River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-11-14
Democrats Lose Control of Lower
Branch by at Least
Sixteen Votes.
SENATE is VERY CLOSE
Neck and Neck Races in Michigan,
Idaho and New Mexico Will De-
termine Which Party Con-
trolls Upper House.

Washington, Nov. with control
of the House of representatives
placed in the hands of the Repub-
licans by majority of 16, and prob
ably more, the attention of the coun-
try was conferred on contests in three
states-Michigan Idaho and New
Mexico, which will decide whether
the Democrats shall lose control Of
the Senate as we'll.
Returns from five congressional dis
tricts were missing-in Montana, New
Mexico and South Dakota.
Without them, however, the Repub-
licans have won 234 seats in the
House of epresentatives-16 more
than the 21S votes necessary for
majority.
Democrats Lack 10 Votes.
The Democrats, on the face of these
returns, had 1876 seats, and if the five
missing districts were to be conceded
to them they still would lack Is votes
of the number necessary to control the
House.
Returns show plainly that Speaker
Clark, instead of being defeated, as
was reported likely, has been elected
by substantial majority.
The contests which will decide the
political complexion Of the Senate
were very close. AS the Senate
stands, without a decision in these
contests, there are 46 Democrats and
AZ Republicans.
Michigan Race Close.
In Michigan the race between Henry
Ford and Truman H. Newberry was so
close that it was said an.off1cial count
might be required to decide the win
ner. Both parties were claiming the
seat.
In New Mexico, where Republicans
\are claiming the election of Senator
Fall by a majority Of 1000 at least,
not a single county had reported COM
plete returns.
In Idaho, where $4,000 votes out of
an estimated total Of $4,000 had been
counted, Senator Nugent, the Demo
cratic candidate for reelection, was
leading Frank r. Gooding, the Repub-
lican candidate, by a little more than
800 votes The result is in doubt.
Senate Loss Blow.
With the House firmly in the hands
of the Republicans, the control Of the
Senate is more important than ever to
the Democratic administration. If the
administration can retain control of
the Senate it can in large measure
check the activities Of a Republican
House. 1t is doubly important to the
national administration because of the
part the constitution assigns to the
Senate in the ratification Of the peace
treaties which will lend the world war.
In the Senate reposes the preroga-
tive of ratifying any treaties which
the President may make. Republicans
made one Of their campaign argu-
ments on the contention that a Re-
publican Senate should be elected to
participate in the work of making
peace.
Must Ratify Treaty.
The Democratic administration on
the other hand contends that the ne
gotiation of treaties is wholly the
function of the executive branch and
that the Senate's part is to ratify
them.
With the Senatorial returns still
missing from Michigan, Idaho and
New Mexico, the figures showed that
the Republicans had lost one-Senator
Weeks of Observation-Disclosures the
Democrats had lost six. The senators
who will be retired are Shafroth of
Colorado, Salisbury of Delaware,
Lewis of Illinois, Thompson OF Kan
sas, Wiley Of Missouri and Hollis OF
New Hampshire.