Stokes: Dewey’s chance
By Thomas L. Stokes
Milwaukee, Wisconsin –
Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York is seemingly missing a big opportunity out this way.
He appears strong in this state and you get the impression that if he were an out-and-out candidate for the Republican presidential nomination he would be very hard to beat in the April 4 presidential primary here, even though he has three rivals – Wendell L. Willkie, LtCdr. Harold Stassen and Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
Chunky, vigorous little Ben Gettelman said:
If he would only just say that he would accept the nomination there would be no question whatever of winning easily.
Mr. Gettelman (a state senator) shares with Fred Zimmerman (secretary of state, ex-governor, and outspoken isolationist) the direction of the Dewey campaign here.
He is still confident that the Dewey delegates here will win despite the New York Governor’s message to every delegate a few weeks ago, saying flatly he was not a candidate and demanding that all withdraw their names. Nine complied with his request. But 15 others, including Mr. Gettelman and Mr. Zimmerman, refused to withdraw. Four other delegates who are running uninstructed are for Governor Dewey, Mr. Gettelman said, making a total of 19 in the race.
Dewey’s stand causes resentment
Wendell Willkie has a full slate of 24; Gen. MacArthur, 22, and ex-Governor of Minnesota Cdr. Stassen, 19.
Eight of the 15 pledged Dewey delegates were delegates on the Dewey slate four years ago when he made a clean sweep against Senator Vandenberg in the Wisconsin primary.
Governor Dewey still seems to benefit from the impression he made in his personal campaign four years ago, as well as from his increased political stature since as a result of his election as Governor of New York and his administration in that office.
His flat announcement that he is not a candidate and his demand that his delegates withdraw has caused resentment among some of his delegate candidates, who felt he was letting them down. It is reported also that it affected his rank-and-file support. They are uncertain about his status.
Mr. Willkie is capitalizing upon this confusion by insisting that candidates should discuss the issues here. The MacArthur spokesmen are pushing their campaign among isolationists by classing Governor Dewey as “an internationalist” because of his advocacy of a British-American alliance at Mackinac.
Dewey stronger than Willkie
But Mr. Gettelman is still optimistic and does not concede that Governor Dewey’s uncertain position has hurt him.
He said:
Governor Dewey is stronger today than when Willkie came into the state. I feel he is going to elect all his delegates.
Why is Governor Dewey stronger today?
He replied:
Because the people here believe he is the only one who can cut out those 421 bureaus down in Washington.
Mr. Gettelman’s second choice for the nomination is Governor Bricker of Ohio.
Mr. Gettelman conducts his part of the Dewey campaign here in a small, bare office he shares with his brother, which carries on the door “National Soap and Products Company.” He has a telephone on his desk and a picture of his boy who is serving with Gen. MacArthur. Over his head, on the wall, is a pay telephone stand and roosting on that, a picture of Tom Dewey.
“How’re you doing for dough?” he was asked.
He is the sort of realistic, amiable politician whom you can address that frankly. He grinned.
He answered:
I’m glad you asked me that. I don’t think money will win the campaign this time. I’d rather take out a few cards and make a few radio speeches. This is a shoestring campaign.
Is there any money being provided from New York?
“If there’s any money coming from New York they forgot Wisconsin,” he said, grinning.