Evening star., 1922-11-08
Yesterdays Reaction.

4ISlClu udS . -sSoceAoA'
Yesterdays elections evidenced a not
unnatural and in some respects a
wholesome reaction from the over
vhclming tide of 1920 which swept the
democratic party out of office. The
voting two years ago was an ext:aordl-
Larry phe;omenon Of public disap-
p.uval. The republican party gained
tie presidency and held Congress by Il
great and unwieldy majority i'll both
rouscs. 1t was successful in many
parts of the country where normally
{. democratic preponderancc prevails.
IL was inevitable that. the issues OF
the war period having been once
PASSED upon by the people. almost
without regard to party. there should
bc a return to the ordinary divisions.
The republican control Of Congress
is as the returns at present ap-
bear. unbrukyn. In the House the
. Ilriy margin is reduced but stands
pfroXiu.&t,ly at from sixty u seven
g.. far Iarger than was expected. In
~, Senate the majority drops from
.srnty-tour to eight
Analysis Of yesterday voting is not
yet possible. To the point Of determin-
iIsS the causes Of the reaction. For
,crtaiu results the influences are plain.
I'm New York. for example. personal
popularity prevailed 10 restore Smith
to the GoNernorship. and his tremen-
i,l ,x-iri !, a
democratic candidate for the Senate.
Whether any national questions en-
tered into this state canvass is not
low to be determined, though tariff
Question was raised undoubtedly to
thc disadvantage of Senator Calder.
Also in Indiana. where a senatorial
oNerturn appears to have occurred.
the element of personal popularity
prevailed TO some extent. but in the
;bsence Of any specific national issue
The result may be attributed to the
u'f.year swing of discomfort. In New
Jersey. where the democratic sena-
torial candidate at present returns
leads over the republican incumbent.
no doubt the prohibition enforcement
issue had a decided bearing. In
Massachusetts. where Senator Lodge
is at this hour reported as successful.
if at all. only by a very narrow mar
gin. personal as we'll as political ele-
ments have figured. In Maryland the
REACTION in the senatorial fight was
largely local. and so also in West Vir-
Ginia.
Some strange contrasts occur in the
results. In Nebraska, for example, a
democrat is elected governor. while
the democratic candidate for Senate.
with a long and honorable record in
Congress- is defeated. In Ohio it would
appear that the republicans capture
the senatorship. but lose the governor
ship.
Whatever the net results of the VOt-
ing yesterday in specific offices, there is
reason to congratulate the country
upon the restoration of the balance in
political affairs. which has been the
safeguard Of the United States since
its organization. Political health Is
more uellflllelN dSSuEtu ny bcCdSlOlldA
alterations and the maintenance Of
strong rival party organizations than
by the continuous rule of single
party or by the splitting up of the
people into numerous minority groups,
no one strong enough to control.
In its effect upon the presidential
possibilities two years hence yester-
days election will be variously inter
preted. Democrats will see in it
presase Of their victory in 1924.
Thoughtful republicans will see in it,
Notwithstanding the retention of con-
Eressional control by substantial
though reduced nlajorities. a warning
to adopt means and measures more
surely appealing to the public approval
and leading to recommissioning Of
their party for national administra-
lion. Prosressives in both parties will
see in it a token of independence on
the part of a large and possibly de-
termining fraction of the people i'm
patient with definite party organiza-
ton.
American institutions sre not
changed, are not even shaken by such
reactions, but are rather strengthened
The people have expressed themselves
as they have before, with freedom and
with independence, and the flag still
flies.