Election 1944: Pre-convention news

[NormanStewart]

Chicago Tribune backs Gen. MacArthur

Chicago, Illinois (UP) –
The Chicago Tribune today endorsed Gen. Douglas MacArthur as Republican candidate for the Presidency.

Gen. MacArthur, one of the two Republican candidates entered in the Illinois presidential preference primary Tuesday, was entered in the Illinois primary by the MacArthur-for-President Club. Gen. MacArthur did not indicate his desire to be a candidate.

Gen. MacArthur’s opponent is Riley A. Bender, former Illinois state prison warden.

[NormanStewart]

Stokes: Circuit-riding Bricker may be doing ‘a Willkie’

Talking tour through Midwest to coast has been exuberant but unimpressive
By Thomas L. Stokes, Scripps-Howard staff writer

Columbus, Ohio –
Governor John W. Bricker has become almost a stranger in this capital city.

He’s away a good deal of the time in his quest of the Republican presidential nomination. He’s just dashed off on a two-week tour that took him first to Indianapolis, then to Chicago and the West Coast.

The big, handsome fellow is working hard. He is doing on the national circuit what Wendell Willkie tried to do in Wisconsin. Thus far – and it is getting late – there is little indication that Governor Bricker is doing any better.

The Bricker campaign has all the exuberance of a campaign conducted by amateurs, which it is largely.

This is manifest, not only in their methods, but in their current reaction – or professed reaction – that the withdrawal of Wendell Willkie has helped the cause of Governor Bricker. Practical political considerations would, it seems, point in the opposite direction.

Governor Bricker was never more than a dark horse chance, in a deadlocked convention, judging from the analysis of expert politicians. The only chance for a deadlocked convention was a contest between Mr. Willkie and Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York. But Wisconsin ended Mr. Willkie’s candidacy.

Dewey, the unknown

This is not to deny that there are not still, among the GOP leaders, some who are not quite sure of young Governor Dewey. Some would like to have a nominee perhaps a little more tractable, a little less of an unknown quantity. But Governor Dewey has stepped so far out in front, not only in popularity polls but in his showing as a vote-getter in Wisconsin, that these people are hesitant to start anything.

If they were still determined to try to stop Governor Dewey, they would have to find someone to do it.

Governor Bricker doesn’t seem to have the necessary spark to set off public enthusiasm.

Taft is more likely

If the opportunity offered itself where there might be a chance to stop Governor Dewey, the candidate selected to try to job rather would be Senator Taft, runner-up to Mr. Willkie in the 1940 convention, than Governor Bricker, it is believed. He is much better grounded in national and international affairs than is Governor Bricker and enjoys more confidence for this reason.

Governor Bricker is put forward as a Midwest candidate and his appeal would be expected to lie there, to start. But in a tour which covered Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Nebraska, this writer failed to discover, either among the politicians, or among the rank and file, any noticeable enthusiasm for him.

Good governor, but…

In Ohio, his home state, he is well regarded as a governor, but most people here find it hard to consider him as a possible President in these times.

There’s been some talk of him getting the Willkie strength, whatever that is. But it is difficult to see how Governor Bricker would fall heir to any of whatever it is, considering the divergent views of the two men on almost every subject.

[NormanStewart]

Bricker pledges ‘needed platform’

Deer Lodge, Montana (UP) –
Ohio Governor John W. Bricker, campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination, says he will “proceed to build a platform and conduct a campaign that will meet the need of America” because the American people “are determined to remain free and self-governing.”

Governor Bricker, who passed through here yesterday en route to Spokane and a campaign tour of the West, said Wendell L. Willkie’s withdrawal from the race for the GOP nomination, had not changed his plans or those of the Republican Party.

He criticized the administration for its “encroachment of government on private lives.”

[NormanStewart]

Background of news –
Defeated candidates

By Bertram Benedict

Speculation is rife on Wendell Willkie’s future course in the Republican Party, now that he has withdrawn from the 1944 presidential nomination race. Despite his decisive repudiation by Wisconsin voters last Tuesday, Mr. Willkie still has backing from a considerable number of individuals influential in the GOP.

Sometimes a defeated presidential candidate continues to dominate party affairs, sometimes he drops out of the party picture. A President defeated for reelection is more apt to steer his party’s course than is a candidate nominated only once, for the former has had more chance than the latter to build up an organization owing him personal allegiance.

In 1936, Governor Alf Landon after his defeat withdrew for a time from politics, although later he opposed publicly some of President Roosevelt’s foreign policy, and in 1944 has done some maneuvering in regard to the Republican presidential nomination.

For a time after Mr. Hoover left the White House in 1933, the Republican Party really was without definite national leadership until the 1936 Republican Convention fell under the domination of John D. M. Hamilton, Mr. Landon’s manager.

Smith-Raskob control ousted

In 1928, the Democratic Party after its disastrous defeat under Alfred E. Smith largely repudiated his leadership, except in the East. It is true that John J. Raskob, a Smith man, continued to be head of the Democratic National Committee, but as 1932 rolled around, James A. Farley and the Rooseveltians had little trouble in putting the Raskob group to rout in most states.

In 1924, John W. Davis let his party leadership go by default after his defeat. James M. Cox was also inactive after 1920, with most Democrats recognizing ex-President Wilson as their leader until his death.

In 1916, Charles Evans Hughes made no attempt to keep a grip upon the party helm, nor did William Howard Taft after 1912.

But Theodore Roosevelt, after seceding from the Republican Party in 1912 and running for the Presidency on a third-party ticket, resumed his active interest in Republican affairs. He really dominated the GOP on the eve of the 1916 convention, and might well have been the Republican nominee again in 1920 had he lived.

William J. Bryan continued to rule the Democratic Party after his defeat in 1896, the first year he was nominated, and he easily got the nomination again in 1900. Then he lost control, anxious as he was to retain it, but he regained it before 1908, the year of his third nomination.

Bryan promoted Wilson

Even after his third defeat, he was influential in Democratic affairs, and was largely responsible for the nomination of Mr. Wilson in 1912.

On the other hand. Alton B. Parker completely surrender his leadership of the Democrats after his defeat in 1904.

Farther back, the record continues mixed. Grover Cleveland stayed in the saddle after coming out second best in 1888, and he got his third nomination – and reelection – four years later. But ex-President Benjamin Harrison gave up leadership of the Republicans on his defeat in 1892. Gen. Hancock for the Democrats did the same thing after 1880.

Blaine (Republican) and Tilden (Democrat) continued to be the outstanding leaders of their parties after their defeats in 1884 and 1876, respectively; and in each case they probably could have had renomination if they had wanted it.

In trying to get the Republican presidential nomination in 1944, Mr. Willkie no doubt kept in mind the fact that the GOP has never renominated a defeated candidate for the Presidency.

[NormanStewart]

Free airmail for votes

Washington (UP) –
Postal officials said today that all post offices have been advised to be vigilant in honoring the free mailing privileges for ballots mailed to and from servicemen under the new soldier vote law.

The act provides that free airmail facilities will be used, wherever practical, for transportation of ballots to servicemen in this country and abroad, the first time such a privilege has been granted anyone. Even government agencies have to pay.

[NormanStewart]

The Pittsburgh Press (April 11, 1944)

Owlett: New Deal seeks domination

Manufacturers’ head denounces theorists

Doylestown, Pennsylvania – (special)
G. Mason Owlett, president of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association, in a speech here last night, charged the New Deal with seeking “to gain complete domination of all industry, all enterprise and all initiative.”

He said:

We see this in the limitations being cunningly imposed on free enterprise by rattle-pated theorists who seek to make over our economic system without admitting that it’s being socialized.

Red tape curbs enterprise

Mr. Owlett is also Republican National Committeeman from Pennsylvania and a candidate at the April 25 primary for delegate-at-large to the Republican presidential convention.

He said:

When victory is finally ours, we don’t want an America where every detail of our private lives is run by government brass hats. A man has to have a little room to move around in if he’s going to do his part to build a better world. He can’t do much when he’s all tied up with regulations, red tape, restrictions and trick taxes that rob him of all chance to live his own life and plan his own adventures.

Personal initiative destroyed

Mr. Owlett said the Roosevelt administration “has destroyed personal initiative and undermined the pillars of all enterprise.”

He said:

The greatest contribution that government can make toward the steady increase in the American standard of living aside from war production, sound money, proper tariffs and fair courts, will be made if government avoids competition in industry and confines itself to the strictest protection of equality and corporate ventures into new fields.

[NormanStewart]

Stokes: War factor may keep Ohio for Roosevelt

State may elect GOP Governor, Senator
By Thomas L. Stokes, Scripps-Howard staff writer

Cleveland, Ohio –
Ohio is going to be bitter fighting territory in November’s election.

It looks Republican in complexion today, and is likely to repeat in choosing a Republican governor and U.S. Senator.

But Democrats are hopeful that the war may swing the state in President Roosevelt’s column in November, in such a mixed result as has happened in recent years. In the presidential contest, Ohio is still labeled doubtful.

The outcome will depend upon this great industrial city, upon what size Democratic majority it can piled up to offset downstate Republicanism, increasingly powerful in the rural districts and small towns.

Carried by Roosevelt

Mr. Roosevelt carried Ohio in 1940 against Wendell Willkie by 147,000. Most of the margin came from Cleveland. He carried Cuyahoga County by 138,000.

Cleveland Democrats have a prize exhibit who may help considerably in turning the trick. This is big, broad-shouldered Mayor Frank J. Lausche, twice elected by thumping majorities. He is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in a field of six candidates. His nomination is forecast.

He should help Mr. Roosevelt in this city, especially with the war the issue.

A second-generation American, of Slovenian parentage, he has the patriotic fervor of the second-generation American, and is an effective public speaker. Enjoys favor generally because of his admittedly fine administration as mayor.

Compared with Lincoln

He is a towering and commanding figure, with a great mop of black hair that waves about when he warms up on the platform. Sincere, serious, he rather cherishes the comparison to Abraham Lincoln.

He was in the Army in World War I, though he did not get overseas. He was a semi-pro baseball player, but he resisted the temptation to go into professional baseball; instead, studied law and began practice here in Cleveland.

Vying for the Republican gubernatorial nomination are Mayor James Garfield Stewart of Cincinnati, backed by the State Republican chairman and boss, Ed Schorr; Tom Herbert, attorney general, who has the support of Senator Harold Burton, and Paul Herbert, no relation, the Lieutenant Governor.

Stewart favored

Mayor Stewart seems to be favored.

Senator Robert A. Taft is not opposed for renomination and looks a sure winner in November. William G. Pickrel of Dayton, former Lieutenant Governor, is given the edge in a three-man contest for the Democratic senatorial nomination.

[NormanStewart]

Editorial: The isolation myth

One week after the Wisconsin primary, some fourth-termers and Willkie adherents are claiming that he was defeated by isolationists, as the isolationists themselves contend.

We repeat the well-known facts, which are the opposite of that myth:

Thomas E. Dewey – who won while refusing to run – four years ago was no more and no less an isolationist than Mr. Willkie and President Roosevelt, who campaigned on the pledge of keeping this country out of war if possible. Since Pearl Harbor, Mr. Dewey has gone farther than Mr. Willkie or Mr. Roosevelt in endorsing an Anglo-American alliance, which is the opposite of isolationism – not to mention Mr. Dewey’s strong international plank in his 1942 campaign for governor, and his recent repudiation of “the Gerald L. K. Smiths.”

Mr. Willkie was not the extreme internationalist candidate in the Wisconsin primary. That was Harold E. Stassen, the advocate of a world state, which neither Mr. Willkie nor Mr. Dewey supports. Mr. Stassen ran a good second, in comparison to fourth place for Mr. Willkie.

All of which is unanswerable proof that isolationism did not defeat Mr. Willkie nor account for Mr. Dewey’s large vote.

But no such evidence is needed to disprove the charge that the Republicans of Wisconsin or of the nation are isolationist. The Republican Mackinac Declaration urged American participation in international organization rather more vigorously than any Democratic Party pronouncement. Republicans were as active as Democrats in passing the Fulbright and Connally resolutions for international; cooperation – resolutions long delayed by President Roosevelt.

The truth is that isolationism is insignificant today, as the small vote against the Connally and Fulbright resolutions demonstrated. If there were many isolationists, the name would not be used for smear purposes by politicians who court votes.

But isolationism could grow into dangerous proportions. It probably will, unless the President or his successor is more successful in curbing the European trend toward another balance-of-power system. Certainly, the American people will react bitterly if the joint Allied pledges are ignored, and if our Congressional commitment to democratic international organization is rejected by the big powers in favor of a puppet setup.

If fourth-termers would spend less time smearing their opponents with an imaginary isolationism, and more time trying to remove real causes of potential isolationism, they would serve their party and their country better.

[NormanStewart]

Edson: Rush Holt tries comeback in West Virginia

By Peter Edson

Washington –
Rush D. Holt – remember? – the boy Senator of 1935 et seq., is trying to do a political comeback in his native West Virginia. He seeks the Democratic nomination for governor in the state primary May 9.

People who can’t forget young Mr. Holt’s violent pre-Pearl Harbor isolationism are trying to make out that this is the first test of how much isolationist strength and sentiment there may be remaining in this country after two and a half years of war.

To think that West Virginians would vote for or against a gubernatorial candidate just because of his America First leanings and utterances that long ago seems at first glance to be a bit farfetched.

There are lots better tests of isolationism coming up later. Most important is Senator Gerald P. Nye’s fight for renomination in North Dakota. To a lesser degree, a contest for the seat of D. Worth Clark of Idaho, and to a still lesser degree, the races of Bennett Champ Clark of Missouri and Robert A. Taft of Ohio.

When you get this far down in the scale, it isn’t so much a case of having been isolationist as of having been opposed to many of the administration policies.

Robert R. Reynolds of North Carolina has thus far stuck to his determination not to seek reelection to the Senate, though he did smile coyly when arch-isolationist Gerald L. K. Smith picked him as likely presidential timber a few months ago. Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Montana doesn’t have to seek reelection till 1946. That will be the real test.

Senate again?

In the case of Rush Holt, some of the effort to pin the isolationist skunk cabbage on him at this time stems from the fear of where he might go from there, if he should be elected to governorship this year. Under West Virginia law, a governor does not have to resign office while seeking election to federal office, and in 1946 West Virginia elects a Senator. Mr. Holt, it is feared, has his eye on coming back to Washington as a successor to Harley M. Kilgore.

Since he last graced the capital scene, Mr. Holt has (a) been married, (b) registered for the draft, (c) been elected to the West Virginia state legislature. Otherwise, blackout.

He has kept his trap shut on all the things about which he used to rant – the New Deal, the warmongers, John L. Lewis and the CIO who helped him to election in 1934 and whom he repudiated in 1935. Maybe people have forgotten. At any rate, it will be an interesting test of the old theory that the memory of the American electorate is short.

Editorial opinion

As to Mr. Holt’s chances next month, and as to the effect which Mr. Holt’s pre-Pearl Harbor isolationism may have on the primary, opinions of three West Virginia newspaper editors queried on these points are enlightening:

Mr. Holt’s pre-Pearl Harbor actions haven’t even been mentioned, according to S. G. Damron of The Charleston Daily Mail. This editorial says observers think Mr. Holt will get a big anti-administration protest vote.

Mr. Holt is an enigma to Malcolm T. Brice, editor of The Wheeling News-Register. Mr. Holt’s traditional anti-labor stand while he was in the Senate would argue against his getting any labor support in this election, says Mr. Brice, but if John L. Lewis told the state’s 120,000 miners to support an anti-administration candidate, his chances for nomination would be favorable! This editor points out, however, that all straw ballots indicate the state is going Republican in the fall anyhow, with or without Mr. Roosevelt, so Mr. Holt doesn’t matter.

From Clyde A. Wellman, editor of The Huntington Advertiser, comes the guess that Mr. Holt will be a sure winner in the primary, the basis of his strength being the fact that his opponent, Clarence Meadows, has been tagged, rightly or wrongly, the crown prince of Governor Neely and all anti-Neelyites are rallying to Mr. Holt. Mr. Holt’s isolationism is not considered a big factor.

Republicans are hoping Mr. Holt gets the nomination so they can beat him with the isolationist label.

[NormanStewart]

Background of news –
What will Willkie do?

By Jay G. Hayden

Washington –
Wendell L. Willkie, by his sudden withdrawal from the race for presidential nomination, has stolen the headlines from his own funeral.

The first reactions in Republican circles to Mr. Willkie’s announcement reflected complete satisfaction. He had discovered in Wisconsin that he was licked, something they had known for a long time, the party wheelhorses said, and most of them added that nomination of Governor Thomas E. Dewey on the first convention ballot is now inevitable.

Then, all at once, the thought seemed to pop up that Mr. Willkie, absolved of the role of self-seeker, might exercise more influence both as to candidates and policies than he has heretofore. Particularly there was speculation as to just what Mr. Willkie meant when he said:

I honestly hope that the Republican Party will nominate a candidate who will represent the views I stand for.

The inference plainly was that Mr. Willkie might decide to intervene for or against somebody. There is the suggestion even that he might bolt if he decides that the candidate nominated does not represent his views.

Dewey repudiates ‘Firsters’

Governor Dewey himself may have designed to head off any attempt by isolationists to lay claim to his Wisconsin victory when, in a statement just as the first returns were coming in, he declared that “the Gerald L. K. Smiths and their ilk must not for one moment be permitted to pollute the stream of American life.” In the same statement, Mr. Dewey renewed his commitment to a policy of American collaboration in world affairs.

The Wisconsin primary result, in fact, tended to dim the notion that only isolationists were opposed to the renomination of Mr. Willkie. LtCdr. Harold E. Stassen, who has gone even further than Mr. Willkie in urging sacrifice of American sovereignty to a better world order, ran surprisingly well.

Isolationism in Wisconsin, to the extent that it affected the primary result, probably worked on behalf of Gen. MacArthur. Lansing Hoyt, who directed the MacArthur campaign, headed the America First organization in the state before Pearl Harbor. Also, Gen. MacArthur’s candidacy took on an isolationist tinge from the support given him by The Chicago Tribune.

There can be no mistaking that the immediate effect of the Wisconsin primary was to increase greatly the probability that Governor Dewey will be the Republican nominee.

Big margin over Willkie

Despite his unquestionably sincere effort to remove himself from the contest, the 15 candidates who persisted in running under the Dewey label all were elected by substantial pluralities, and so were two others who adopted an ”uninstructed” designation but announced themselves for Mr. Dewey.

Based on the vote cast for the leading candidate on each delegate-at-large slate, Mr. Dewey polled more than 41% of the votes cast in the four-man contest. Mr. Willkie’s vote, in contrast, was about 10%.

The fact that Mr. Dewey beat Mr. Willkie so soundly in the only official election contest in which they have run against each other obviously makes it difficult for Mr. Willkie to turn against Mr. Dewey now without inviti9ngf the charge of sour grapes.

If Mr. Willkie should base his support of a presidential candidate on international policies, it would seem that he should pick Mr. Stassen who, in addition to having been an ardent internationalist ever since 1939, was Mr. Willkie’s floor manager in 1940.

When Mr. Stassen let it be known, two weeks before the Wisconsin primary, that he would accept the presidential nomination, however, Mr. Willkie sharply criticized him.

Mr. Willkie is known to believe that, in view of their common international views, Mr. Stassen should have supported him, and that if this had happened, his [Mr. Willkie’s] chances both in Wisconsin and Nebraska would have been greatly improved.

[NormanStewart]

Stassen watched in Nebraska

Omaha, Nebraska (UP) –
With Wendell L. Willkie out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination, LtCdr. Harold E. Stassen had an opportunity today to pick up 15 delegates to the GOP National Convention in the Nebraskan preferential primary.

Two full slates of delegates were entered on the Republican ticket, one pledged to vote for the former Governor of Minnesota on the first ballot only, and the other pledged to the favorite son, Governor Dwight Griswold.

Although Mr. Willkie was out of the race, his name was still on the ballot, which was printed before he announced his withdrawal. Because of that fact, he was expected to draw a sizable vote.

The Nebraska primary vote means nothing in delegating authority to the convention. The delegates, once elected, may vote any way they choose. When chosen by slate, however, it is understood generally that the delegates will vote for the winner of the primary on the first ballot at least.

[NormanStewart]

Illinois votes on MacArthur

Chicago, Illinois (UP) –
Gen. Douglas MacArthur was the only major presidential possibility whose name appeared on the ballot today in the Illinois presidential preference primary election.

Gen. MacArthur, whose name was entered without his consent, was opposed on the Republican ticket only by Riley A. Bender of Chicago, a political unknown and former boxer. There were no contestants on the Democratic ticket.

Preferences shown by the voters in the Illinois primary are merely advisory and not binding upon the delegates to the national conventions.

The principal Republican contests are for the nominations for U.S. Senator, Representative-at-Large and Secretary of State.

[NormanStewart]

Dewey to get New York’s 93

Albany, New York (UP) –
Governor Thomas E. Dewey was assured the unanimous support of New York’s 93 delegates to the Republican National Convention as the state committee met today to select eight delegates-at-large.

While no formal endorsement of Mr. Dewey as a candidate for the presidential nomination was expected at the meeting – probably at his own request – the leaders made it clear that the Governor would have the unanimous support of New York’s representatives.

[NormanStewart]

Bricker seeks Democrats’ aid

Spokane, Washington (UP) –
Ohio Governor John W. Bricker today keynoted his campaign to gain Western support for his aspirations as Republican presidential nominee with an appeal to “old-line Democrats” to join a “growing nationwide reaction against concentration of power and spread of bureaucracy.”

A Republican victory in this year’s elections would “aid attainment of the war and peace aims of the American people,” Mr. Bricker said.

Nothing could do more to give business, agriculture and labor the encouragement and spirit to produce to the limit for victory on the fighting fronts than a Republican victory at the polls.

Mr. Bricker will speak in Seattle tomorrow during his none-day Pacific Coast tour.

[NormanStewart]

The Pittsburgh Press (April 12, 1944)

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.”

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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.

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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

[NormanStewart]

GOP group to meet

Des Moines, Iowa –
Governor Bourke B. Hickenlooper, chairman, announced today that the Agricultural Committee of the Republican National Committee will hold its next meeting at Salt Lake City April 24, when cattle and sheep growers and other major food producers in the area will be consulted.

[NormanStewart]

Chicago Tribune seeks Wisconsin subsidiary

Chicago, Illinois (UP) –
The Chicago Tribune announced today that it had applied to the War Production Board for newsprint necessary to start a morning newspaper in Milwaukee.

The announcement said the step was taken in recognition of the defeat of Wendell Willkie in the Wisconsin primary election last week.

In its application, the Tribune said:

The recent Wisconsin primaries have demonstrated that the people of that state, through their repudiation of policies of many of the Wisconsin newspapers, are dissatisfied with the service they are receiving from Wisconsin newspapers.

After Mr. Willkie’s defeat in Wisconsin, the Tribune said editorially that the issue in Wisconsin had been “Tribune policies against Willkie policies.”

[NormanStewart]

Girl (Democrat) attempts suicide over man (GOP)

Chicago, Illinois (UP) –
A violent political argument between a 22-year-old girl (a loyal Democrat) and her fiancé (an ardent Republican) led to an attempted suicide by the girl yesterday – after she had cast her vote.

Miss Jane Zak said she and Vito Capozzielli argued about their party affiliations on the way to the polls today, and that after she had marked her ballot, she returned home, locked herself in her apartment and turned on the gas stove jets in an attempt to take her life. She was saved when Mr. Capozzielli broke into the girl’s room and rushed her to a hospital.

[NormanStewart]

Farley heads harmony meeting of New York State Democrats

Fourth term endorsement seen in resolution urging ‘continued direction’ of war effort

New York (UP) –
The New York State Democratic Committee unanimously reelected James A. Farley as its chairman today and unanimously approved a resolution that was interpreted as an endorsement of a fourth term for President Roosevelt.

The resolution was proposed by former National Chairman Edward J. Flynn. Endorsing President Roosevelt’s administration, it did not specifically mention his renomination and reelection.

‘Continued direction’

The resolution said:

The inevitable victory of our righteous cause can best be assured the sooner by his continued direction of the great contribution that armed America, agricultural America, and industrial America are making all over the globe in defeating the forces of tyranny.

Mr. Farley had opposed Mr. Roosevelt’s nomination for a third term ands resigned as national chairman after the 1940 convention. Today’s resolution appeared to be a compromise with state Democratic factions wanting a specific endorsement of Mr. Roosevelt as a presidential candidate this year. The Albany O’Connell faction wanted to remove Mr. Farley as state chairman.

All in 40 minutes

Passage of the resolution, reelection of officers and the unanimous election of a slate of 20 delegates-at-large to the national convention took only 40 minutes at the meeting in the National Democratic Club.

Mr. Farley and the other committee officers were placed in nomination by Frank V. Kelly, Brooklyn leader, and were seconded by George B. Doyle of Erie County, who declared from the floor:

We are most fortunate in having such a great leader as Jim Farley as our chairman.

As chairman, Mr. Farley pushed through the regular order of business with no deviation.

He said:

No one can be more proud of his friends than I am now and have been through the years. I can assure you that I will never give you any cause to regret the confidence you have placed in me.

Wants no compromise

Tammany leader Edward V. Laughlin’s call for a fourth-term draft climaxed today by completion of the pro-Roosevelt slate.

Mr. Laughlin issued his Draft-Roosevelt statement in Washington last night through the Democratic National Committee which in a session last January “solicited” the President to seek another term.

As leader of Tammany Hall, the New York County Democratic organization, Mr. Laughlin said:

There can be no compromise with ivy-towered isolationism. The blood that has been shed by our boys on the battlefields must not be in vain. We Democrats in New York support without reservation President Roosevelt and his policies.

It is appropriate that New York should take the lead in the movement to draft Franklin D. Roosevelt.

His statement followed by 48 hours a bitter attack by two Tammany district leaders upon his leadership of the New York organization. John L. Buckley and Dennis J. Mahon are assailing Mr. Laughlin on charges of “trafficking” with Rep. Vito Marcantonio, American Laborite member of Congress from a Harlem constituency, whom they accuse of being a communist intent upon swelling American Labor Party strength at the expense of the Democratic Party.

Mr. Buckley and Mr. Mahon said Monday in New York:

The endorsement of President Roosevelt or whoever may be the nominee of the Democratic Party this year by the present controlling influences of our organization would be a travesty and a liability.

Mr. Marcantonio is leader of the left-wing American Labor Party element which captured party control throughout the state in last month’s primaries.

[NormanStewart]

Government by secrecy assailed by Bricker

Tacoma, Washington (UP) –
Ohio Governor John W. Bricker, candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, blames “government by secrecy” for the creation of “suspicion and distrust of the administration in the minds of the people.”

Governor Bricker told the Pierce County Republican Convention last night that “everywhere I go I find people hungry for information.”

He said:

They are sick and tired of all the mystery and secrecy that covers so much of our national affairs. The people have been given only such news as governmental bureaucrats deem good for them.

Governor Bricker also declared that he favored an elaboration of the League of Nations and the World Court as a post-war peace-maintaining agency.