The Pittsburgh Press (July 26, 1944)
‘Cotton Ed,’ Roosevelt foe, is defeated
Governor beats Smith; Mrs. Caraway loses
By the United Press
South Carolina Democrats retired the anti-New Dealer, Ellison D. “Cotton Ed” Smith, from the U.S. Senate after 36 years today, replacing him with Governor Olin D. Johnston who presented himself to the voters in yesterday’s primary as “pro-Roosevelt but disagreeing on certain domestic policies.”
Another veteran Democratic Senator – and the Senate’s only woman – was retired in yesterday’s primary in Arkansas where Mrs. Hattie Caraway, a member since 1931, was defeated for renomination.
Her leading opponent was Rep. J. William Fulbright, author of the Fulbright Resolution favoring U.S. collaboration with other nations to keep world peace, but it was indicated that he would fall short of a majority, thus necessitating a runoff primary to decide the winner. Mrs. Caraway was running fourth in the field of four and thus was eliminated.
Runoff is necessary
Returns from 1,510 of the 2,170 precincts gave:
| Fulbright | 51,380 |
| Barton | 30,497 |
| Adkins | 34,568 |
| Caraway | 18,006 |
Participants in the runoff primary will be the two candidates with the highest totals. Mr. Fulbright was assured of a place and the second place was between Mr. Barton and Mr. Adkins.
Returns from 1,356 precincts out of South Carolina’s 1,540 gave:
| Johnston | 111,462 |
| Smith | 73,971 |
Three other candidates for the Democratic nomination, which is the equivalent of election in South Carolina, received less than 23,000, thus giving Governor Johnston a majority of the votes cast.
Dean of the Senate
Senator Smith had served in the Senate continuously since 1908, is dean of that body, the chairman of its Agriculture Committee. He was one of the conservative Democrats who survived President Roosevelt’s “purge” efforts in 1938.
Mrs. Caraway was appointed to the Senate in 1931 to succeed her late husband, Thaddeus H. Caraway. She was elected in a special election in January 1932 to his unexpired term and reelected in the fall of 1932 and again in 1938.
Negroes were permitted to vote in the Democratic primary for the first time in Arkansas history. The only requirement was a poll tax receipt and election officials estimated 10,000 participated. No untoward incidents were reported.