The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-11-09
REPUBLICANS HAVE HOUSE.
RACE CLOSE IN
NEW MEXICO, MICHIGAN
AND IDAHO.
With Trio of Seats Still to Be Deter
mined Democrats Stand One Behind
i'm Upper Body-Final Result May
Show Tie.

Washington, Nov. 6.-With control
of the house Of representatives IN the
hands of the Republicans by a ma
iority of 16 and probably more the
attention of the country tonight was
centered on contests in the three
States. Michigan, Idaho and New
Mexico, which will decide whether
the Democrats shall lose control OF
the senate as well.
At midnight returns from flve con-
gressional districts were missing IN
Montana, New Mexico and South Da-
kota.
Without them, however, he Repub-
licans have 234 seats in the house
16 more than the 218 votes necessary
for a. majority.
The Democrats on the face Of those
returns had 1875 seats and if the flve
missing districts were to be conceded
to them they still would lack Is votes
of the number necessary to control
the house.
Tonight's returns show plainly that
Speaker Clark instead of being de-
feated, as was reported, has been re-
elected by a 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 As Democrats and Al Re-
publicans.
In Michigan the race between Hen
ry Ford and Truman H. Newberry
was so close that it was said an Off
cial count might be required to de-
eide the winner. Both parties were
claiming the seat.
In New Mexico where Republicans
are claiming the election Of Senator
Fall by majority of 1000, at least
not a single county had reported
complete returns.
In Idaho, where $4,000 votes out
of an estimated total of $4,000 had
been counted, Senator Nugent, the
Democratic candidate for reelection,
was leading Frank r. Gooding, the
Republican candidate by little more
than 800 votes. The result is il
doubt.
With the house firmly in the hands
Of the Republicans control Of the SEN
ate is more important than ever to
the Democratic administration. If the
administration can retain control o.
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 which the constitution
assigns to the senate in the ratifica
ton of the peace treaty which viii,
end the world war.
In the senate reposes the pre-
rogative of ratifying any treaties
which the president would make.
Republicans made one of their
campaign arguments on the conten-
ton that q Republican senate should
be elected to participate in the work
of making peace. The Democratic
administration on the other hand con-
tends that the negotiation of treaties
is wholly the function of the eXecu
tive branch and that the senate's
part is to ratity them.
With the senatorial returns still
missing from Michigan, Idaho and
New Mexico, the figures showed tha:
the Republicans had lost one--tha;
of Senator Weeks Of Massa sachusetts:
while the Democrats had lost six
The senators who will DE retired are
Shafroth of Colorado, Salisbury o.
Delaware, Lewis of Illinois, Thomp-
son Of Kansas, Willy of Missouri anG
Hollis Of New Hampshire.