Page 12 University Daily Kansan Wednesday, Nov. 5, 1950
THE GOVERNOR'S BEST VOTE HELPER—Mrs. George Docking was in Lawrence yesterday greeting voters and handing out campaign literature near Hillcrest School which was the poll for the governor's precinct.
Docking Wins On Tax,Right to Work
Clifford P. Ketzel, assistant professor of political science, last night attributed Gov. George Docking's victory to his stand on the severance tax and to the right-to-work amendment.
"Quite a few voters in western Kansas voted against Clyde Reed Jr. because of his stand on the severance tax." Ketzel said.
Democratic voting power was strengthened by the labor turnout at the polls, he said. The right-to-work amendment made the labor vote heavier than usual. Ketzel added. Docking is against the measure.
In border counties near Nebraska Docking's stand against the sales tax may have strengthened the vote, he added. Most voters in this area are against the measure, he said.
GOP Lost Hope Early Last Night
Ketzel said he did not think the nation-wide Democratic victory was a surprise to the Democrats but that the "magnitude of the victory was unexpected."
In Indiana and some other states unemployment brought out the Democratic vote, he said.
TOPEKA—At 10 p.m. in the election commissioners' office in Topeka, a wire service man said:
He also said the Democrats picked better candidates "personality-wise" which may have had some effect on the victory.
"It's looking gloomy for the Republicans."
A Republican standing near the board said.
"Gloomy, hell—it looks black."
As a general rule the party controlling the administration usually loses votes in off-year elections, Ketzel said.
Gloomy, he That was the sentiment of most Republicans watching returns at their Topeka headquarters.
Frank Thies, state Democratic chairman, said:
"This election may well mark the deathknell of old guardism in Kansas. It appears to be one of the most overwhelming victories in the history of the state. It is a significant milestone in Kansas of the advance toward a two-party system in the state."
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A small, dark, vivacious woman stood in front of Hillcrest School in West Hills for six hours yesterday, handing cards to voters, shaking hands, smiling.
Mrs. Virginia Docking was in her home precinct, and she was renewing old friendships while she did some last-minute campaigning for her husband, Gov. George Docking.
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Along with a few other campaign workers, Mrs. Docking talked to each voter that came up the sidewalk. "Good afternoon, I'm Virginia Docking, and I hope you'll vote for my husband."
We also handle all types of regular jewelry including Diamond Rings, Watches, Fountain Pens and Pencils, Bracelets, Necklaces, Lighters,
During the occasional lull, the workers listened attentively to early returns reported on a radio in a car parked nearby. A gray-haired wo-
First Lady Active at Polls
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As Docking led on early returns. Mrs. Docking and the rest of the group—all Democrats—wore tentative smiles.
man in the car turned the volume up when the campaigners moved away to greet approaching voters.
"If George can break even in the rest of the state, the vote in Kansas City and Wichita should give him a majority," Mrs. Docking said.
"We're ahead of 1956. In 1956 George was still behind when we left Kansas City, and we didn't find out he was leading until we heard it on the car radio going back home."
Ernest H. Kasold of Lawrence, Democratic candidate for sheriff, spent part of the afternoon at Hillcrest, too, but the other workers were all women.
ner husband, Robert Etherton, Lawrence, is the Democratic candidate for state representative from the 11th district—the west side of Douglas County.
Among them was Mrs. Jean Etherton, another wife campaigning for
Another campaigner was Miss Nannie M. Bourne, who was giving out cards for C. S. Arthur of Lawrence, write-in candidate for the 11th district seat. Arthur was defeated in the Republican primary by Odd Williams, Lawrence.
Mrs. Etherton and Miss Bourne conversed like any two women who like each other, despite the rivalry between their candidates.
The slow rumblings of a vote amassing in favor of Gov. George Docking were heard through the day as the United Press International ticker tapped out results all through the election.
Another voter—this one an old neighbor of the Dockings—approached the school. Mrs. Docking moved away from the car, her hand out in greeting, trying to gain the governor another vote in a strong Republican precinct.
UPI Wire Ticks Out Victory, Defeat After Long Afternoon of No Change
In the afternoon the Docking-Clyde Reed race moved on with only a difference of some 2,000 votes separating them.
Typical reports read, "Latest election returns from 208 of 2,999 precincts gave Docking 12,556 votes to 9,748 for Reed."
Hour after hour similar reports came in with only the total vote changing, not the plurality.
At 7:53 p.m.: "Reed 29,565, Docking, 31,806."
To harden Republicans a star rose at 8:18 p.m. when the monotonous ticker tapped out: "Reed 34,121, Docking 35,904."
About 15 minutes later the tide turned a bit. "Reed 35,616, Docking 38,858."
Everyone waited for the automatic voting machine totals in Kansas City and Wichita to come in. Apparently they started: "Reed 38,795, Docking 42,708."
42,708. Everyone held their breath until the next report to see if there was a real trend toward a larger Docking plurality. They got it. At 9:30 p.m.: "Reed 46,658, Docking 52,987."
Then the total mounted. Docking
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led by nearly 20,000 shortly after 10 p.m. At 11:20, Docking led by nearly 30,000. By 11:07 it was a 35,000 plurality.
800 New Hampshire
Suddenly the wire issued a bulletin: "Gov. Docking . . tonight shattered political tradition in Kansas and became the apparent victor for a second term as Kansas governor." That was at 11:08.
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At 11:30, the thing that was feared by many came over the wire. Reed conceded victory to newsmen in his office at the Parsons Sun at 11:27.
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