Over the Wire

NEW YORK--Tumult and shouting in the 1940 national political campaign ended tonight, and tomorrow some 50,000,000 Americans will decide what may be the closest White House race since Woodrow Wilson inched out bewhiskered Charles Evans Hughes.

Last minute polls and other surveys gave President Roosevelt a slight hump on the popular vote. They agreed generally, too, that Wendell L. Willkie must win the electorial votes of the "big four" states New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Ohio--if he is to triumph.

Final moments of the hot drive for the nation's top honor found both candidates active.

Mr. Roosevelt made a whirlwind tour of his native Dutchess County during the afternoon and early evening and ended with a final appeal for support to a nationwide radio audience shortly after 11 P.M.

Willkie ended his campaign on the same strenuous note he pitched it soon after he wrested the nomination from the Republican convention. He addressed the women of America, appeared on a broadcast with his running mate, Sen. Charles E. Mc Nary of Oregon, and at midnight conducted an "extraordinary" last word program.