National Affairs: KEY STATE-ILLINOIS

• Share

(2 of 2)

For President: In Cook County and other urban areas, Republicans have worked hard to make inroads in the huge Negro and Polish-American vote. There is no sign whatever that any large numbers of these blocs have been detached from their Democratic allegiance, but there may be some seepage.

In downstate Illinois, traditionally Republican, the Korean war ranks well above farm policy as an issue. Said a downstate Republican last week: "In the rural areas, just one boy killed or injured out of a church congregation will stagger the whole congregation." Downstate farmers will give Ike more than the lackluster support they gave Dewey in 1948, but many of them still feel that the general has been too "gentlemanly" and has not pounded hard enough at "the blunders that led to Korea."

Illinois is the one state where Stevenson does not have to buck the fact that he is, compared to Ike, almost unknown. In Illinois he is a far stronger candidate than Truman was. But then in Illinois Ike is a far stronger candidate than Dewey was. While there are no signs of large defections from Democratic ranks, Republicans point out that large defections are not necessary for Eisenhower to carry the state. A shift to the Republicans of five 1948 Truman voters in every thousand would put Illinois in the Republican column.

Illinois will see a great deal more campaigning before Nov. 4. Ike, Adlai, Joe McCarthy and Harry Truman are all expected to make major appearances on which a great deal may depend. The Gallup Poll of a few weeks ago showed a slight Ike lead in Illinois. Nevertheless, a careful survey of the state indicates that it should now be marked as Stevenson's by a narrow margin.