The Pittsburgh Press (April 26, 1944)
Nominees for state posts chosen
By Kermit McFarland
An impressive showing by Governor Thomas E. Dewey, despite a record light vote, featured Allegheny County’s presidential-year primary yesterday.
Mr. Dewey, although his name did not appear on the ballot, piled up a surprising write-in vote, overwhelming all other Republican possibilities in this informal contest.
22,151 Dewey write-ins
In 927 of the county’s 1,017 districts, Mr. Dewey attracted 22,151 write-in votes compared to 1,611 for Gen. Douglas MacArthur, his nearest Republican opponent.
President Roosevelt polled 1,955 Republican write-ins. On his own Democratic ballot, where he was unopposed for the presidential preference, Mr. Roosevelt collected 82,397 votes in 1,009 of the 1,017 districts.
Mr. Dewey’s showing, in the absence of any organized campaign on his behalf, was regarded as remarkable by local political circles.
Wide popularity shown
His popularity was demonstrated by a similar write-in vote throughout the state, but in some eastern countries this was attributed to a last-minute campaign by Pennsylvania friends.
Estimates of the vote cast in yesterday’s primary did not exceed 30%. It was possible the lightest vote in the county’s history notwithstanding the absence of thousands of voters in the Armed Forces.
Otherwise, the primary here was featured by a close fight for the Republican Congressional nomination in the new 29th district, by the defeat of David C. “Cap” Davies for the Republican senatorial nomination in the 45th district (South Hills) and the renomination of State Rep. John R. Bentley in a bitter Democratic contest in the 12th, 13th and 14th Wards.
Howard E. Campbell, president of the Pittsburgh Real Estate Board, who had the endorsement of both the Young Republicans and the Old-Line Republicans in a pre-primary deal, narrowly escaped defeat for the Congressional nomination in the 29th district.
McDowell is close behind
Former Congressman John McDowell, Wilkinsburg publisher, running without the backing of the Young Republican organization he helped to organize, ran only 360 votes behind Mr. Campbell with six precincts missing in the district. The official count, to start Friday, could alter the result.
Three other candidates split up the vote.
Mr. Davies, secretary to County Controller Robert G. Woodside, was generally forecast a winner in the 45th district senatorial fight, but trailed Thomas Lewis Jones, young Baldwin Township attorney, in a close fight.
Dispute recalled
The fight against Homewood attorney Mr. Bentley was led by Charles A. Papale, 12th Ward Democratic chairman, and resulted from a dispute between ward alderman Mr. Papale and the Democratic county organization over city and county patronage.
Mr. Papale put Julius Zangrille, a 12th Ward plumber, into the race in an effort to wheedle more jobs from Democratic headquarters. He was joined in the contest against Mr. Bentley by Louis Leff, 14th Ward chairman.
On the basis of nearly-complete returns, Mr. Bentley was renominated by a margin of 3–2.
In other Republican Congressional contests, Sheriff Robert J. Corbett in the 30th district (North Hills) and James G. Fulton of Dormont, now a lieutenant in the Navy, were easy winners, each in a field of five. Mr. Fulton will be the Republican nominee in the 31st district (South Hills).
All candidates slated by the Democratic organization were nominated safely. Only Mr. Bentley had a serious contest.
Woman wins race
In the Republican legislative contests, a feature of the results was the runaway victory of Bernyce Lysle, the only woman in the Republican primary, in the 2nd legislative district. She almost doubled her nearest opponent, Alexander Dlugonski, a previous candidate, who was also nominated.
The only other woman nominated for public office in the Allegheny County primary was Mrs. Emma Bray of Baldwin Township, who won a Democratic nomination for the Legislature in the 12th district. The slate on which she was a candidate was unopposed.
The 12th district turned up with a close race in the Republican legislative primary, late returns showing Baldwin Township attorney Irwin I. Tryon pushing Rep. Norman H. Laughner of Crescent Township for the fourth place on the ticket. Reps. Edwin C. Ewing and George W. Cooper of Mount Lebanon and John R. Haudenshield of Carnegie were safely renominated.
Christler wins
Charles M. Christler, 14th Ward attorney and former legislator, easily won the Republican legislative nomination in the 5th district, despite opposition of Young Republicans who backed William F. White (Brushton restaurant operator) who ran second, just ahead of Alderman Kenneth H. Davies of the 14th Ward.
In the 10th district, Swissvale auditor Robert J. Strathearn broke the organization-endorsed slate by a wide margin. He defeated Walter C. Feick, Glassport dentist backed by organization leaders. Also nominated were Albert E. Beech (a state employee of Wilkinsburg), Paul M. Bardes of Oakmont (former legislator) and William P. H. Johnston (Penn Township auto dealer).
McNair is victor
Former Mayor William M. McNair, running with the support of the Democratic machine, easily won the legislative nomination in the 4th district and will oppose Rep. O. B. Hannon in November.
Mr. McNair defeated Michael J. Holland, a city fireman. Mr. Hannon was renominated by a heavy majority over former legislator Harry B. Ackermann and Edward W. Brinling.
Party men win
In other statewide contests, candidates backed by party organizations easily won nominations.
Superior Court Judge Arthur H. James and Common Pleas Judge J. Frank Graff of Kittanning won Republican nominations for the State Superior Court by handsome majorities over Judge Chester H. Rhodes, a Democrat who entered the Republican primary.
Judge Rhodes, nominated for a second term by the Democrats, and Auditor General F. Clair Ross, named as his running mate for the Superior Court, polled similar majorities over Judge James, former Governor, who took a fling at the Democratic primary.
In the only other statewide Democratic contest, State Treasurer G. Harold Wagner was nominated for Auditor General over John F. Breslin, an assistant in the Auditor General’s office.
Davis renominated
U.S. Senator James J. Davis was renominated by the Republicans and Congressman Francis J. Myers of Philadelphia was named for the Senate by the Democrats. Neither had primary opposition.
Also nominated without opposition were Democrat federal judge Charles Alvin Jones and Republican Justice Howard W. Hughes for the State Supreme Court, and Democrat Ramsey S. Black, third assistant postmaster general, and Republican City Treasurer Edgar W. Baird of Philadelphia for State Treasurer.
