Evening star., 1952-10-04
The Political Mill:
Three Midwest States
May Decide Election
Real Backgrounds in Illinois.
Michigan and Wisconsin
BY Gould Lincoln

BY 0ouId Lincoln
MILWAUKEE. Wis, Oct. 4.-Thee
great States Of the Midwest, Illinois,
Michigan and Wisconsin, may well de-
termine the presidential election in
November. Certainly the way they cast
their electoral votes will play an i'm
portant part in the Eisenhower Steven
son race.
All three are real backgrounds as Of
today-or so it seems to this writer
after visits to them. Two have Demo-
cratic Governors, Illinois and Michigan,
and the Governor Of the first is the
Democratic standard bearer in the ma
tional contest. Wisconsin has Repub-
lican Governor and both of its Senators
are Republicans. as are all Of its Repre-
sentatives in the House except one.
The Importance Of the race in Illinois.
so far as the presidency is concerned. is
at once recognizable. -Four times the
late Franklin D. Roosevelt carried it for
the Democratic Party and once, Presi-
dent Truman. Not since Herbert Hoover
won its electoral vote in 1928 has the
State gone Republican in a presidential
election.
OSOvOhAcVh0 AAVSEhC 6t0tCs
Further, Illinois is the home State Of
Gov. Adlai Stevenson. If he cannot
carry it, If he does not carry it., the
Jig is up. In recent weeks the shadow
Of doubt as to Democratic victory has
grown longer and longer, until now the
opinion Of the more objective observers
not only places the State in the doubt
ful column. but some Of these observers
give the edge to the Republican NOM
inee.
In all three of these States during
the last week. Gen. Eisenhower has had
enthusiastic receptions. as he whistle
stopped through them on his special
train, greatly encouraging his followers
in all Of them. The Republicans appear
to be solidly together; the bitterness
which grew out Of the rejection Of Sena-
tor Taft Of Ohio for Gen. Eisenhower
has faded. Michigan has q traditional
Republican background and were it not
for the great Industrial center in Wayne
County Detroit), which is the Demo-
cratic stronghold. there would be no
doubt Of Republican victory there. Even
so. the odds seem at this time to favor
Eisenhower in that State.
A1C 3tCPubAACdllS 4CCClNCu dll CIlCOuT~
aging shot in the arm from the results
Of the recent Wisconsin primary in
which Senator Joe" Mccarthy scored
an impressive victory, receiving $4,000
votes out Of total Of 951 900 cast for
all candidates for the senatorial nomi-
nations, both Republican and Demo-
cratic. Senator Mccarthy, whose name
Is synonymous with anti Truman, anti
Stevenson sentiment, is now believed by
many to be q 'Sure-fire winner In the
election, and although Wisconsin voters
are accustomed to splitting their ballots,
the expectation Is that Eisenhower will
run as strongly here.
Point to Vote In 1s4S.
Wisconsin Democratic leaders main
tain. however, that the Mccarthy
triumph in the primary is not a sure
sign "of victory either for the Senator
or for Eisenhower. They point out that
the total vote cast in the presidential
election Of l948 in Wisconsin was
1.255.000, or about 100000 greater than
the recent primary vote. They argue
that the full Republican strength came
out in the senatorial primary, and that
in November the big Democratic vote
will materialize. This may be so-but
it is evident the Democrats were shocked
and disappointed by the result Of the
primary. They realize that a consider
able number Of Democrats crossed over
to vote in the Republican senatorial
primary-and voted for Mccarthy. They
had hoped that these Democrats would
vote for the leading Republican sena-
torial candidate against Mccarthy. Len
Schmitt, who in the primary received
only 213,000 votes
Wisconsin slipped over to the Repub-
lican side only once in the last i've
presidential races-in 1914, when it
went for Dewey against Roosevelt by
about $4,000. Four years ago, Wisconsin
was believed to be in the bag for Dewey,
but Truman carried it with q lead Of
$1,000 and Wallace. the Progressive cam
didate had $4,000 votes in the same elec-
ton. Wisconsin's political uncertainty
was demonstrated and 1t gives pause to
the political seers now.
Recapitulating. Gen. Eisenhower ap-
pears to have the advantage. as Of this
writing. in Michigan and Wisconsin, and
to be running close race in Illinois.
Gov. Stevenson has still 10 60 seriously
campaigning In Illinois, which he will
do before the campaign ends.