The Campaign Begins

Half an hour after his acceptance speech, with his wife and the John Brickers, Nominee Dewey appeared in the Stevens Hotel ballroom to shake hands with well-wishers until early morning.

Next day, fresh and well-kempt, he held his first press conference as a candidate, before 300 of the nation's top newsmen. There followed a virtuoso performance such as the correspondents had not seen since Tom Dewey put on a similar show at Mackinac last September. No question was too hot to handle; none caught him off guard. He said he had given the 4,500-word platform only a hasty reading, then quoted excerpts, word for word. He admitted "some inconsistencies" in the platform; he indicated firmly his intention to use only the parts of it he wanted. When a correspondent asked if he did not think the reciprocal-trade plank ambiguous, Tom Dewey replied: "The essence of that plank is expressed in the sentence which says the United States will participate and work with all other countries to promote international trade in the interests of peace."

Question: "Will you follow the present trade policy?"

Answer: "Secretary Hull has followed it--pursuant to Republican origination--and I know it will continue to be the Republican policy."

Question: Would Wendell Willkie be consulted on campaign strategy?

Answer: "Certainly."

Question: Did he welcome support of the Chicago Tribune?

Answer: "I welcome the support of every good American." Question: Would he refuse a third-term draft?

Answer: "That's certainly hypothetical.

The third term is destructive of every thing good in the American tradition. I will always believe that." After a day of organizing, Tom Dewey headed for Albany, accompanied by 40 reporters, in true campaign style. The Deweys had a private car, with an observation platform, on which the candi date made appearances at South Bend and Elkhart, Ind. At Elkhart, a portly woman shouted: "We like your wife." Shot back Tom Dewey: "I'm glad you agree with me."

Rolling through the Middle West, Tom Dewey relaxed with the newsmen, holding another press conference, then chatting with them far into the night.

In solidly Democratic Albany, Tom Dewey got a surprisingly enthusiastic demonstration. First to shake the Dewey hand was Acting Mayor Frank S. Harris, a henchman of the O'Connell machine, which Tom Dewey has tried to blast out of the city.

Back at the capitol, standing on the steps, Tom Dewey thanked his fellow townsmen for the ovation, got off a sober speech that showed his aim would be to ward a decent and dignified campaign. Its gist: a hard-fought political campaign in wartime will not divide, but strengthen, the U.S.

Tom Dewey had bidden privacy goodby. In five days since the nomination he had made six public appearances, held three press conferences. On Sunday he went to Albany's ancient St. Peter's Episcopal Church, where he is a vestryman and occupies the second pew from the front, on the aisle. Then he holed up in the Governor's mansion for some rest.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.