Evening star., 1948-04-10
Nebraska Farm Vote
|Courfed by Dewey as
Sfassen Flies Here
By The Assoeiessd Press


played out to the limit today a
swing" his aides claimed has begun
in his direction in Nebraska's Re-
publican presidential primary next
Tuesday.
Besides Gov. Dewey, six others
are entered in the primary. They
are Harold E. Stassen, former gov
ernor Of Minnesota; Senator Taft Of
Ohio. Senator Vandenberg of Mich
igan, Gov. Earl Warren of Califor-
mia. Speaker Martin and Gen. Mac
Arthur.
Paul Lockwood. Gov. Dewey's sec
retary. told reporter he thinks
Gov. Dewey has started "a swing in
our direction" by vigorous CAM
paigning in the last two days.
As an example, Mr.. Lockwood
noted that the Governor talked to
1000 persons-a respectable cross
section Of the populace-in five
meetings yesterday. This included
a crowd Of 1000 in an Omaha high
school last night.
Dewey Courts Farm Vote.
Gov. Dewey few to Western Ne
braska today to court the farm vote,
which Mr.. Stassen, one Of the ci1ief
contenders, claimed last night he
already han taken into camp.
Mr.. Stassen flew to Washington
today for the Gridiron. dinner-an
occasion that Gov. Dewey decided
at the last minute to pass up in
favor OF more campaigning.
Meanwhile, Gen. Macarthur, not
generally looked on here as a major
candidate since his setback in Wis
consin. served notice in>a cable to
a Lincoln woman that he is remain
ing In the running In the Nebraska
primary.
Without going into details, Gen.
Macarthur advised Mrs. Mary e.
Kenny. State chairman of the Mac
Arthur campaign:
You may be sure that my state
ment Of March 9 that 7 was avail
able for any public duty to which
might be called by the American
people was not limited to any par
ticular political test. That was a
re-statement Of a concept of the re-
sponsibility OF citizenship ons which
then stood, I now stand, and I
shall continue to stand as long as
live"
Urged to Keep Fighting.
Mrs. Kenny had cabled the gen.
eral:
You have won many victories
with great odds against you. Please
keep on fighting"
Gen. MacArthur's reply was in
terpreted Immediately by his friends
here as showing that he wants to
continue in the presidential race at
least until after the outcome of the
Nebraska voting. He has eight Wis
consin delegates back of him.
Before he set for Washington.
Mr.. Stassen told newsmen he has
been very much encouraged" by
the crowds which have turned out
to his meetings.
In my judgment" he said, "I
Will definitely be in first place in
the farm vote"
Mr.. Stassen decided to wait until
later to forecast the results of the
race. The stock on Mr.. Stassen's
estimates has gone up since he
claimed only IA delegates in the
Wisconsin primary campaign and
got 10. -,
Dewey Backers Dispute Claim.
But Dewey hackers generally dis
puted the former Minnesota Gov
ernor's assertion that he will top
the farm vote. 1t represents a large
share of, the States, ballot total.
WITHOUT making any counter
claims, the New Workers. followers
said they think they have uniform
strength in all classes of voters.
But Senator Butler, Republican,
OF Nebraska said both of the other
active contenders are going to be
unpleasantly surprised by the vote
rolled up by Senator Taft.
All three of the active candidates
were cagy about estimating the
strength that might be displayed
by Senator Vandenberg, who saws
he isn't interested in being the
nominee.
Most Nebraska politicians think
Senator Vandenberg will run at
least fourth. despite the absence of
any active campaign in his behalf.
The Stassen-Dewey battle, which
Mr.. Stassen's senatorial and guber-
Material friends carried on today In
his absence. had developed into
cosn-crib affair.
1t hit a peak yesterday when
Gov. Dewey posed for pictures with
hog at a swine auction and
cameramen lined up Mr.. Stassen
with an elephant and dancing girls
at circus.
Bands greeted candidates at most
Of their stops. Gov. Dewey ate hot
dogs at picnic. Mr.. Stasseh had
three meals with admirers who lis
tened to his talks.
Stassen Answers Questions.
Both candidates rode buses loaded
with news and camera men and
their equipment. Each repeated,
almost without change, the same
speech he had made at previous
stops. Mr.. Stassen answered ques-
tions from the crowd. Gov. Dewey
didn't.
1t was the sort of campaign Mr..
Stassen has been putting on for
months. But it was little less
formal than Gov. Dewey's appear
ances have been outside of New
York.
Gov. Dewey arranged talks today
at North Platte, Alliance and Scots
Bluff.
R0SSEL EDW. MITCHELL |