Evening star., 1948-08-14
The Political Mil
Trumun Faces HuEd Odds
In New England Election
Will Be Lucky Even to Capture
Rhode Island Electoral Vote
By Gould Lincols

By GoHId LiHc0IH
New England promises to be tough section
Of the country for President Truman and the
Democratic party in the coming election. Two
Of the six New England States. Maine and
Vermont not even the late Franklin DelanI
Roosevelt in the heyday of his popularity
was able to carry. Today Mr.. Truman will be
lucky II he Is able to win the electoral votes
Of . single one-Rhode Island.
The Presidents recent appointment Of former
Governor Maurice j. Tobin OF Massachusetts,
to be Secretary Of Labor Is undoubtedly move
to try to hold the Bay State in line for the
Democrats. Not since Calvin Coolidge carried
Massachusetts, in the 1924 election has the State
gone Republican in q presidential race Its
loss this year would be a bitter blow-and
also indicative of q probable overwhelming
defeat Of Mr.. Truman in the electoral college
vote.
Mr. Tobin, who defeated the Curley machine
in Boston to become Democratic mayor Of that
city before he was governor is a popular
figure. As = member of the Truman cabinet.
and IN q sense a candidate himself to continue
in his appointive once, Mr.. Tobin doubtless
will bring votes to the Democratic ticket. Mayor
curley Of Boston, who has no use for Mr..
Truman or for Mr.. Tobin, may on the other
hand prove q decided thorn in their sides.
Massachusetts, is one of those States in which
the Wallace presidential candidacy is expected
to cut deeply into Democratic strength, max
ing 1t all the more diffcult for Mr.. Truman.
It is now definitely determined that Henry
Wallace and his new Progressive Party will
have . place on the Massachusetts, ballot in
November. Mr.. Tobins plans, before he ac-
cepted appointment to the Cabinet called for
his own candidacy for Governor OF the State
Mr. Truman and his political advisers. however,
believed that Mr.. Tobin could help the national
ticket more by being closely associated with
the administration in Washington. Mr.. Tobin,
. liberal Democrat, as head Of the Labor De-
partment will be expected to help Mr.. Truman
in other industrial States as well rs in Massa.
chusetts
Everything indicates that Vermont and
Maine will stick to their traditional Republic
anism. Maine, with its September election
OF State oficers and members Of Congress,
will give It's usual preview Of party strength.
Vermont has never faltered in its support Of
the Republican Party and its candidates
since the Civil War
New Hampshire, which voted four times for
Franklin d. Roosevelt for President Is show.
ing all the signs of returning to its earlier
devotion to the COP. 1t was before the Civil
War that New Hampshire provided q Demo.
cratic President of the United States, Frank
lin Pierce.
Connecticut will vote for the Dewey Warren
ticket in considerable majority over the Demo-
cratic. Mr.. Wallace will do the Democrats no
good there, too. The expected nomination Of
Chester Bowles former OPA administrator.
on the Democratic ticket for governor will help
to emphasize President Truman's campaign
issue against the Republicans. however-the
issue of high prices and the failure of the Re-
publican Congress to give Mr.. Truman price
control powers for which he asked.
This leaves only Rhode Island. The Demo-
Gratis have had q strong grip on the State ever
since the late Al Smith carried it in the presi-
Dental election of 1928. A Rhode Islander,
Senator McGrath, holds today the most i'm.
portant political ONCE in the Democratic
Party's gift, the Craftsmanship Of the Demo.
cratic National Committee. Senator McGrath
has a powerful following, personally, in the
State. He was elected and reelected governor
before he ever ran for the Senate.
All six New England States have only 40
votes out Of 531 in the Electoral College
with Massachusetts, taking is. Nevertheless
the group is regarded as exceedingly important
in q presidential election