The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1922-11-10
THE TIDE TURNS.

Reaction frcm the high Of Republican senti
lnent swept the country in the national election
in 1920 reached unexpectedly high mark in Tues
days Congressional elections from which the Repub
cans emerged with scant majority in the lower
House in much better condition in the Senate
IL was not to be expected, it desirable from
any standpoint that the Administration would retain
in the next Congress the great majority 1t now
possesses in both Houses of the National Congress
was not expected because the membership of the
present Congress is not really representative of the
party alignment in the country whole and even
the most optimistic Republican leaders had not hoped
for repetition of the 1920 Republican landslide
That of G. O. p. sentiment resulted in such a
majority in the House that it unwieldy and
proved almost unanewerable party discipline, many
times embarrassing House leaders. On that account
it desirable that it be maintained.
8 But the upheaval of Tuesday was thing not
foresecn certainly not by Republican campaign man
ayers assuredy not by the great body of political
writers the daily papers, and very probably not
by the Democratic organization. The Repub-
lcans expected lose about 80 seats in the House,
possibly 40, In the Senate, while they fore
the loss of two three seats they expected to
make compensatory gains from the Democrats that
would least offset their losses and even
claimed they would enter the 6Sth Congress with
one two additional Senators. Political writers,
that is those who viewing the prediction
situation from impersonal and unbiased stand
point Oresaw from 40 to 60 gained in the House
by the Democrats and about break in the
Senate. None of them believed that the Republican
control of the House seriously threatened that
the Democrats would materially CITIZEN their foot
hold in the upper Chamber. The Democratic campaign
managers, of made the customary pre-election
predictions involving turnover in the House and
gains the Senate but few the really
looked anything like upset in the House better
than an even exchange of seats in the Senate. That
at least was the situation ten days prior election.
In the last ten days of the campaign there was
nothing of unusual political significance change
situation. In fact, from the end of September until
the election, conditions generally more settled
than fer many months certainly more than at any
ether period during the campaign. Whatever the feel
ing was ten days prior last Tuesday, nothing
TRANSFERRED intensity it,
Regarding the election test of the sentiment
Of the country toward the present national Admin
lstration 1t must be conceded that it adverse
Some OF the voters dissatisfied with the virtual
breakdown of the last Congress many important
matters. Some were dspleased with the attitude of
the President the bonus question The course of
the Department of Justice in the famous injunction
proceedings in the railway strike angered union
labor. The Fordney McCumber tariff measure alien
aed other supporters CT the administration Farmers
in the dumps lew prices CT their products and
high prices for what they have buy took their
grievance to the polls. Hundreds of thousands of
voters, disguised with the national gumshoe cam
Palsn Of the dry enforcement agencies, appeased that
disgust by voting against the party power Local
issues further complicated the situation All COM
bined, these specific complaints came dangerously
near to deprying President Harding of a sympa hetic
House of Representatives. and did cut down its ma
JoIfy until only nominal control remains In the
senate on the face of the returns. the administra-
ton is better off than in the House. but really its
control there is tenuous. 1t has LaFollette Borah
Brookhart and Johnson the Republican side who
ara far from hap yIoll,,
ministraticns policies and who with Lynn j. Frazier
elected in Ncrth Dakota. and Henrik Shipstead Far
mer-Labor Senator elect from Minnesota will hold the
balance of power.
Tuesdays election cannot be but viewed as
big Democratic victory 1t was largely based on un
rest just as was the Republican landslide of 1920
Whether the tide way from the Administration can
De stemmed to prevent further losses to in 1924
depends largely the coming session of Congress
II the Administration fails get its policies shsped
into legislation between November goth this year and
March A. 1928 it will find it almost impossible TO do
when the Congress convenes