GOP in 2 states back Stassen and MacArthur
Nebraska and Illinois support servicemen
By the United Press
Write-ins for Dewey bring surprise
Washington (UP) –
The write-in vote of Nebraska Republicans for New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey for the GOP presidential nomination was viewed today by many Republican Congressmen as indicating greater-than-expected rank-and-file support for him.
Governor Dewey polled less than half as many votes in yesterday’s Nebraska primary as did LtCdr. Harold E. Stassen, former Governor of Minnesota now on naval duty in the South Pacific. But Governor Dewey had refused to permit his name to be entered, and hence all of the votes cast for him were of the write-in variety.
Presidential stock of Gen. Douglas MacArthur and LtCdr. Harold E. Stassen, former Governor of Minnesota, was boosted today by incomplete and unofficial returns from yesterday’s preferential primaries in Illinois and Nebraska.
Three of every four Republican votes cast in the Illinois election were for Gen. MacArthur, whose only opposition was Riley A. Bender, a former pugilist not seriously considered as a candidate.
Stassen ‘definitely’ in race
Nebraska Republicans made Cdr. Stassen their 2–1 favorite over Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York, a write-in candidate.
The voting yesterday provided the second test for Cdr. Stassen and Gen. MacArthur. A week ago, Cdr. Stassen won four of Wisconsin’s GOP convention delegates and Gen. MacArthur three.
Cdr. Stassen is definitely in the presidential race “to the end,” pro-Stassen leader Senator Joseph H. Ball said last night.
Dewey men confident
Meanwhile, Senator John Thomas (R-ID) predicted that Governor Dewey would be nominated on the first ballot. Senator Thomas said his personal survey of Republican leaders show between 660 and 670 pledged to Governor Dewey. Only 530 votes are needed for nomination.
Reports that Dewey supporters had made overtures to Wendell Willkie, who has withdrawn from the race, to support the New York Governor appeared at least to be premature.
Rolland B. Marvin of Syracuse, leader of New York State forces supporting Mr. Willkie, met with the latter this morning – but they did not, he said, talk politics.
Mr. Marvin, who was reportedly in town to see Mr. Willkie about his possible support of Governor Dewey, issued a statement after their conference saying that by common agreement they discussed “old times and professional matters in which we happen to be commonly interested.” Mr. Willkie did not comment.
Barkley backs Roosevelt
Other news developments on the political front included:
- Tammany leader Edward V. Laughlin called for a fourth term for Mr. Roosevelt at a meeting last night. Mr. Laughlin said:
We believe he must run regardless of his personal wishes because the people need him, the soldiers, sailors and Marines need him as Commander-in-Chief and a gravely troubled world needs his wisdom and experience in the planning of an enduring peace.
- Senator Alben W. Barkley, Senate Majority Leader, in an address in New York City last night, hailed the administration’s record as the greatest in the nation’s history and challenged Republican critics to specify what portions of the New Deal program they would repeal or nullify. It was Senator Barkley’s most outspoken endorsement of the President since he broke temporarily with Mr. Roosevelt over the presidential tax veto message two months ago.
Wallace going to China
Meanwhile, it was disclosed in Washington that Vice President Henry A. Wallace will leave late this spring or early summer for an official mission to Chungking, China.
It has been reported that Mr. Wallace will go to Moscow and London, in addition to Chungking, leading to speculation that the Vice President might be out of the country during the Democratic National Convention in July. There have been reports that Mr. Roosevelt, should he accept the nomination for a fourth term, will drop Mr. Wallace as his running mate.
Mr. Wallace declined today to elaborate on his plans to visit Chungking, but said some speculation about it is “not true.”
MacArthur sweeps Illinois primary
Chicago, Illinois (UP) –
Gen. Douglas MacArthur, one of two Republicans running for the Republican nomination in the Illinois preferential presidential primary election yesterday, swept the state on the basis of fairly complete but unofficial returns today.
Republican leaders stressed the fact, however, that his opponent was politically-unknown Riley Bender of Chicago, a former boxer who campaigned with the slogan “Go on a bender with Bender.”
59 votes in convention
There are 59 Illinois votes in the Republican National Convention – 50 candidates to be named in yesterday’s primary and nine to be selected at large by state convention. But they were not pledged. The vote in the primary was advisory.
Gen. MacArthur polled 437,696 votes in 7,369 precincts out of 8,728. Mr. Bender received 30,380.
Organization wins
The Republican organization slate headed by Governor Dwight H. Green swept to victory in contests for state offices.
Governor Green polled 498,592 votes (in 7,513 precincts) to 81,738 for Oscar Carlstrom. Richard Lyons won the GOP nomination for U.S. Senator with 434,353 against 69,463 for Deneen Watson, in 7,499 precincts.
Rep. Stephen A. Day won the GOP nomination for Congressman-at-Large, polling 313,828 against 145,764 for Col. Edward Davis, in 6,306 precincts.
Democratic candidates were unopposed. There were scattered write-in votes for President Roosevelt.
Republicans happy
Republicans hailed the voting as significant because their totals topped the Democrat primary figures for the first time since 1932.
Democratic leaders said the figures indicated a Democratic triumph in November because of the size of totals rolled up by the unopposed Democratic candidates.
Nebraska favors Stassen, Dewey
Omaha, Nebraska (UP) –
LtCdr. Harold E. Stassen maintained a two-to-one Republican presidential primary lead over write-in candidate New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, while a close fight developed between Patrick J. Heaton, 40-year-old lawyer of Sidney, and George W. Olsen, 62, Plattsmouth war worker, for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
Governor Dwight Griswold, seeking nomination to a third term, held a lead of approximately 8–1 over William R. Brooks on the Republican ticket.
Wendell Willkie, who withdrew from the presidential race a week ago, but whose name remained on the ballot, trailed Cdr. Stassen and Governor Dewey. President Roosevelt, the only entrant in the Democratic primary, received a token vote.
Figures listed
The returns from 1,345 of 2,013 precincts gave:
|
|
| Willkie (R) |
5,952 |
| Roosevelt (D) |
22,917 |
| Republican |
|
| Griswold |
50,854 |
| Brooks |
8,457 |
| Democratic |
|
| Heaton |
14,349 |
| Olsen |
14,083 |