The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-11-05
Election in Every State in
the Union Except
Maine
LIVELY CONTEST FOR
CONTROL OF CONGRESS
Forty United States Senator'S to Be
Chosen as Well as Practically All
Members of House of Representatives
Outcome Regarded Close.

outcome Regarded Close.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 5.-Millions
of Americans today are casting their
ballots in elections which will decide
whether the Democratic party is to re-
tain control of congress. In many
states they are electing governors and
in practically all states are eleeting
local officers.
Today's election, the first since the
United States went into the war, comes |
ms the climax of a campaign which has
been attended by many unusual Gle
ments The allied successes in France |
the German peace offensive, the Fourth |
Liberty loan campaign and the infu |
enza epidemic all have divided the at |
tention of the public at the same time |
Leaders of Democrats and Repubh-
cans have declared they are confident
of success in today s battle of ballots
Those of the lesser organizations also
are hopeful of gains.
Being elected today in the contest
for control of the next congress are all
40 members of the house of represent
atives from all the states of the union
except Maine, whose elections were held
last September. as well as forty Unit
ed States senators in thirty three
states
The outcome generally is regarded as
close. Representatives in the lower
body, delegates from the four terri
tories-Alaska, Hawaii, the Philip
pines and Porto Rico-also are to be
| chosen, although they have no votes
How close is the contest for control
! of congress is apparent from the pres
ent lineup in the house and senate.
/ The membership of the house now is:
Democrats Els; Republicans 209; Pro
eressives .; Independents > Prohibi-
/ tionists |; Socialists j; FIVE seats va
cant; total I35.
There are D Democrats and Il Re
publicans now in the senate
The principal Democratic argument
of the campaign had been that Presi-
dent Wilson should have a congress of
his own political faith to insure CO.
operation. This the Republican spokes.
men have opposed with the argument
that Republicans in congress have 10y.
ally supported administration measures
needful for the war, and, that Republi-
cans should be elected to deal with i'm
| portant after the-war reconstruction
! problems
In today's balloting, particularly in
the southern states where Democratic
nomination is equivalent to election.
i Loot rau1l, a
tions Of nominations already made.
I About 100 Democratic and thirty Re
publican candidates for the house and
dozen Democratic candidates for the
senate already are virtually elected.
The latter include, Senators Bankhead
of Alabama, Robinson of Arkansas,
Ransdcll of Louisiana. Simmons of
North Carolina, Sheppard of Texas,
and Martin of Virginia Also in the
same states are w J. Harris. nomina
ted to succeed Senator Hardwick of
Georgia, Representative Pat Harrison
nominated to succeed Senator Narda-
man of Mississippi, Edward J. Cav of
Louisiana, for the unexpired term of
the late Senator Broussard, and n. 3
Dial and w. p. Pollock of South Caro-
! lima, for the long and short terms re.
: spectively, for the seat held by the
late Senator Tillman.
All of these are without Republican
opponents except Senator Simmons.
Virtually all the Democratic candi
dates for the house in the southern
states. and also score of Republican
candidates in northern and western
. states, are without opposition. Con
tests in many congressional and sena.
torial districts also are regarded per
J tunctory, with nominal opposition be
ing made.
; Chief interest in today results i.
: ccntcred in contests for house seat.
: principally in Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin
Nebraska, Kansas. California. New Jer
| sey and a few districts in New Yorl
| and New England Massachusetts, Ne
vada, Montana and Wyoming.
| Democratic leaders have waged thei
| campaign especially to make gains il
| the senate from Michigan. where Henr,
| Ford, the millionaire manufacturer, il
! opposing Truman II. Ncwberry, forme
assistant secretary of the navy, from
New Hampshire. where Senator Hollis
Democrat, is retiring and where a sue
cessor to the late Senator Gallinger
Republican senate leader, also is TO b,
elected; from Rhode Island, where Sen
ator Colt, Republican, is opposed by
Representative 'Shamessv; from Ne
braska, where Senator Norris, Republi
can, IS opposed by former Governo
Morehead, and from Idaho. where Sena
tor Borah, Republican, is being opposed
by Frank l.. Moore, Democrat, and for
l mer Governor Gooding Republican
} fighting for the short term seat nov
held by Senator Nugent, Democrat. TIL
!, Democrats also are hopeful of gains il
8 New Jersey, New Mexico, Wyoming
South Dakota, West Virginia and pos
sibly in other seats.