Evening star., 1950-11-07
AZ Million Record Vote Indicated
ByLengthyLines at Nations Polls;
Signs Point to Many Close Races
Congress Control
May Be Decided
By L Key States
By the Associated Press

1OG CO1lGeStS III IIle DlS pOpula-
ton States brought out a heavy
early vote and pointed to a prob
able record pileup of ballots today
in the "off-year" Congressional
elections.
Long lines formed at polling
places in Ohio where Senator
Taft-Mr. Republican" to many
was battling Democrat Joe Fergu-
son for the Senate. The turnout
of voters was heavy also in New
York. New Jersey, Massachusetts,
and other key States.
In 80 States, the voters were
picking Governors as we'll as help
ing to decide whether the Demo-
Gratis or Republicans will control
Congress in the two critical years
ahead. At stake for Congress were
432 House and SO Senate seats.
Voting Is Quiet.
Despite the bitterness of many
campaigns-some were the rough
est. toughest of many years, the
forenoon hours passed without
any violence or incidents.
To guard against disorders,
New York City put all of its $4,000
police on duty and backed them
up with 1000 special deputies and
hundreds of civilian volunteer
watchers for law violations.
Out in independence, Mo-,
President Truman was among the
early voters. He cast his ballot
In a gymnasium building shortly
after $50 am.
For most of the country. the
weather was good. There were light
showers early in the day from
Eastern Colorado to Iowa. Light
snow, mixed with rain, fell in the
Lake Superior region.
AZ Million Expected to Vote.
Predictions from national and
State election officials pointed to
q total vote of around 40 million.
By comparison, the largest vote
ever cast before in a non-presi-
dental election year was 37,304.-
$50 in 1888.
OIe State was not voting today
In the congressional elections.
Maine elected Republican Gov
7rnor and three Republican House
members in September.
In many States, the contests
were apparently so close that the
crop of election forecasts was
smaller than usual, though Repub-
licans talked hopefully of capt,u-
ing both the House and Senate.
while the Democrats scoffed at
that.
Democrats Have Backlog.
The Democrats could count. as
q starter, on a backlog of about
100 House seats from the South.
These were seats for which the
Republicans put up no candidate
or could offer no real opposition
In the light balloting of the
Southern elections.
A spot check by Associated
Press bureaus and newspapers
presented this general picture of
the voting here and there:
New Jersey-Early voting un-
usually heavy. Both sides claimed
II as a sign in their favor.
ulinois-More than one fourth
Of Chicago's registered voters cast
ballots in the first three hours
after the polls opened. Demo-
cratic Senator Lucas, seeking re-
election, counted on great strength
in Chicago. Voting was heavy
also in Downstate areas where
COP Candidate Everett Dirksen
was conceded to have strong sup
port.
Massachusetts-A heavy early
vote and good weather which both
sides interpreted as helpful to
their cause.
Voting Heavy in Indiana.
Indiana - Voting particularly
heavy in industrial cities.
Observation-Disclosures workers
of both parties called voter turn
out normal" but looked for a
heavy vote in the early evening
hours when workers returned
home.
Michigan-Light to very heavy
voting. For Detroit, it was run
ming about even with 1916, little
below 1o48.
Connecticut-Vote heavier than
in the 1916 "off-year" election
dput running behind that of 194e
presidential election.
Brisk to heavy voting was re-
ported in Utah, Maryland, Kan
sas, Iowa and Minnesota. Bal.
loting was average to heavy il
Nebraska and light in West Vir.
ginia except for the Charleston