The Daily Record

NATIONAL - Your reporter confesses absolute ignorance of world affairs, and incompetence to appraise national issues. However, there is hazarded specific prediction that the nominee of the Democratic national convention will be elected president: unless the Democrats pull a foolish stunt similar to that of 1904 and nominate a relatively unknown conservative like Judge Alton B. Parker, Democratic majority for the national ticket will be smaller than usual in North Carolina, and below level of recent elections throughout the country. President Truman can get the nomination if he wants it, and indications are that he will, largely because policy of both Presidents Roosevelt and Truman has been to prevent development of other leadership in the party. Scandals and corruption in the current administration will cause some loss to the Democratic ticket, but not enough to overcome support of class-conscious groups and the voting habits of a generation. More people are realizing that the present level of spending cannot be continued, but it is still hard to vote against Santa Claus.

STATE - In North Carolina, prediction is made that William B. Umstead will be elected governor, and will have a general assembly that is substantially in sympathy with his ideas of government. Umstead will probably not have opposition from any candidate who would logically draw a large part of his strength from the same general element in the Democratic party. None of the half dozen or so prospective candidates whose names figured in speculation during the late summer and fall has formally taken himself out of the race. Opinion prevails that Sam Ervin, Henry Jordan and Brandon Hodges are definitely out of the running, and probability that L. P. McLendon or Hubert Olive will file for the office grow less every day. It is true that a great many people are not happy over this situation, and any one of the gentlemen named may still get in the running. That is a less likely prospect than that some recognized champion of so-called "liberal ideas" might arise to contest the nomination for governor.

DISTINCTION - Such a candidate would make an interesting race. The odds would be against him. A few days ago George Coble highway commissioner for the sixth division loomed as a likely entrant in the field. Two accidents incapacitated him for a time, and whether he is to be reckoned with depends upon speed of his recovery. Analogy between the Umstead situation now and Charlie Johnson's four years ago has often been cited as proof that a previously unheralded candidate with a whirlwind campaign could repeat the Kerr Scott performance in 1948. There is basic distinction, if not real difference, in the conditions prevailing now and then. From the Dick Fountain race in 1932 until 1948, including two attempts under leadership of Ralph McDonald in 1936 and 1944, those not in accord with the alleged "state machine" had tried to upset it. This element among the voters rallied to Scott's banner when he challenged "machine domination" and they won. That appeal is not available now, because those who made it have changed sides, they now constitute such "machine" as there is. A great many people have discovered that it is easier to complain about wrongful exercise of power than it is to efficiently handle the responsibilities of power.

COURT - For the first time since 1920 a real contest looms for a seat on the state supreme court. Three superior court judges -- Hunt Parker, Don Phillips and Allen Gwyn -- and a former Forsyth county judge, Oscar Efird, have announced for the place to which Associate Justice Itimous Valentine was appointed and which he is seeking to retain by election. This race is not expected to arouse great popular interest except among lawyers, unless it becomes involved in contests for other offices and occasions alignments of candidates -- which all candidates seek to avoid.

OTHERS - No formal announcements have been made for lieutenant governor, and very little interest has been manifested in the office, despite semi-facetious comment by Governor Scott that he might seek the number two post. All other incumbent state elective officers are counted safe for re-election if they desire it; and it is believed all do with possible exception of Treasurer Brandon Hodges, who might yet get into the running for governor, or might retire to private law practice at Asheville.

LEGISLATURE