New Britain herald., 1917-12-04
REPUBLICANS LOSE
STRENGTH IN HOUSE
Democrats Gain Two Members
Since Last General Election

washington, Dec. 4.-Tho repuD-
ncans have suffered a net loss of two
members Of the House of Representa-
t1Ves since the last general election a
year ago, says a statement by the
Democratic National committee In
North Dakota a republican vacancy
was filled by the election of John M.
Baer, a former democratic postmas-
tr, who ran as q non-partisan. In
Pennsylvania a republican, who re-
tired after entering plea Of nolo con-
tendere to an indictment for violation
of the federal election laws. was sue
ceeded by Representative Beshlin, q
democrat
The reversal in the Pennsylvania
district was the most significant Of any
of the results in the congressional
elections on November 6. In this dis
trict of the keystone State q year ago
a republican was elected to congress
by a majority of four thousand. In
the recent election Beshlin, the demo-
crat, won by more than two thousand,
change in II months of six thou
sand votes.
There have been seven congression-
al elections since the general election
Of November, 1916, when President
Wilson was reelected. Six Of these
elections were held in districts that
have usually elected republicans. The
seventh occurred in the fifteenth dis
trict of New York City, where demo-
crat was returned.
The six republican districts were
the First New Hampshire. Sixth In
diana, First North Dakota, Twenty
eighth Pennsylvania, Fourth Connecti-
cut and Sixth Massachusetts.
Democratic Gain in New Hampshire.
In the First New Hampshire dis
trict, formerly represented by the late
republican war HORSE Cy Su1loway,
the democrats reduced the normal re-
publican majority by nearly one thou
sand votes
In the Sixth Indiana, republicans
elected one of their number, Repre-
sentative Richard w. Elliott, to sue
coed Representative COmstock, repub-
lican, deceased
The strongly republican districts in
Connecticut and Massa chusetts voted
true to form and elected republicans
to the vacancies. Democrats likewise
maintained their supremacy in the
Fifteenth New York district, where
Tom Smith, secretary of Tammany
Hail. was elected to succeed the late
Representative Conry.
In none of the districts where the
special elections were held was there
any indication of a falling off in the
democratic strength Vhe First North
Dakota and the Twenty eighth Penn
sylvania districts disclosed disaffec-
ton in the republican ranks
The reversals in the North Dakota
and Pennsylvania districts are all the
more marked when 1t is considered
that combined majorities in the six
republican districts where vacancies
occurred were go 1t year ago.
Even moro significant as an indica-
ton of decreasing republican Strengt n
is the result in the recent maNoraltN
election in Greater New York. There
has been much speculation as to the
source from which Morris Hillquit.
| the socialist candidate, obtained his
| increased vote in the New York may
| orally fight. A comparison of the
mayoralty vote with the presidential
vote of 1916 makes it evident that
! Hillquit gained many of his support
ers from the republican party.
| Sweep Up in New York.
In 1916 the total vote of the five
| counties in Greater New York for
! president was 697,431, of which Will
| son received 1872; Hughes 1874
! and Benson, socialist, 31,7S7. The
! total vote for mayor in 1917, accord
| ing to published tables, was SAP, 445,
! or a trif1e over ninety-two per cent. Of
| the total vote in 1916. Hylan received
| 297,2 If he had received ninety
! two per cent. of the Wilson vote he
would have had 323,611. Mitchell re-
| ceived 149,307, Hlllquit 142,17S, and
| Bennett 53,6SS Hillquit's vote repre-
| sented an increase of 11O,391 over the
! socialist vote for president in 1916.
| Even though it be assumed that Hill
| quit received ten thousand of the un-
! accounted for portion Of the dem ocrat-
| ic vote not cast for Hylan, it is evident
| that over >one hundred thousand of the
| Hillquit vote must have been cast for
| Hughes year ago-thirty- per
cent. of the Hughes vote in Greater
i New York.
! Viewing the New York vote from
! another angle, it is apparent that the
| Hughes vote disintegrated into. the
| Mitchell, Bennett and Hillquit camps.
| Even if the total vote for Mitchell and
| Bennett be combined. ignoring the
undoubted fact that Mitchell must
| have received many democratic votes
| the united strength of these two can
didates amounts to only about 203.OO0
or 10000 less than the Hughes vote
The greater portion of the Hillquit
vote came from former republicans
There can be no question as to this,
by whatever process the vote may be
analyzed.
APPEALS FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
(CorreSnOn6e0ce of Aceo