill fight in his race for a House
seat. and only a great Republican
sweep could carry him to victory
The Illinois delegation in the
present House is made up of 20
Republicans and six Democrats
Unless Mr. Truman should win an
unexpected victory the delegation
Will be divided on party lines in the