The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-11-19


In that there were Democratic gains,
election resulted as most politicians had
expected.
But few, if any, on either side, thought
these gains would be as great as they
were,
In the present Congress the Republi-
cans have a majority of "a in the sem
ate and 16 in the house of representa-
tives.
In the next congress the republican
senate majority will be 10, and in the
Honse of Representatives, II.
More-amoRg the So Republicans who
will have seats in the next Senate there
are nine who, If they do as the promise
and as their records indicate they will
do, will refuse to be boun1 by party
ties except when they please. 1t seems
extremely likely that, very fcen, they
will not phase
Prospects are that these nine, with DR..
Shipstead, a new Farmer-Labor senator,
will he more or less independent group.
The Republicans cannot count on their
votes. OF course the Democrats will
try to win their help, and~if, and when
ever, they succeed in doing so, the Sen
ate majority will be sent on that side.
In the House Of Representatives also
there probably will be enough RepubH-
cans who regard party ties lightly to
make a majority OF only II an uncer-
tain thing.
Neither Side Seems To suit.
In 1920 the voters gave the Repub-
llcans an enormous majority Previously
Congress, as we'll as the administration,
had been Democratic. Seemingly the
electors did not like the way in which
tn Democrats had managed national af-
fairs.
Now, in 1922, the country swings away
from the Republicans almost as strongly
as II swung toward them before. Seem
inRly again the voters do not think the
Republicans, in the past two years, have
improved conditions much.
On the strength of the latest result
Democratic politicians claim great victory
Republican politicians say they can't see
that they've suffered a serious defeat.
But disinterested observers express the
opinion that neither party is entitled to
be pleased with what's happened.
They argue that the two votes, taken
together, clearly mean popular dsap-
prevail Of both parties have ceased to
be anything but "tns" and outs" that
their politics are about alike, and that
most OF the people do not consider them
very good policies, at that.
Many good judges look for a redivision
into two new parties before long-parties
which mean something and represent
really diverging views.
Wet Dry Outcome Mixed.
There were other issues in which indi- |
iduaI groups of voters were more in |
terested, but it is doubtful If any one !
issue interested so many of those who |
cast ballots as the wet and dry question |
not even the tariff, much as it means.
Illinois and Ohio voters We're asked to !
express preference between the present |
day rule and the legalizing of beer and !
wine. New York Democrats had a wine
and beer plank in their state platform
and California. which have
no state dry laws to support national |
were asked to pass such laws.
In New Jersey the rival candidates made
the wet and dry question the issue of the
state campaign.
Ohio and California went dry. All the
others went wet.
In the rest of the states and districts
the issue was not so sharply defined. In
some places vets were elected to Con-
gress; in others drys.
Both vets and drys claim to have
gained congressional votes. 1t is notI