The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1948-11-03
BY HAL BOYLE

NE w Olh, NOV. o.--ti'--IeSPtc
licans who stayed up all night at
National headquarters to celebrate
looked at dawn today like haggard
brides left waiting at the church.
1t was so quiet around Hotel
Roosevelt that you could hear a
poll takers chin drop.
But if there was poll-taker in
the place he wisely kept his mouth
shut. There were no Republican
chins any longer even able to fall
open. They had all done that hours
before.
1t was scene of political car
mage over which spread the length
ening shadow cast by the little
man from Missouri. Harry S. Tru-
man, stuhbornly riding out threats
of a Republican landslide, had liv-
ed up to the tough motto of his
state-"You got to show me-
Win, lose, or draw, he had-al-
most single mouthed-smashed Re-
publican hopes of gaining control
of both Congress and the Presi-
dency
The tidal flood of Democratic
votes completely ruined the Grand
Old Party's brand new victory par
ty.
1t was a Manhattan version Of
the eve before Waterloo.
Some 300 happy party workers
crowded into the Gold Ballroom Of
the hotel, confident they would see
a Democratic debacle.
A score or more television and
newsreel cameras were trained on
the flag -draped balcony. where
Gov. Thomas E. Dewey was expect
ed to deliver his victory speech
before midnight. Rumor said his
aides had composed the speech two
days ago.
Crowd Gets Uneasy
The crowd stirred uneasily as
early returns showed Truman
ahead But they cheered when
campaign manager Herbert Brown
ell, grinning widely, stepped out
on the gallery and minimized the
figures-again predicting victory.
1t was the last grin of the evening.
Some Republicans left then, sure
Dewey had won But they were
probably the only ones who got a
good nights rest.
For after midnight deepening
alarm swept the gaily- hammered
room. The faces of the crowd were
a slow-motion study of confidence
changing from surprise to doubt,
from doubt to disbelief-and then
on to stunned fear and panic.
AS Truman bobbed up like a
cork the Republicans began to
drift home, disillusioned.
And waited for this night l6
years." said one old man sadly, as
he departed.
The announcement Dewey had
carried New York state gave only
momentary lift
1.-The Union League Club ought
to hang up Henry Wallace's pic
ture tomorrow and burn candles
before it." joked one young party
worker.
Fading Hope
He reflected the fading hope of
some COP leaders that Wallace
might cut down Truman's tally
enough in other states-as he had
hereto put Dewey in.
BY a. M, only 100 people were
left in the ballroom. and workmen
quit hanging UP the depressing
figures on the big scoreboard. At
s am, only % die-hards were left,
including cop on duty, who was
reading newspaper.
Lie IOOll lOOhCu do tAiOu5A ~
had been hit by hurricane. And
it nad-by hurricane wearing a
Made in Missouri" label. Ash
trays, glasses and a few beer
bottles Uttered the floor s
The wrath of the survivors APP
peared directed in large measure
at the prediction polls which
forecast an easy Dewey victory.
THAT fellow out in Independence
said the polls were all wrong-and
he's right" said a middle-aged
Republican. Presumably he was
referring to President Truman.
Jest About Polls
Then they began making bitter
jests about polls:
They sure polled the wool over
our eyes"
1.-The ought to call those guys
poll-bearers for the Republican
party"
But nobody laughed.
The little man who took the
place of that man" wasn't leaving
them much to laugh at on this