Evening star., 1952-10-26
By Douglas B. Cornell
By the Assoeioisd Press


publican year, with Gen. Eisen-
hover the winner over Gov
lStevenson, if the presidential elec-
|tion had been held in mid-Oc-
|tober.
Newspaper editors and political
correspondents who made two po.
|litical surveys for the Associated
Press clocked Gen. Eisenhower as
leading the presidential sweep
stakes around Labor Day. They
estimated he has picked ur
strength since then in 30 Of AZ
States.
But when they made their esti-
mates in october, they said forces
still were at work twisting anc
turning the campaign and now
making it necessary to rate the
outcome on November 4 as close
and uncertain.
Many voters in many spots are
described as undecided and non
committal, even at this late point
in the campaign. Registrations ane
votes may reach an all-time high
and there are no crystal balls that
tell what new voters are going Il
do.
Rebellion in The South.
Flames of rebellion are burning
within the Democratic Party ir
1.-THE South. And farmers continue
Ito puzzle many political pulse-feel.
Iers.
Yet it is the combined judgment
|of more than 1000 participating
|newsmen that the october survey
showed a general trend toward
Gen. Eisenhower. varying in in
tensity from county to county and
State to State.
AS they see it. there is little
indication Gen. Eisenhower now
might capture many more States
than was expected originally
Rather, they believe the trend
makes itself felt in the main in a
stronger hold on states already
seemingly committed to the
G. o. P, and in a shift of some
States from the wavering to the
more certain class.
BY one of those quirks of pol
itics, the only state believed to
have switched allegiance from the
Democrats is Gov. StevenSon's
own Illinois. Newsmen thought
Gen. Eisenhower might take 1t
by a hairline margin if the people
were marching to the polls in mid
October. Illinois has q electoral
votes.
Gov. Stevenson is credited with
gains and switches, too. Editors
believe he has improved his
chances in II states in recent
weeks. Two of these. Washington
and Utah, were estimated six
weeks ago to be leaning slightly
toward Gen. Eisenhower. Now both
are considered tilted a shade to-
ward Gov. Stevenson. They have
13 electoral votes between them.
Varied forces, some Of them
pulling in opposite directions at
the same time, are regarded by
the editors as reasons for swings
of the political pendulum.
Gen. Eisenhower's alliance with
Senator Taft of Ohio is consid-
cred a big asset in parts Of the
Midwest, a handicap in segments
of the Mountain and Far West
ern States.
Truman Influence Disputed.
The verbal bashing President
Truman has given Gen. Eisen-
hover at every whistle-stop is
widely interpreted as helping the
general instead OF harming him
Only in isolated areas were there
suggestions that Mr.. Truman was
boosting Gov. Stevenson stock.
The row over the financial
affairs Of G. o. P. Vice Presiden-
tial Nominee Nixon was regarded
as reacting generally to the bene-
At of the Republican ticket. Here
and there, editors said it worked
out to Gov. Stevenson's advan-
tage.
Still throbbing through the rep
etition of campaign oratory were
the Republican chant that it's
time for a change, the Democratic
cry that you never had it so good,
and all the issues shooting of
from each-inflation. depression,
high prices. high taxes, corrup-
ton, Communism, Korea.
What it sirAmers down to. in
the opinion of newsmen watch
ing the political barometers, is
that in mid October Gen. Eisen-
hover looked like the probable
winner in 20 States with 238
electoral votes. These States
stretch fairly solidly from New
England across the Midwest and
on TO the coast.
Eight additional states with SO
votes are listed as doubtful but
leaning toward the G. o. P. Those
votes, on top of the 238. would give
Gen. Eisenhower 327-61 more
than necessary for victory.
Newsmen put down II states
with 104 votes as fairly certain for
Gov. Stevenson and five with So
as questionable but inclined to the
Democratic nominee. Their total
of 1856 electoral votes is ITO shy Of
the victory mark.
Four states remain in the toss
up or uncertain category. They
have 48 electoral votes.
Still Uphill for Stevenson.
The net result is that Gov. Ste
venson still seemed to be engaged
in the uphill battle he said lay
ahead at the start of the cam
paign.
Yet newsmen cautiously were
refraining from jumping overheard
with forecasts of Republican VIC
tory. They remember how wrong
the dopesters were in 1948 in siz-
ing up Gov. Dewey Of New York
as winner. They remember, too,
that underrated Harry Truman