America at war! (1941–) – Part 4

Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (November 8, 1944)

FROM
(A) SHAEF FORWARD

ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section

DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
081100A November

TO FOR ACTION
(1) AGWAR (Pass to WND)

TO (W) FOR INFORMATION (INFO)
(2) FIRST US ARMY GP
(3) ADV HQ 12 ARMY GP
(4) FWD ECH (MAIN) 12 ARMY GP
(5) AEAF
(6) ANCXF
(7) EXFOR MAIN
(8) EXFOR REAR
(9) DEFENSOR, OTTAWA
(10) CANADIAN C/S, OTTAWA
(11) WAR OFFICE
(12) ADMIRALTY
(13) AIR MINISTRY
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IN THE CLEAR

Communiqué No. 214

With the freeing of Willemstad, Allied forces now hold the entire south shore of the Hollands Diep River and the Meuse River with the exception of an area and east of the destroyed Moerdijk bridges where a small isolated force of the enemy is still holding out. On Walcheren, fighting is continuing northeast of Domburg. Gun positions in this area were hit by rocket-firing fighters. Elsewhere on the island, resistance has ceased. Two military buildings in Dunkerque were destroyed yesterday in attacks by rocket-firing fighters. Air attacks in enemy communications were continued. Fighter-bombers cut railway lines in the areas of Amersfoort, Apeldoorn and Zwolle. A railway bridge at Goch, an oil storage tank and railway buildings at Emmerich were hit by rocket-firing fighters and fighter-bombers.

Railway lines were cut in several other places along the Dutch-German frontier. Action continues in the Hürtgen Forest sector with a little change in positions. Fighting still is in progress in the village of Vossenack. Farther south, we have repulsed two counter-attacks from the vicinity of Schmidt. West of Schmidt our units improved their positions and mopped-up pockets of resistance. Enemy defense positions near Schmidt were attacked by fighter-bombers. Other targets were buildings, railway lines and bridges in the Ruhr. Rain slowed ground operations in the Lunéville-Remiremont sector. A strong counter-attack was repulsed west of Gerardmer after stiff fighting.

COORDINATED WITH: G-2, G-3 to C/S

THIS MESSAGE MAY BE SENT IN CLEAR BY ANY MEANS
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Precedence
“OP” - AGWAR
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ORIGINATING DIVISION
PRD, Communique Section

NAME AND RANK TYPED. TEL. NO.
D. R. JORDAN, Lt Col FA Ext. 9

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U.S. Navy Department (November 8, 1944)

CINCPAC Communiqué No. 178

Eleven enemy aircraft raided Saipan and Tinian Islands shortly after midnight on November 6 (West Longitude Date), causing no damage or personnel casualties. Three planes were shot down by antiaircraft fire while a fourth was probably destroyed.

Seventh Army Air Force Liberators dropped bombs on an airfield and revetments at Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands on November 6. A large fire resulted and two twin‑engine bombers on the ground were probably destroyed. A Navy search Liberator also bombed Iwo Jima on November 5.

Thunderbolts of the 7th Army Air Force attacked Pagan Island twice on November 6, rocketing and strafing installations.

Corsairs of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing attacked enemy barges and small craft in the Northern Palau Islands on November 6.

Seventh Army Air Force Liberators bombed anti-aircraft gun positions and a radio station on Marcus Island on November 6.

Navy search Venturas of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed and strafed gun positions, airstrips and ground installations on Wake Island on November 6. Large fires were started.

Neutralization raids were made over the Marshalls on November 6 by Corsairs of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.

The Pittsburgh Press (November 8, 1944)

americavotes1944

ROOSEVELT IS REELECTED
Democrats gain in House

Dewey leads 14 states; total vote may reach record of 51 million
By Lyle C. Wilson, United Press staff writer

New York –
President Roosevelt’s fourth-term election was conceded today by Governor Dewey and with it came Congressional gains bolstering the Democrats in the Senate and guaranteeing their numerical control of the House with a clear-cut majority of the 435 members.

Democratic numerical superiority in the Senate was not in jeopardy in yesterday’s election.

As the count of ballots continued, incomplete returns tabulated by the United Press showed Roosevelt had won or was leading in 34 states with 407 electoral votes and Dewey had won or was leading in 14 states with 124 electoral votes.

The popular vote standing was:

Roosevelt 20,864,847
Dewey 18,234,463

The United Press tabulation indicated that a new voting record might be set in this election. The returns showed that if the average continues the total vote will be 51 million, exclusive of some service men and women ballots to be counted later. The total vote in 1940 was 49,548,221.

Mr. Roosevelt had won or was ahead in: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.

Dewey had won or was ahead in: Colorado, Indiana, Towa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Dewey failed to break through Roosevelt defenses in the East, and that is where he lost this election. The big cities and most of the big states went for a fourth term. Big New York State put its 47 electoral votes solidly behind the President.

But Roosevelt would have lost the state except for the aid of the American Labor Party, which is allegedly controlled or influenced by the Communists, and the new Liberal Party, an anti-Communist labor organization which made its political debut yesterday.

The Democratic Party polled only 2,500,000 votes while the Republicans were piling up 2,906,000 in New York State on the basis of nearly complete returns. But the ALP rolled up 452,000 for Roosevelt, and the Liberals contributed 345,000 more. That leaves the two minor parties in a significant balance of power position in the richest, most populous and politically most powerful state in the union.

Trend in service vote

New York City’s five counties – or boroughs – illuminated some of the mysteries of the absentee armed service vote.

Of the 242,082 armed service ballots counted in New York City, Roosevelt got 73 percent and Dewey 27 percent. Significantly, the armed service ballots showed a majority for Roosevelt even in the two New York boroughs which are normally Republican – Queens and Richmond, although the margins were not great in either.

Changes in House

The returns by midafternoon showed that 383 House members had been elected. The breakdown was:

Democrats 214
Republicans 167
American Labor 1
Progressive 1
Contests undecided 52

At the same time, 28 candidates had been elected to the Senate. The breakdown was:

Democrats l8
Republicans 10

Undecided contests 7. Democrats led in 3 and Republicans in 4.

Senate holdovers who did not face polls this election: Democrats 36; Republicans 24; Progressive 1.

At 11:30 a.m., 13 governors had been elected, The breakdown:

Democrats 9
Republicans 6

Undecided contests 16. Democrats leading in 5 and Republicans in 11.

The big city machines poured in the presidential ballots for Roosevelt – New York, Jersey City, Chicago, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh remained loyal to the President, but Dewey was running a close Pennsylvania race. In New York City, Roosevelt had a greater vote and a greater plurality than in 1930, complete returns from the city’s five boroughs showed.

Dewey exceeds Willkie vote

He received 2,039,932 votes to 1,270,083 for Dewey in the city’s 3,700 election districts. This gave the President a plurality of 769,849 votes as compared with his 718,459 plurality over Wendell Willkie four years ago. His vote in 1940 was 1,966,083. Dewey, however, polled a heavier vote than Willkie, who got 1,247,624 in 1940.

Roosevelt was credited with 1,347,466 regular Democratic Party votes 388,608 American Labor and 303,858 Liberal Party votes. Even without the ALP and Liberal vote, Roosevelt had more than enough to beat Dewey in New York City.

Dewey conceded Roosevelt’s victory at 3:15 a.m. today in a statement which he read over the radio. The President heard it at Hyde Park and sent Dewey a “thank you” telegram.

‘No illusions for 1948’

As Dewes was leaving Republican headquarters somebody asked him about his plans for the future. He replied: “I have no illusions for 1948.”

Mayor Hague of Jersey City, New Jersey, the Democratic boss of the state, can congratulate himself on two counts.

His Hudson County machine apparently had turned up the votes to overcome Dewey’s lead accumulated elsewhere in the slate. And perhaps more important to Hague, it appeared that the proposal for scrapping New Jersey’s Constitution for a new streamline model had been licked.

Among advantages claimed for the proposed new Constitution was a set of provisions calculated to break Hague’s organization wide open and end his manipulation of one of the slickest political machines currently in operation in this country.

Governor Edge, a Republican advocate of the new Constitution, complained yesterday that Catholic priest had recommended in their churches Sunday that their communicants oppose the new Constitution. Edge charged that Hague had misled the clergy.

Other races recalled

The New Deal-Democratic machine, aided this time by a smooth organization of left-wing labor, was purring like a post-war motorcar. The popular vote was comparatively close and Mr. Roosevelt knew he had been in a contest. Dewey’s chief consolation, assuming there is no change in the trend, may be that he came closer than Herbert Hoover, Alf Landon or the late Wendell Willkie did to licking the champ.

The electoral vote score in those contests was respectively 472–56, 523–8, and 449–82.

The President stayed up until shortly after 3:30 a.m. EWT listening to the news, working pencils down to nubs on his own calculations and conferring by telephone with his scattered lieutenants. Between times he joshed with his White House aides gathered with him at Hyde Park and talked to the neighbors who assembled a couple of thousand strong in the grounds of the “big house” around midnight.

Thanks Dewey

Dewey sent no telegram of congratulations, a fact which Presidential Secretary Early remarked to newsmen at Hyde Park. But the President heard the broadcast report of Dewey’s concession and sent this telegram at once:

His Excellency Thomas E. Dewey,
Governor of New York,
Roosevelt Hotel, NY

I thank you for your statement which I have heard over the air a few minutes ago.

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

Dewey had said to reporters assembled at GOP headquarters:

It is clear that Mr. Roosevelt has been re-elected for a fourth term and every good American will wholeheartedly accept the will of the people. I extend to Mr. Roosevelt my hearty congratulations and my earnest hope for a speedy and lasting peace and the restoration of tranquility among our people.

Deweys leave smiling

There was a little more thanking his supporters and expressing confidence that “all Americans will join me in the devout hope that in the difficult years ahead Divine Providence will guide and protect the President of the United States.”

And then the Deweys went smiling on their way.

Some 120 reporters heard Dewey say he was licked. There had never been much enthusiasm around Republican headquarters on Election Day, although 2,000 or so party and headquarters workers gathered in the big Henrik Hudson room of the Roosevelt Hotel to whoop it up as the returns came in. What they hoped was that Dewey would make a victory appearance and give them a chance to raise the rood. The Governor did not show.

He was tempted to surrender at midnight, but decided to permit Republican Chairman Brownell to make a noncommittal statement instead.

Joy in Roosevelt camp

There was no foreboding up river where Mr. Roosevelt was the host and central figure. Just before midnight, his neighbors invaded the estate grounds and he told them that things were going fine.

“It looks like I’ll have to come back here on a train from Washington for the next four years,” he said and the crowd yelled its appreciation of Mr. Roosevelt’s appreciation of the community. It was worth the train trip just to get there for weekends, he told them.

“I’m glad to see you on this Election Day again – and I might say again, and again, and again,” he quipped.

The band of near-by Vassar College oompahed a tune and the rear porch affair was over. Less than four hours later, Mr. Roosevelt went to bed, confident that he had another four-year lease on the house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC. He was in gay spirits and almost as pleased that Rep. Ham Fish was licked as that Dewey had conceded him a fourth-term triumph.

Betting odds recalled

Election returns followed the betting odds which had made Mr. Roosevelt a favorite.

This has been a bitter campaign and the feeling will carry over into the next Congress in spite of best intentions all around. There is resentment against the fourth term. The anti-New Deal coalition of Republicans and conservative Democrats probably will continue to function.

Dewey pronounced the Republican Party “revitalized” by this campaign for the good of the country and for “the preservation of free government in America.”

And he feels that he contributed greatly to national unity on the issue of the method and extent of our post-war collaboration in the world peace organization.

But it remains to be seen how far the so-called “isolationist” Republican legislators will follow his lead – now that he has conceded that he will be in Albany when the debate begins in Washington.

Gen. Patton flanks Metz, gains mile in new attack

By J. Edward Murray, United Press staff writer

War parleys due for Roosevelt

May go to Paris, meet Churchill, Stalin


12 killed, 75 hurt in coast wreck

americavotes1944

parry3

I DARE SAY —
Maud Muller – so what?

By Florence Fisher Parry

Yes, yes, I know. It was NOT Tennyson who penned that awful couplet ending in “it might have been.” I have heard of my error agane and agane and agane. I have tried to blame it on the election, on something I ate, on being cursed with the kind of mind that is forever calling my son Frederic when his name is David, and my brother David when his name is Frederic. Sorry, sorry, sorry. When you write for a newspaper, you’re supposed to write it right.

Once when I first started writing a column, I nearly lost my job because, when the editor called me into his presence to tell me that I had made the appalling mistake of calling Florence Vidor Florence Fisher, I asked him what difference that made; everyone would know I didn’t mean me.

“You make ships only about the things you know best,” I tried to tell him. And I still am of the same mind. Accurate people are never quite sure of their ground. They never take the risk of letting their minds slip. into neutral, they’re always in gear.

That’s the only fault I could scrape up to find with Mr. Dewey. He is ALWAYS so doggone accurate. Of course, this country could DO with a little accuracy… but don’t let’s get on THAT subject today. It’s Election Day as I write these scrambled words and if I implied yesterday that Tennyson wrote Maud Muller, I’m apt to put ANYTHING in this column today! One comforting thing is that it won’t be read – who’s going to see, think, LIVE anything but the Returns!

Fond delusion

Now already the easygoing are beginning to tell us that never mind who wins, this election and its issues will slide off our united backs like water off a duck’s back, and that we’ll be just one good-natured family again, telling each other that we hadn’t meant what we said, we were just talking.

I say such a loose attitude is an insult to Americans. If we can’t keep on believing TODAY what we believed YESTERDAY, what kind of folks are we anyway? If we can’t fight and pray today for the things we fought and prayed about yesterday, what kind of souls have we, say?

I saw a woman voting today at 7:00 a.m. She was on her way to her war work – Nurses aide in one of the hospitals. I saw another a few minutes later who had just got word that her only son has been killed. She was on her way to the Blood Bank – where she hasn’t lost an hour since the news came that her only child was dead.

These women worked hard campaigning. Nothing was too much for them, I saw men, too, at the polls this morning who had been putting their whole might into this campaign. Now, these people happened to believe as I believe.

And at the polls I saw those on the OTHER side who had worked like zealots, with an equal drive, purpose, belief. You can’t tell me that after today these men and women are all going to be in sweet accord with one another!

We are a wonderful people! We pull together in war. In crisis we are one. Our Armed Forces’ performance has been the astonishment of the world. But to assume that in order to achieve this teamwork we all laid aside – or will again – the deep political fundamental issues which electrified this campaign, is crazy. We all kept on thinking the same thoughts, and we will continue to do so.

The same as ever

Now they say this has been a dirty campaign, contemptible, shameful, low. I don’t think so, when you consider how, ever since the war began, the people of this country have been doing their almighty best to put their political detestations aside for the sake of the greater stakes this war confronted us with.

This campaign was a perfectly natural breaking out on both sides, and as healthy as hives.

Oh, yes, there has been campaign oratory; the professional politicians have had a great time. But they’re not the American people; they’re not the rank and file.

We, the people, are a different breed. God keep us faithful to our land, our flag, and the dreams that went into its making!

Kenney: Philippines must be taken by airpower

Japs’ advantage in bases must be offset by U.S. chiefs’ superior strategy
By Royal Arch Gunnison, North American Newspaper Alliance

americavotes1944

Democrats seize control of House

Ham Fish among those defeated

New York (UP) –
The Democrats appeared assured of stronger control of the House of Representatives today with a gain of approximately 20 seats.

A United Press tabulation shortly before noon showed Democratic nominees had ousted 20 incumbent Republicans and had filled at least four of the five vacancies now in the House. The Republicans won two seats now held by Democrats, leaving the Democrats a net gain of 22. There were 93 undecided contests.

The Republicans lost five seats in Pennsylvania, four in Connecticut, three in New York, two in Illinois and one each in Maryland, Kentucky, Minnesota, California, Missouri and Ohio.

The 342 candidates definitely elected included 202 Democrats, 138 Republicans, one Progressive and one American Labor Party member. The Democrats have 214 against 212 Republican seats in the present Congress, and need at least 218 for a bare majority.

The Democrats lost one seat in California, when Republican Gordon L. McDonough defeated Democrat Hal Styles for the seat which former Democratic Rep. John M. Costello lost to Mr. Styles in the primary election.

The Democrats shared one notable victory but it will do them no good when the House is organized. Augustus W. Bennet, nominee of the Democratic, American Labor, Liberal and Good Government parties, defeated Republican incumbent Hamilton Fish Jr. (R-NY). A lifelong Republican, he will vote Republican in the House.

Fish won primary

Mr. Bennet unsuccessfully opposed Mr. Fish in the Republican primary.

Of the 292 candidates definitely elected, 189 were Democrats, 101 Republicans, one American Labor and one Progressive.

The House leaders of both parties were reelected. They were Republican Leader Joseph W. Martin Jr. (R-MA) and Democratic Leader John W. McCormack (D-MA).

Another Republican loss was Melvin J. Maas (R-MN), ranking GOP member of the House Naval Affairs Committee.

Mr. Maas served on Guadalcanal in this war as a lieutenant colonel of Marines. A sharp critic of the New Deal, he was trailing Democrat Frank Starkey.

Mrs. Luce wins

Mrs. Clare Boothe Luce (R-CT) finally won reelection after trailing Democrat Miss Margaret E. Connors.

Incumbent Democrats were generally winning. Among the closer races was that of Chairman Andrew J. May (D-KY) of the Military Affairs Committee. Incomplete returns showed him running behind Elmer E. Gabbard.

Of the 435 members of the new House, three Republicans were elected in September, and five Republicans, 51 Democrats, mostly in the South, and one American Labor Party candidate were unopposed.

Precedent maintained

The prospects of another Democratic House were in accord with election precedents. Not in 68 years has the party which elected the President lost the House. In every presidential year election since the Civil War, except that of 1916, the President’s own party has increased its House membership.

Four years ago, when Mr. Roosevelt defeated the late Wendell L. Willkie, the Democrats won 268 House seats. This total was cut down in the 1942 election and was further reduced by deaths among Democratic members.

americavotes1944

Ham Fish blames Reds, does not regret defeat

Says he waged his strongest fight

Albany, New York (UP) –
Rep. Hamilton Fish Jr., veteran member of Congress and pre-Pearl Harbor isolationist, was defeated for reelection in the 29th Congressional district by Augustus W. Bennet, Democratic and American Labor Party candidate, practically complete returns showed today.

Mr. Bennet had approximately a 5,000-vote lead over Mr. Fish who conceded his defeat, and blamed Communist propaganda.

Mr. Fish said:

I admit, publicly, that my defeat should be largely credited to Communistic and Red forces from New York City backed by a large slush fund probably exceeding $250,000. This slush fund and propaganda had no effect where I was known in Orange County but did succeed in deceiving the people in the three new counties [of the reapportioned district].

I have no regrets whatever as I waged the strongest fight that I knew how.

The one-time isolationist leader and long-time adversary of President Roosevelt said that he was “fearful that the overwhelming election of President Roosevelt is at step toward setting up one-man and one-party government in our own country.

americavotes1944

Roosevelt’s county lead nearly 80,000

President’s 1940 figure is sliced

Returns from 1,020 of Allegheny County’s 1,024 election districts gave President Roosevelt a lead approaching 80,000 votes over Governor Dewey and rang up another smashing victory for the President in this Democratic stronghold.

Although Mr. Roosevelt’s margin of victory over his opponent may be about 23,000 votes below his county lead over the late Wendell Willkie in 1940, it blasted the expressed hopes of Republican leaders that they could hold the President to something like a 50,000 plurality.

Returns from 1,020 districts gave:

Roosevelt 321,679
Dewey 243,097

The President came out of Pittsburgh with a lead of 54,718, four districts missing, then proceeded to roll up another commanding lead in the third-class cities, boroughs and townships. His Pittsburgh vote, however, was close to 20,000 below that he received in 1940.

Governor Dewey took five city wards away from Roosevelt – the 7th, 19th, 26th, 28th and 29th, but not by sufficient margins to stop the Roosevelt rush, In 1940, Mr. Willkie succeeded in capturing four city wards. The city vote, with four districts missing stood at:

Roosevelt 157,367
Dewey 102,649

The Roosevelt lead was amassed in almost every section of the county – not confined to heavily Democratic Pittsburgh and the highly industrial third-class cities, although the latter gave him approximately the same vote as in 1940, with the exception of McKeesport. That city showed a drop of roughly 2,000 votes for both candidates, as compared with its 1940 totals.

In the townships, Mr. Dewey made his best race in Mt. Lebanon, where he handed the President almost a five-to-one beating. Complete returns there gave Dewey 9,803 votes, Roosevelt 2,105.

Township totals showed the following result:

Roosevelt 49,926
Dewey 47,261

The Mt. Lebanon vote, however, Was offset by a disappointingly low vote in Wilkinsburg, the county’s largest borough, which has the reputation of going Republican by wide margins. With only two districts missing, Dewey polled 8,217 Votes to Roosevelt’s 4,556. In 1940, Willkie polled 10,183 to the President’s 5,888.

Returns from the boroughs gave:

Roosevelt 87,693
Dewey 79,402

Other Democrats lead

Approximately 565,000 ballots were cast in the county – plus an estimated 50,000 soldier ballots – bringing the total to about 615,000, something like 30,000 less than in 1940.

Democratic nominees for state offices also showed an early lead over their Republican opponents on the face of almost complete returns from the county.

U.S. Senator James J. Davis, Republican incumbent, was trailing his Democratic opponent, Francis J. Myers of Philadelphia; Returns from 1,009 districts gave:

Myers 310,320
Davis 240,314

Returns from 1,016 districts in the fight between Federal Judge Charles Alvin Jones of Edgeworth, the Democratic choice, and Judge Howard W. Hughes of Washington County, the Republican candidate showed Judge Jones out in front with a comfortable lead.

Returns from 1,016 districts follow:

Jones 312,398
Hughes 239,553

Judge Jones is expected to run particularly strong in the county where he has shown unusual strength in past campaigns. He was appointed to his present post on the Federal Third Circuit Court of Appeals by President Roosevelt in 1939. He had previously been a Democratic candidate for Governor in 1938 and for several years served as County Solicitor of Allegheny County.

Run neck and neck

The Democratic candidates for two vacancies on the state’s Superior Court bench were also leading their Republican opponents on returns from 1,016 districts. The two Democratic candidates, Auditor General F. Clair Ross of Butler and Judge Chester H. Rhodes of Stroudsburg, were running well ahead of Common Pleas Court Judge J. Frank Graff of Kittanning and his Republican running mate, former Governor Arthur H. James, now serving on the Superior Court bench by appointment of Governor Edward Martin.

Returns from 1,016 districts of the county showed the following results in the Superior Court fight:

Ross 312,375
Rhodes 306,890
Graff 234,565
James 233,257

The two Democratic candidates for State Treasurer and Auditor General, the state’s highest fiscal offices, were also showing their heels to their Republican opponents.

Wagner leads

The 1.014 districts reporting gave G. H. Wagner, Democratic candidate for Auditor General, and his opponent, State Senator G. Harold Watkins, Republican of Luzerne County, the following vote:

Wagner 306,364
Watkins 233,382

In the contest for State Treasurer, 1,014 districts gave the Democratic nominee, Ramsey S. Black of Harrisburg, a lead over Edgar W. Baird, now City Treasurer of Philadelphia. Available returns show:

Black 305,257
Baird 236,607

Weiss leads

Two Democratic incumbent Congressmen were assured of victory. They were Congressman Samuel A. Weiss, of Glassport, who was leading Republican Ray A. Liddle 65,334 to 29,108 in the 33rd district, and Congressman Herman P. Eberharter who was leading Republican Gregory Zatkovich 75,778 to 30,660 in returns from 174 out of 190 districts.

The Congressional race in the 29th, 30th and 31st district were of the neck-and-neck variety. Attorney James G. Fulton was leading incumbent Democrat James A. Wright in returns from 224 of 232 districts in the 31st district.

americavotes1944

Backer rushes 5th term protest to Hannegan

Nashville, Tennessee (UP) –
Shortly after Governor Thomas E. Dewey conceded his defeat today, the first protest against a fifth term for President Roosevelt was forwarded to Chairman Robert E. Hannegan of the Democratic National Committee by a four-time FDR supporter.

The protest was sent by Charles L. Andrews, promotion manager for radio station WLAC, an ardent admirer of Mr. Roosevelt. Mr. Andrews declared that he would renege on another term because he believes 16 years in office is enough for any man even though he be a Democrat of unimpeachable character.

americavotes1944

Democrats in position to gain three governorships in 31 elections

Returns incomplete in several states

New York (UP) –
Democrats appeared today to be in a position to make a net gain of three and possibly four governorships on the bests of trends indicated in still incomplete returns from yesterday’s election.

Before this election, 26 states had Republican governors; 22 had Democrats. A total of 31 governorships were at stake. In the 17 states where there was no contest, there are 10 Democratic governors and seven Republican.

Democrats were leading in these previously Republican states: Idaho, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio and Washington. Massachusetts seemed certain to elect a Democratic governor – Mayor Maurice J. Tobin of Boston who had a comfortable 44,000-vote lead over Horace T. Cahill.

GOP gains likely

The Republicans may pick up Indiana, North Dakota and Utah, from the Democrats.

There was a stiff battle in Delaware, where Republican incumbent Walter W. Bacon Jed Isaac J. McCollum by only 277 votes in a contest which probably will be decided by the soldier vote now being counted.

Definitely elected were Democratic governors in seven states – Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. Republicans were elected in Connecticut, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire and Vermont. These results represented no change in the party that has been in power.

With heavy polling districts in Illinois still unreported, Republican incumbent Dwight H. Green led Chicago’s Kelly-backed Democrat, Thomas J. Courtney, by 24,000.

In Missouri, Democrat Phil M. Donnelly passed Jean Paul Bradshaw by approximately 15,000 votes in a seesaw battle.

Lausche ahead in Ohio

After a slow start, Cleveland’s Democratic Mayor Frank Lausche Gained steadily and finally edged past the Republican gubernatorial candidate, Mayor James Garfield Stewart of Cincinnati, by a slight count.

Still a tossup was the fiercely fought contest in Indiana where Republican Ralph F. Gates recaptured a slight lead over Senator Samuel D. Jackson.

The soldier vote loomed as the determining factor in Delaware where, with virtually the entire civilian vote counted, Republican Governor Walter W. Bacon held only a slender margin of 277 votes over Democratic Isaac J. McCollum. The soldier ballot will be counted immediately.

Wallgren leads Langlie

In Washington, Democratic Senator Mon C. Wallgren held a 20,000-vote margin over Republican incumbent Arthur B. Langlie.

In Utah, Democratic incumbent Herbert B. Maw trailed by 3,000 votes in a hard fight with J. Bracken Lee.

Conceded were Democratic victories for incumbents in Arizona, Rhode Island and Texas; in Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. Indicated was Democrat J. J. Dempsey’s reelection in New Mexico.

In the bag for Republican incumbents were Connecticut, Montana, Nebraska. Vermont and Iowa were definitely in the GOP camp. Prospects were good, also, for GOP incumbents in Wisconsin, South Dakota, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, and Michigan. North Dakota and New Hampshire, too, were regarded as safe.

7 GOP holdovers

The seven Republican holdovers were New York, New Jersey, Maine (September election), Pennsylvania, Kentucky, California and Oregon.

Previously sewed up for the Democrats were 10 states – Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Maryland, Virginia, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Nevada.

Insiders believe –
Simms: Roosevelt should accept de Gaulle’s invitation now

Visit to France considered imperative to save blowup that would peril Europe’s future
By William Philip Simms, Scripps-Howard foreign editor

British in Italy gain on Adriatic

Jap ship toll in Luzon raids rises to 30

Showdown battle opens on Leyte

Robot attacks on America possible, Navy says

americavotes1944

Gracie Allen Reporting

By Gracie Allen

Hollywood, California –
Well, the election is over and it’s high time we started thinking about who our next President is going to be. I’m in a hurry because Professor Hooton of Harvard says that it is entirely possible that a woman might become President of this country.

Let’s get started, girls, there are only 1,461 shopping days until the next election.

On the other hand, maybe we shouldn’t be too flattered. Professor Hooton is an authority on apes.

Besides, where are we going to find a woman with the brain, ability, personal charm and integrity necessary for the job of Vice President? And after that, where are we going to find a Vice President to run with me?

americavotes1944

North Dakota’s Nye, leading Senate isolationist, looks like a goner

Republicans hold own elsewhere in U.S.

New York (UP) –
The Senate’s leading Republican isolationist, Gerald P. Nye (R-ND), was apparently headed for retirement today according to late returns which showed his Democratic opponent, Governor John Moses, rolling up a 13,000-vote lead.

Returns from 595 of the state’s 2,254 precincts gave Moses 33,588 to Nye’s 20,920. Independent Lynn U. Stambaugh, whose campaign apparently split the Republican vote to bring about Nye’s defeat, had received 7,244 votes on last returns.

Elsewhere in the country, the GOP was just holding its own in the Senate, where it now has 37 of the 96 seats.

Other losses balanced

If the present trend continues, the Senate rollcall will still read 58 Democrats, 37 Republicans and 1 Progressive when the 79th Congress convenes in January.

The likely loss of the North Dakota seat by the Republicans, the conceded defeat of Senator John A. Danaher (R-CT) by Democrat Brien McMahon, and the poor showing of Senator James J. Davis (R-PA) were counterbalanced by apparent gains in Indiana, Iowa and New Jersey.

The Connecticut tally gave Danaher 390,553 to McMahon’s 428,757. In Pennsylvania, Davis was trailing 1,636,130 to 1,650,370 for Democrat Francis J. Myers, but 210,000 soldier votes remain to be counted Nov, 22.

GOP gains in Midwest

GOP gains apparently were rolling up in Indiana, where Republican Homer E. Capehart was leading Democratic Governor Henry F. Schricker, 529,036 to 518,085, with 2,534 of the state’s 4,016 precincts reporting.

The Republican candidate in Iowa, Governor Bourke B. Hickenlooper, was elected over Democratic Senator Guy M. Gillette.

In New Jersey, Republican H. Alexander Smith was leading Democrat Elmer H. Wene, 728,806 to 650,336, with 2,723 of 3,647 precincts reporting.

Meanwhile, Southern Democrats, as expected, won easily with Senators Lister Hill (D-AL), Claude Pepper (D-FL), Walter F. George (D-GA) and John Overton (D-LA) being reelected, and Clyde R. Hoey (D-NC) and Olin D. Johnston (D-SC) going to the Senate for the first time.

Barkley wins early

Senator Alben W. Barkley (D-KY), Senate Democratic leader, won early, and Senator Millard E. Tydings (D-MD) loped in to win shortly afterward.

Senator Elbert D. Thomas (D-UT) won after lagging earlier behind Republican Adam S. Bennion.

Vermont’s Senator George D. Aiken was the first Republican to get under the reelection wire after 11 Democrats had already won their races. Mr. Aiken had 65,198 to 32,092 for Democrat Harry W. Witters when 231 out of 288 precincts reported.

Morse leading

Republican Wayne L. Morse, the labor conciliator who asked for and received CIO support after he had beaten Senator Rufus C. Holman in the primaries, was leading Democrat Edgar W. Smith in Oregon, 67,888 to 39,458 and appeared safe.

Senator Robert F. Wagner (D-NY) seesawed through much of the night to lead Republican Thomas J. Curran, 2,816,870 to 2,216,525, early today.

Democratic incumbents appearing to hold safe leads were:

  • CALIFORNIA: Senator Sheridan Downey reelected over Republican Frederick F. Houser.

  • ILLINOIS: Senator Scott W. Lucas, 1,374,009 to 1,091,847 for Republican Richard J. Lyons.

  • NEVADA: Senator Pat McCarran, reelected over Republican George W. Malone.

  • OKLAHOMA: Senator Elmer Thomas, 273,850 to 215,578 for Republican W. J. Otjen.

Republican incumbents with apparently safe leads were:

  • KANSAS: Senator Clyde M. Reed, 56,648 to 45,888 for Democrat Thurman Hill.

  • NEW HAMPSHIRE: Senator Charles W. Tobey, 91,342 to 86,423 for Democrat Joseph J. Betley.

  • OHIO: Senator Robert A. Taft, 426,250 to 388,510 for Democrat William G. Pickrel.

  • SOUTH DAKOTA: Senator Chan Gurney, 39,812 to 21,485 for Democrat George W. Bradshaw.

  • WISCONSIN: Senator Alexander R. Wiley, 79,742 to 36,414 for Democrat Howard J. McMurray.

Lagging reports from Massachusetts, where little more than a sixth of the vote was counted, gave Republican Leverett C. Saltonstall 180,877 to 93,356 for Democrat John H. Corcoran.

Missouri’s race remained close when 4,207 of the state’s 4,543 precincts gave Democrat Roy McKittrick 680,938 against 680,696 for Republican Forrest C. Donnell.


Drys beaten by 3–1 in Nebraska

Fear of new taxes among factors

Omaha, Nebraska (UP) –
A proposal to return prohibition to Nebraska went down to a resounding defeat today as a general statewide anti-prohibition sentiment rolled up a three-to-one majority against the measure.

Returns from 1,390 of the state’s 2,026 precincts showed 258,636 votes against the proposal, and 86,851 for it.

Opponents of the proposal said distrust of the effectiveness of dry laws, resentment against the proposal’s presentation in wartime and apprehension over new or increased taxes to replace liquor revenues caused the proposal’s defeat.

americavotes1944

Helen Gahagan in growing lead

Hollywood, California (UP) –
Democratic glamor girl Helen Gahagan Douglas took a growing lead in incomplete returns in the 14th district today over Republican William D. Campbell for election to Thomas F. Ford’s House of Representatives seat.

The actress, boosted by Hollywood liberals and the CIO as competition for Republican Clare Boothe Luce, was leading Campbell 37,272 to 34,271 in the latest returns, with 371 of the district’s 606 precincts still to report.

Mrs. Douglas, wife of film star Melvyn Douglas, now an Army major stationed in India, won the nomination in the May primary after Mr. Ford declined to run.

americavotes1944

Roosevelt victory pleases British

London, England (UP) –
Early editions of London afternoon newspapers bannered the reelection of President Roosevelt and carried editorials hailing his victory.

“…We in Britain can congratulate President Roosevelt for a triumph that makes American history,” the Evening News said in an editorial titled “Still on the Bridge.”

The Star stressed that Americans had given President Roosevelt an “unmistakable mandate for action beyond the fighting. They decided that he is the man to guide them both in the making of peace and the return to peace conditions.”

The Evening Standard paid tribute to President Roosevelt as the leader of an allied nation to whom Britain is linked by blood ties.


Moscow hails early vote returns in U.S.

Moscow, USSR (UP) –
Early election returns showing President Roosevelt leading in 32 states caused satisfaction here.

The Russians are primarily interested in whether or not recent trends in American foreign policy will continue or will be interrupted.

Pravda, the Communist Party newspaper, is the only newspaper which appears on Tuesday and it came out late in order to include New York dispatches reporting the preliminary results of the young.