The Pittsburgh Press (April 22, 1944)
Primer for primaries –
4-against-1 race features 31st district
Lt. Fulton, Navy, man to beat
By Kermit McFarland
Spotlighted among the Congressional contests in Allegheny County is the Republican race in the 31st district (South Hills).
Four of the five candidates in this district, as the campaign has shaped up, are running against the fifth, Navy Lt. James G. Fulton (Dormont lawyer). Lt. Fulton, in the judgment of leading politicians in the district, is the man to beat.
Rated the best chance is Joseph A. White of Brentwood (vice president of the Harris stores). Other candidates are Eugene O’Neill of Brentwood (a delegate to the 1936 Republican convention and a former member of the Republican State Committee), Walter V. Richardson (Mount Washington metallurgist) and Clifford Ball (Mount Lebanon aviation executive). Mr. Ball has not made an active campaign for the nomination.
Similar in 30th district
Lt. Fulton is barred by Navy regulations from making an active campaign. If elected, he will be relieved of his naval duties to take his seat in Congress.
The 30th district (North Hills) presents a similar picture. There, the man to beat for the Republican nomination is Sheriff Robert J. Corbett. Running against him are Grover C. Berg (Bellevue food jobber), Arthur H. Johnson Jr. (wholesale heating supplies), Bob Kegg (North Side clerk) and J. K. Porter (Millvale distributor).
In both districts, the Democratic incumbents are unopposed for renomination. Congressman James A. Wright of Brentwood is the only Democratic candidate in the 31st district and Congressman Thomas E. Scanlon of North Side, the only entry in the 30th district.
Republicans agree in 29th
In the 29th district (eastern wards, boroughs and townships), the Old Guard Republicans and the Young Republicans have agreed on Howard E. Campbell, president of the Pittsburgh Real Estate Board, for the Republican nomination.
Running independently are John McDowell (Wilkinsburg publisher and former Congressman), John A. Franklin (Forest Hills insurance agent), George E. Sipple (East End electrician) and T. W. Stephens (Wilkinsburg florist).
Because of the reapportionment last year, no present Congressman is a resident of this district. The Democratic nomination has been slated for John F. Lowers of Swissvale, chief clerk in the County Deed Registry Bureau, who is the only candidate.
Others are unopposed
Congressional candidates in both parties in the other two Congressional districts of the county are unopposed at the primary.
In the 32nd district, Congressman Herman P. Eberharter of Oakland is the only Democratic candidate, and Gregory Zatkovich of Oakland (former City Solicitor) is unopposed for the Republican nomination.
Congressman Samuel A. Weiss of Glassport has no opposition for renomination in the 33rd district and the sole Republican candidate is Ray A. Liddle (McKeesport attorney).