noncommittal on their choice for nominee. A Dewey supporter reported that Noojin expressed support for Dewey, but "had very definite views and was inclined to agree with Mr. Taft's views regarding national affairs and national defense."22 Brownell and other Dewey partisans took this information into account and began working exclusively for Vardaman's support. By September, it was clear that the utility official supported Dewey, as Brownell arranged to fly him to New York to take part in a national strategy session on behalf of the Dewey campaign. Noojin remained in Birmingham.23 Vardaman and Dewey clearly had the upper hand in the factional dispute. A straw poll taken by the Alabama Republican Executive Committee ran 40 for Dewey, 12 for Taft, 2 for Stassen, and 8 for others.24 A number of Alabama voters, however, seemed to favor Taft over either Dewey or Truman. The Senator's legislative record in Congress appealed to a portion of Alabama's upper and middle classes, and many wrote to express their support. J.R. Castrell of Decatur, Alabama claimed that "there are so many [b]ureaus now that one does not envy you or anyone else the task of 'cleaning out the Aegean stables' that house so many feeders at the governmentt [t]rough."25 Another believed that Taft and his ideological cohort were the only people who could save the nation from the "evil forces" and "New Deal foul ideas."26 22 Paul Lockwood, Memo to Thomas E. Dewey, 19 February 1947. Copy in Folder 2 (Alabama), Box 21, Series II, Dewey Papers. 23 Herbert Brownell, Letter to Claude Vardaman, 13 September 1947. Copy in Folder 2 (Alabama), Box 21, Series II, Dewey Papers. 24 Claude Vardaman, Letter to Thomas E. Dewey, 8 February 1948. Copy in Folder 2 (Alabama), Box 21, Series II, Dewey Papers. 25 J.B. Castrell, Letter to Robert A. Taft, 21 November 1947. Copy in Folder (1948 Campaign - Alabama A-H), Box 164, Taft Papers. 26 John Hill, Letter to Robert A. Taft, 30 December 1947. Copy in Folder (1948 Campaign Alabama - A-H), Box 164, Taft Papers.