Evening star., 1926-10-31
Control of House Is Assured,
Marking National Victory,
But Democrats Are Due to
Gain Several Seats.
ONLY BREAKS WILL LOSE
G. 0. P. UPPER CHAMBER
Prohibition. Klan, Slush and Farm
Relief Issues Skroud Election in
Uncertainty-Coolidge Person
al Popularity Stands Out Clearly
Against Political Horizon.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.


Democratic gains i'll Senate and
House loom as the probable outcome
OF Tuesdays elections.
They Will be due to an accumulation
of g. Q. T. troubles, but these troubles
are State rather than nationa,. Despite
the prospective losses the Republicans
will control the House in the
seventeen Congress. This will be
real victory for the Republicans, for
the entire membership of the House
is to be elected, the only nationwide
contest this year. Republican con-
troll OF the House perhaps Wi be by
a narrow margin, but the control
will be definite unless there should be
a Democratic landslide. and there is
nothing today to indicate one.
Senate Hangs i'm Balance.
Party organization of the Senate
hangs in the balance. Unless the
Democrats get practically all of the
breaks. however. the Republicans will
again be able to organize the Senate.
Bloc control or Democratic control are
the alternatives. If the Republicans
retain the organization of the Senate
the Progressive bloc on the Repuhli-
can side of the chamber will hold the
balance of power and be able to swing
II either to the Republicans rr th>
Democrats as the bloc desires. j.
the Democrats elect Il definite ma jor-
ity of the Senate the bloc V i'll have t.
draw in its horns.
Whether the movement toward
Democracy reaches the dimensions Of
q sweep, or proves to De merely Il
gentle settling to normal conditions
after the Coolidge landslide OF 1924,
remains to be seen. Probably the lat
ter, for a survey of political sentiment
in the country shows the popularity
of President Coolidge is undininished
and no widespread revolt against the
Republican party.
Local fights involving prohibition,
campaign scandals. the ku kluX Khan
and farm relief Shroud in uncertainty
election results in many of the Stdies.
The campaign has not been fought on
national issues. Indeed, the Demo-
Gratis stand to win in States which
frequently so Republican. due entirely
to local conditions prevailing today.
Butler and Wadsworth the hey Men.
Take such strongly Republican
States as Massachusetts New York.
Indiana. Illinois and Oregon. 1t would
seem ridiculous ordinarily to say that
the Democrats had a good chance to
win these States.
The political pendulum in an off
year swings usually against the party
in power. The Democrats probably
will benefit from this fact. Just as
they did in 1922 and as The Republi-
cans benefited in 1918.
The personal popularity of Presi-
dent Coolidge and the prosperity of
the country generally are fighting for
the Republicans. They may operate
to halt considerable Democratic gains.
Should Senator William NJ. Butler,
friend of the President and chair
man of the Republican national com
mittee. lose to David |. Walsh in the
Massachusetts senatorial race. and
Senator James W. WadsWorth. jr.. be
defeated by Justice Robert +. Nag.
ner, the Democratic nominee in New
York, Republican orEanizatio of the
upper house would pass. Democratic
victories in those States. in the face
of President Coolidge's personal an
peal to the voters of the BAY State
and in the face of great prosperity
In New York. would he real yard
stick TO measure political sentiment.
The wet and dry issue is cutting
deep in both these States. II is in
others. The drift has been more and
more this year toward prohibition as
a ma jor issue in politics. So far
neither party nationally has snatChed
the liquor cause to its bosom and
sought TO do an Eliza crossing
ice" With the dry hounds of prohibi-
trta 81 he
are indications that unless the drys
halt the vets in many of the elections
Tuesday prohibition may plav
major part in the campaign of 1925.
Today the wet and dry issue is
badly mixed up when il comes to
party alignment. For example. Butler.
Republican. is the dry candidate in
Massachusetts. While just across the
State line. Wadsworth Republican. is
the wet hope in New York: Halves.
Democrat. is the wet candidate for
the Senate IN Missouri. and in neigh
boring Kentucky. Barkley, Demo
cratic nominee for the Senate. is bone
dry.
If the Democrats can win nine Sen
ate seats now held by the Republi.
cans and retain all they now possess.
control or the Senate will pass def
nitely from the Republican party TO
the Democratic and the latter will or
ganize the Senate Thirty-fve United
States Senators are TO be elected in
80 States. One of these Senators is
to be elected only for the short term
expiring March 3. 1927. David ".
Stewart. Republican. who has no op.
position in Iowa. His election will not
affect the political complexion of the
6Anate in the Seventeen Congress.
G.. o. p. Holds % Seats
OF the Senate seats for which bal
lots will be cast - are now held by
Republicans and bt Democrats. with.
one vacancy. Another vacancy.
caused by the death Of Senator Fer.
nald, of Maine. will not be balloted for
until later
The Southern Democrats who will
be elected and their States are: Hugo
Continued on Page s, Column 81