Primary election interest lagging
Most candidates are lying low
By Kermit McFarland
Although the primary election is only a little more than two weeks away, there is little evidence to show that more than a handful are aware of it.
Even the professional politicians are looking beyond the April 25 date and, with a scant few exceptions, the candidates are lying low.
There are no “contests” in Allegheny County, in the sense that they have developed into active fights.
Republicans in dispute
In three of the five Congressional districts, the Republican Congressional nominations are in dispute, with five candidates in each of the three districts. But even in these “races,” activity is at a minimum.
The Republicans also present one contest for a State Senate seat and contests for legislative nominations in eight of the 13 districts.
Political attention mostly looks beyond the primary to the special session of the Legislature which will convene in Harrisburg May 1 and to the Republican National Convention which starts in Chicago June 26.
Short special session
Governor Edward Martin and legislative and political leaders in both parties are apparently in accord on a soldier vote law and both sides expect the sessions to be dispatched in a minimum of time.
Unless a snag develops, the session can be completed in less than five days. By starting the soldier vote bill through one branch of the Legislature Monday, May 1, it can be sent to the Governor’s desk shortly after midnight Friday morning.
Some effort is being made to induce Mr. Martin to include other subjects in the call for the special session, but he has insisted on limiting the call to the one issue.
Two other items asked
Rep. Thomas J. Heatherington (D-Versailles Township) yesterday urged the Governor to add two items to his call, providing for action on legislation to permit municipalities to spend “post-war surplus accumulations” wherever “local emergencies arise,” and to permit local governments to buy federal war surplus property without advertising for bids.
The main topic of debate in local political circles in the presidential nomination.
While most political leaders are confident Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York will be nominated on an early ballot, there is still some fear that Mr. Dewey may decide not to be a candidate.
Little interest in Vice President
There is little interest, at the moment, in possible candidates for the nomination of Vice President, although Chief Justice George W. Maxey of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is reportedly active as a candidate for this nomination.
On the Democratic side, there is some evidence of support for Senator Harry S. Truman (D-MO), chairman of the committee investigating the war effort, as a running mate for President Roosevelt. Senator Truman will speak to a meeting of the Allegheny County Motor Truck Association here Friday and will return in May to address the Democratic Jackson Day dinner.