Evening star., 1952-09-18
Editors See Midwest
As Inclined 10 Vote
For Gen. Eisenhower
By Douglas B. Cornell
Asseeiated Press SieH Writer

Assesio,.d Pres, sseff Writer
NEW YORK. Sept. 18.-Key
MidweStern battle-ground States
are considered by editors on the
scene to be half certain. half
doubtful. but largely inclined to
60 Republican at this stage Of the
1852 election campaign.
Large numbers of voters still
are regarded as undecided between
Democrat Adlai Stevenson and
Republican Dwight Eisenhower
for President. And editors and
political writer's participating in
Associated Press surveys provide
all sorts of cross-current estimates
as to which way the vital farm
vote might go.
This bloc of a dozen states
North and South Dakota, Nebras-
ka. Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Min
nesota. Wisconsin. Illinois. Indi-
ana, Michigan. and Ohio-has
been given a major share of the
responsibility for the surprise vic
tory President Truman chalked up
In the 1948 election. So these
states, with 153 electoral votes, are
sure to hear some heavy political
cannonading as the rival parties
fight it out between now and the
November 4 balloting.
Six Went Democratic.
Four years ago. six of the IL
States went Democratic. some of
them by hair-line margins. This
year. as newsmen see 1t, the DEM
ocrats could be reasonably sure
only Of Mr.. Truman's home State
of Missouri if the election were
held today. Among the doubtful
states, they believe only Illinois
is teetering toward its own Gov.
Stevenson.
The consensus of newsmen isl
that four bedrock Republican
States-North and South Dakota,
Nebraska and Kansas-will stay
Republican. They figure that
Iowa, which went Democratic inI
a stunning upset in the 1948 pres
idential election, will return to the
Republican fold.
Except in the Roosevelt land
slides of 1882 and 1896. the Da-
kotas, Nebraska and Kansas have
been Solidly Republican for 32l
years or more.
Wisconsin, Democratic four
years ago, is rated such a political
puzzle that no pronounced slant
either toward Gov. Stevenson orI
Gen. Eisenhower is apparent at
this time.
States Doubtful.
That leaves Minnesota. Indiana,
Michigan. and Ohio on the doubt
full list.
The political almanacs Of the
editors indicate all four are lean
ing Republican. but by exceedingly
slight edges in Minnesota and
Michigan.
Going Republican would repre-
sent political about-face for
Minnesota and Ohio. which turned
up in the Democratic column four
years ago. For Ohio. it actually
wouldn't be much of a change.
since the Buckeye State favored
Mr.. Truman by a mere 1000 votes
out of nearly 3 million cast.
The reasons underlying what
Midwestern newsmen regard asI
evidence Of q trend the mo
ment toward the G. o. P. largely
are those heard in other regions.
They say people are talking about: |
(D A cleanup and clean-out
in Washington, (2) Time for a
change. go High taxes. a. Inf1a-
tion. and (5) Gen. Eisenhower's
personal popularity.
Factors Listed.
But in the Midwest, the editors
say it still is too early to tell what
will happen in many States in
November because of such factors
as:
/. A wariness, in traditionally
isolationist areas. Of Gen. Eisen-
hower's military background. Edi-
tors mention that especially in
North Dakota, Nebraska and Wis
consin.
2. Wide disagreement as to
where the farm vote will wind up |
eventually in States like North
Dakota. Minnesota, Wisconsin and
Missouri.
3. Continued esentme t at
spots in Nebraska. Indiana. nn-
nois. and Wisconsin that Gen.
Eisenhower. rather than Senator
Taft Of Ohio, won the Republican
presidential nomination. Editors
who said they found this resent
ment had made their surveys be-
fore the Eisenhower-Taft harmony
meeting in New York last week.
In tabular form, with compari-
sons with 1948 thrown in, the