The Dolores star., 1918-11-15
DEMOCRATS LOSE
CONTROL OF HOUSE
CONTESTS WILL DECIDE AS TO
POLITICAL COMPLEXION OF
THE SENATE
Republicans Have Won 234 Seats In
the House Of Representatives, Six
teen More Than Necessary for
Majority.

/ WaShingt0n.-it now appears that
I the Republicans We're successful in
t gaining control of the house as re
| suit of the election on November .,
as they will have majority of sixteen
and probably more.
Contests in Michigan, Idaho and New
Mexico will decide whether the Demo
Gratis have lost control of the senate
as we'll
Returns from five congressional dis
tricts are missing, in Montana, New
| Mexico and South Dakota. Without
them however the Republicans have
won 234 seats in the house of repre-
sentatives-sixteen more than the 2lS
votes necessary for majority.
The Democrats on the face of these
returns had 1913 seats and if the five
missing districts were to be conceded
to them they still would lack eighteen
votes of the number necessary to con-
| troll the house.
The contests which will decide the
political complexion of the senate were
very close. As the senate stands with
out a decision in these contests there
are forty-six Democrats and forty
seven Republicans.
| In Michigan the race between Henry
Ford and Truman II. Newberry was so
close that IL was said an official count
might be required to decide the winner.
Both parties We're claiming the seat In
New Mexico, where. Republicans are
| claiming the election of Senator Fall
| by majority of 1000 at least. not
single county has reported complete re-
| turns.
| Speaker Champ Clark has been re-
| elected. II was ut first reported that
he had gone down to defeat, but in
stead he has received substantial ma
jcrity over his opponent.
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 adj
ministratiOn can retain control of the
senate 1t can in a large measure check
| the activities of Il Republican house. 1t
is dOubly important to the national ad-
ministration because of the part which
the constitution assigns to the senate In
| the ratification of the peace treaties
| NHlCi VIII emu tlle WOTlu war.
| In the senate reposes the prerogative
of ratifying any treaties which the
| president may make.
| With the senatorial returns still miss
Ing from Michigan, Idaho and New
Mexico, the figures showed that the
Republicans had lost One-that of Sen
ator Weeks of MISUNDERSTANDING
] tbn ts,l l,I Ix,e.,
tors who viii be retired are Shafroth of
Colorado, salisbury of Delaware
Lewis of Illinois, Thompson of Kan
sas, Whitley of Missouri and Hollis of
New Hampshire.
The politicians overturning which
takes from the Democrats control Of
the house of representatives fare-
shadows an upheatal in national legs
lative affairs, changes in power of the
+! committee chairmanships and Il situa-
ton confronting President Wilson
| which in IL measure parallels that CON
fronting President Taft in the midst of
his administration. The situation also
Is analogous to that faced by President
Cleveland ut the beginning of his first
term.
Since by the system of committee
| control which prevails in the house, all
legislation and the virtually unlimited
| powers for investigation of government
tai affairs lies within the initiative and
control of the majority, the possibilities
are obvious. They will be increased IL
the final returns for the senate assure
the Republicans control there.
First, comes the question of the
speakership, n place which many states
men and politicians have declared is
second only to the presidency in i'm
portunce. Representative Mann of H.
linois, the Republican leader, would, on
the basis of his position, be the logical
candidate of the majority, but that is
complicated by several factors, one of
which has been Mr. Mann's continued
i'll health.
Next in importance is the leadership
of the Democrats when they become the
minority party after March 3 next. As
chairman of the ways and means COM
mittee, Representative Kitchin of North
Carolina now is the Democratic floor
leader He Is expected to be supplanted
In both places, by Representative Jo-
seph w. Fordney of Michigan, one of
the old Republican wheel horses. upon
whom will fall very important part
In carrying out with the treasury de-
partment the governments financial
program for the remainder of the war,
and by ex-Speaker Champ Clark.