Evening star., 1952-10-27
Lincoln
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Lincoln
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Pennsylvania is no different from
other States this year-it has the
largest in its history. Total reg
iStration is 5,340,936, with the
Republicans having 3,128,773 and
the Democrats 2.137,49O The
G. o. P. registration advantage
lis almost l million. There are
I74,673 other registrations. Since
April, Republican registration has
increased 10.4 per cent and the
Democratic. 14.1 per cent. In
Icidentally, the Republicans have
la majority of registrants in So
counties and the Democrats lead
in ii counties.
Philadelphia Is Key.
The registration in Philadelphia
is of interest in view of the big
part the city is expected to play
in the election. The Republicans
have registered 684.08O voters
and the Democrats 386,108. The
Republican total for the city is
7,455 less than it was at the end
of last year. and the Democratic
total is 80.816 greater.
Party registration, however, has
meant little in Pennsylvania for
many years. Voters register
Republican in Philadelphia and
vote Democratic. It is suggested
that great numbers of voters
registered Republican, because the
G. O. P. had a firm grip on the
city hall, and if any one ever
expected to get a city favor, he
had to be a Republican. Now,
with a Democratic administration
in command, some 10000 voters
have changed over-who might
have been voting Democratic all
the time.
Registration is Puzzle.
What the large new registration
means is anybody's guess. Each
side claims an advantage. Early
in the year there was great en-
thusiasm for Gen. Eisenhower.
which is believed to have brought
many eligible voters to register,
The Democrats, on the other
hand, contend they have been re-
sponsible for much of the regis
tration throughout the State as
well as in Philadelphia. particu-
larly in industrial areas.
The Democrats have control of
the election machinery since they
took over the city hall. They came
into power as reform movement,
and Mayor Clark and Prosecuting
Attorney Richardson Dilworth are
hewing to the line. Under the new
charter, city employees are not sup
posed to engage in political cam
paigning. The great majority of
the employees are under civil
service.
There is no slightest doubt.
however, the Democrats are great
~ encouraged by their victory in
the city elections. In that victory,
they were aided by many Republi-
cans and independent voters, who
were fed up with the old Repub-
lican machine. The Republican
press of the city supported Mayor
Clark in that fight. too.
Lewis Stand Helps.
Another encouraging factor, the
Democrats say, is the declaration
of John L. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers, for Gov.
Stevenson. They believe he will
influence many miners in the
States coal fields to vote Demo-
cratic-those who have not been
voting that way. Republicans re-
ply that, since Mr.. Lewis, when
he supported Republican presiden-
tial candidates against the late
President Franklin D. Roosevelt,
had little effect on the vote in
the coal counties, he may not
have any more today, when he has
shifted to a Democratic candi-
date.
The Democratic organization is
relying greatly on the work of the
labor unions, and also on Wiling
ness of the large Negro popula-
ton to vote Democratic. The lat
ter have been voting Democratic
for number of years. however.
Estimates of the Negro vote run
as high as 100000 here.
G. o. p. Rules Suburbs.
The large suburban counties i'm
adjacent to Philadelphia
are overwhelmingly Republican
and do much to offset the Demo-
cratic lead in the city. Also the
central counties, some of them
with large populations, and the
rural counties are usually Repub-
lican. Pittsburgh is Democratic
but Republican leaders say they
expect to hold down the Demo-
cratic majority this year.
strong Pon,lh1icor fortioy in |