Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-05
DEMOCRATIC WIN
REPEATS HISTORY
Depression Is Chief Issue as
Minority Party Makes
Gains in Congress.
BIZ DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Political history has repeated itself
Twenty-Five years ago the Republican
party swept President Taft into ONO
by the largest vote ever given Chic
Executive up to that time, but two
years later the country reversed itseli
and gave the Democratic party contro
OF both Houses Of Congress. Herbert
Hoover In 1923 won by landslide only
TO have the tide completely reversed
this Autumn with substantial gains FOL
the Democratic party In both Houses o.
Congress.
Unemployment Chief Issue.
The issue 20 years ago was the high
cost of living following passage OF the
Payne Aldridge tariff law. The issue
this year was tflu high cost OF unem-
ploynlent as reflected in the biggest
losses the Nation has suffered in an
economic sense for a generation.
The significance Of the election just
held may be summarized as follows:
First-It proved that the party IN
power is held responsible for adverse
business conditions just as the incurl-
bents are benefited by prosperity.
Second: It proved that the solid
South was not permanently broken IN
1928. for practically all the gains made
at that time by the Republicans were
Third-it proved that party regu-
larity is still vital for Senators Helm
and Simmons, who deserted AL Smith
have lost their seats in the Senate.
Fourth: 1t proved that any candi-
date who hopes for election on either
the Republican or the Democratic
ticket in wet States must be for repeal
Of the eighteenth amendment.
VETS Are Comforted.
Fifth: While the wet States voted
wet in much more emphatic fashion
than usual there is no conspicuous case
Of clear-cut overturn Of dry State,
for even in Ohio where Democratic
wet won the senatorial election, DEM
ocratic dry captured the governorship.
The vets viii derive much comfort
from the pronounced verdict In wet
constituencies, but the size OF the vote
polled by the victors in New York and
Illinois and Massachusetts,, together
necticut, shows iInnistakably that the
dominant issue was unemployment.
Unquesttcnahly the vets on the late
returns will be found to have made
gains Ia both houses, but they ere far
from their objective, namely, two
thirds, which is the necessary number
to bring about the adoption of q resolu-
ton for repeal Of the eighteenth amend
ment TO be submitted TO the several
States for ratification.
Analysis Of the returns. however, lead
strongly to the conclusion that the vets
are gaining IN momentum and power
and that they viii force prohibition as
an issue In the 1882 campaign.
Democrats Hopeful for 1882.
Speaking of 1882, there IS no doubt
that among Democrats politicians there
Is absolute confidence today and feel
ing that Just as the Democrats won the
presidency In 1912 after capturing both
houses IN 1910. % s > pemecratic vie
tory due next time. The Republicans
frankly are worried about this possible
fly, but are hopeful that In the next
two years econpraic conditions will right
drift.
The election furnished many sur
prises, particularly In States like KAN
sas and Minnesota. who're close elections
for the United States Senate have de-
vsloped IN regions ordinarily Republican
1tAW.ZMN
chusetts. Is well rs In Ohio and West
Virginia and Montana were more or
less discounted Evidence Of the Dem.
ocratic drift, due TO economic condi-
tons, may be found IL the reduced vote
Of Dwight Morrow Of New Jersey, Of
whose wetness tlsre Is no doubt.
With both the Republican and the
Democratic nominees on the wet side OF
the argument in Rhode Island. Senator
Metcalf. Republican. has been leading,
while In the State Of Delaware q dry
Republican, Senator Hastings, has ap-
parently won over his Democratic OPP
ponent.
Roosevelt and Richie Outstanding.
Personalities. Of course, have much to
do with the outcome Of local elections,
and while Republican senatorial vic
tories In Delaware and Rhode Island do
not match with the Democratic tri-
umph elsewhere, these instances may be
attributed TO better organization or 10
cal circumstances.
( The overwhelming triumph Of Gov.
Roosevelt In New York State, coupled
with the reelection Of Gov. Richie Of
Maryland. both Of whom are vets,
means that these two Governors will
be In the forefront Of attention for the
Democratic nomination in 1881.
The result Of Tuesdays election Is
disappointment TO President Hoover,
who thus loses in the middle Of his
term the opportunity of complete Re-
publican control Of the Government.
Coalitions viii rule In both Houses be-
cause Of the narrow margins. This
means makeshift majorities.
The fun effect Of this weeks election
can hardly be felt untfl year from
next December, when the regular ses-
sion Of Congress meets, unless, Of course,
an emergency compels Mr.. Hoover TO
call Congress into special session next
Spring.
tcopyrisht, 1897
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