America at war! (1941–) – Part 3

americavotes1944

Hull: Governor Dewey wrong

Washington (UP) –
Secretary of State Cordell Hull said today that Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York was “100% wrong in the accuracy of his statement” that the State Department had requested the British censors to suppress political news sent to the United States.

Mr. Dewey said last week while awarding prizes at the annual exhibit of the press photographers association of New York:

When we find the State Department requesting the British censor to suppress political news sent to American papers by American correspondents abroad, it begins to amount to deliberate and dangerous suppression of news at home.

Officer denies threatening RCAF cadet

Lonergan may take witness stand

americavotes1944

Assembly to get soldier vote copy

Martin asks study before session

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (UP) –
Copies of proposed law changes to facilitate voting by Pennsylvania servicemen abroad will be sent to all members of the General Assembly for perusal before Governor Edward Martin convenes a special session of the Legislature.

An administration spokesman explained that while such a procedure might be condemned under normal circumstances:

We believe everyone will understand the Governor’s only motive is to guarantee our servicemen a reasonable chance to voter without incurring unnecessary expenses or causing too great a loss of manpower.

Disclosing that Attorney General James H. Duff is already preparing a draft of what Governor Martin hopes will be the “most liberal” soldier balloting law in the nation, the spokesman said the proposed statute would change the election calendar to give servicemen, Merchant Marines and members of other “war agencies” an extra 20 days, or 70 days in which to vote.

The measure would also eliminate party or non-partisan registration as a franchise prerequisite.

It was understood the Governor’s call, expected to be issued for May 1 convening of the Legislature, may include a measure to allow the State Defense Council to conduct a house-to-house canvass to obtain names and addresses of servicemen to facilitate mailing of absentee ballots.

The session will cost $360,000-$400,000 if completed in less than a month – but each member automatically will have $250 added to his base salary of $500 for an extraordinary session if the meeting goes as much as a day over a month. Governor Martin said all necessary action can be taken in two weeks and hinted he would object strenuously if the session is used as a springboard for the 1944 election campaign.

Change urged in command in Southeast Asia

Jap drive may bring issue into open

Singing and dancing hold key to 30% cabaret tax

Vesuvius eruption believed dying

Naples, Italy (UP) –
The eruption of Vesuvius appeared to be dying down today.

No lava of any volume has flowed from the volcano in the last 60 hours and the spray of cinders and boulders ceased Saturday night.

A fine dust still showered out and the crater was emitting a gas smoke which in the past generally has been a sign of abatement.

The dust was up so thick in some places that traffic was blocked.

‘Smear bund’ using Winchell, Dies charges

Columnist ‘out to destroy Congress’

German execution of 500 in Rome reprisal reported

Frontier dispatch says 300 Italians were machine-gunned in colosseum

173,000 wounded evacuated by air

SCOTUS: Induction oath makes soldier out of civilian

Final examination only step in process

Indian co-ed missing from Columbia University

New York (UP) –
Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Army intelligence agents have been searching since Tuesday for Valsa Matthai, 22, a Columbia University student from Bombay, India.

Miss Matthai was last seen at 4:50 a.m. Monday ET by an elevator operator at the International House, where she lived. She left the building and disappeared into a snowstorm.

Miss Matthai’s father, John Matthai, is head of the Tata Chemical Company of Bombay.

Kuril Islands bombed again

More time lost by accidents than strikes

Most plant injuries held preventable
By Fred W. Perkins, Pittsburgh Press staff writer

Truman group split on politics

Chairman’s 4th term stand disavowed

In Washington –
War profiteer on the loose, public warned

Scandals predicted by Treasury official

Editorial: Plan your garden now

Editorial: Churchill can’t say

Editorial: Nothing gained, much lost

Editorial: Jitterbugs at war

americavotes1944

Editorial: Oklahoma’s byelection

Having lost an uncomfortable number of byelections in the last year, the Democrats have wheeled in their heavy artillery to win the contest in the 2nd Oklahoma Congressional district tomorrow. They have sent no less a personage than Senate Leader Alben W. Barkley to sing the administration’s song at Muskogee tonight.

On the record, the Democrats should win. If they can’t carry that gerrymandered district they might as well quit. In its 30 years of existence the district has gone Republican only one – in the Harding landslide of 1920.

In the last election, 1942, the Democratic nominee for Congress won by only 385 votes. But there were special circumstances which made the Republican vote so large. An unpopular Democratic Senator – Josh Lee – was being voted out of office; and a full Republican slate of candidates for Senator, Governor, other state offices and county and township offices, was on the ticket.

In tomorrow’s contest there are only the candidates for the Congress seat, and Democrat Bill Stigler is better and more favorably known than the Republican, E. O. Clark. There is no such thing in that district as a Republican organization, while the Democrats have state, county and township machines working together.

In good years, the Democrats carry this district by 2–1; in normal years, their majority is about 15,000. If the Democrat wins tomorrow, it will be only what is expected. If the Republican wins, it will be an upset that will reflect more than just a trend.