The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-11-21
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
What the Great Democratic
Landslide Means and
What Caused 1t.
By EDWARD w. PIcKARD

BY EDWARD w. PICNAHO
ID USINESS depression, hard times,
~ unemployment, dissatisfaction OF
the farmers with farm relief, local
political conditions, and last, but not
least, the wet and dry issue, all con-
tributed to the Democratic landslide
on election day. The Democrats de-
clared the people of the nation had
thus registered their emphatic disap-
prevail of the administration of Presi-
dent Hoover. This the Republicans
denied. Take your choice.
In the new congress, it appears,
neither party will have constitutional
majority in the senate, and the same
condition may prevail in the lower
house. The Republicans will have 4S
senators, the Democrats Al, and the
Farmer-Laborites /. If the last men
toned, Shipstead Of Minnesota, votes
with the Republicans, they can organ
ize the senate. Otherwise it would
take the deciding vote Of Vice Presi-
dent Curtis. i, ,1a,s II
Unless a recount gives the Eighth
Indiana district to Vestal (Rep.), in
stead Of to-Ball (Dem.), the member
ship Of the house will stand: Repub-
ncans, 217; Democrats, 217; Farmer
Labor, 1. A constitutional majority
is 218.
In both houses the progressive or
radical Republicans will hold the bal
ance Of power in matters of legislation
and by coalition with the Democrats
can continue successfully their habit
ual course Of hampering the national
policies Of their party.
MINE gains Of senate seats which
the Democrats are sure of at
this writing were made in Massachu-
sets, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois,
Kentucky, Kansas, Oklahoma, South
Dakota and Colorado. They lost one
seat, in Iowa. where Representative
Dickinson defeated Senator Steck.
Three administration senators who
were beaten were Allen of Kansas,
Robson of Kentucky and McCulloch
of Ohio. However, two anti-adminis-
tration senators lost out-Pine of Ok
lahoma and McMaster of South Da-
kota. Two administration senators
who were victorious in hard fights
were Metcalf of Rhode Island and
Hastings Of Delaware. Hastings ran
as dry in a VIGOROUSLY wet state,
and against him was all the influence
the nti-prohibitionists could muster,
but he decisively beat Thomas F. Bay
ard, former senator, wet and Dem
ocrat.
There was much rejoicing among
the vets. They elected four new wet
senator's: Lewis of Illinois, Buckley OF
Ohio. Coolidge of Massachusetts and
Gore OF Oklahoma, and they claim
Metcalf of Rhode Island will vote wet.
However. three edrys replace as many
vets: Dickinson of Iowa, Huey Long
Of Louisiana and White of Maine. As
for the lower house, the vets claimed a
gain of about 20 members. OF course
the drys will continue to control both
houses by heavy majorities, but the
leaders of the vets assert the cleo.
ton presages the eventual repeal OF
the Eighteenth amendment.
Heavy wet majorities were shown
in each of the three states, Illinois
Rhode Island and Massachusetts
where there were referendum votes
on various phases of the prohibition
question.
G ONE of the election results were
- spectacular. For instance, in New
York state Franklin d. Roosevelt
Democrat, was reelected governor by
the unprecedented plurality Of 725,00(
votes, completely swamping his Re
publican rival, Charles N. Tuttle. The
Happy Warrior" thus becomes the
outstanding figure of the Democratic
party and a potential candidate fol
the Presidential nomination in 1882
He supplants AL Smith as getter o.
Empire state votes both metropolitan
and rural. There was a Tammany
tidal wave in New York city, but Mrs
Ruth Pratt, Republican, was re-elect
ed to congress, defeating her Tam