Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-19

Election of Democratic Represent
ative in Congress from the second
Massachusetts, district produces nc
unanimity of opinion as to the causes
One simple explanation is that the dis
trict voted wet. Another is that the
Republican candidate by appealing Il
both vets and drys brought con.
dennation on himself. Some observers
believe that business conditions and
dissatisfaction with administration
achievements produced weakening Of
party allegiance.
Declaring that nothing like the Re-
publican crash has ever happened here
before the Springfield Republican
independently, published in the district
says in the course Of its comment;
The public has as much reason fol-
discomfort with party unable to func-
ton In legislation, although given heavy
majorities in both houses, as it ever
had with the same party turning out
tarif- laws that provoke sectional re-
sen.ment and popular opposition. But
the situation for the Republicans in this
district was made worse by far when
their candidate, somewhat belatedly
tried to play with both sides on the
prohibition question
y y
Gas q matter of fact" says the
Raleigh News and Observer Demo
cratic), the Democrat elected was
openly hostile to the eighteenth amend
ment and the Republican who lost
pledged himself to vote to amend it In
a wet way. Many voters, most Of them
dry, stayed away from the election.
The Topeka Daily Capital Republican,
concludes that 1T is not likely that the
capture of a Massachusetts, seat in Con-
greSS will cause any greet Democratic
enthusiasm in favor of going wet again
in the next presidential campaign" and
offers the explanation THE result was
expected because of the complete chaos
of the situation when the Republican
candidate (Griggs) announced that he
would favor repeal of the eighteenth
amendment. AS the Democratic candi-
date was VIGOROUSLY wet, the drys were
up against 1t. They put In nomination
a dry candidate on petition, but the
only effect of this maneuver was to In
crease the Democrats majority"
"All of New England has not sur
rendered all attachment to old Ameri-
can principles" thinks the Chicago
Daily Tribune Republican,, land where
they are held important the Republican
party is held responsible for the viola
lions of them, as it is. The Wing party,
which was its father, and the Federalist
party, which was its grandfather, both
killed themselves by supporting oppres-
sive laws which denied freedom. 1t
may not be the coroner which the Re-
publican party sees across the street,
but then, again, it may be-"
The Baltimore Sun independent
Damocratic) finds logic in the statement
of the Hartford Courant independent
Republican, "attributing the upset to
the wet sentiment in Massachusetts,"
while the Providence Journal (independ-
ent) says: THE conviction remains
that Springfield, Chicopee, Northampton
and their associated towns have admin
istered another smashing blow at the
prohibition cause. The friends of pro-
hibition repeal viii take heart by reason
Of 1t, and we shall hear, long before the
ides of November, much more concern
ing the temporary abandonment Of
party lines by voters who think and
feel strongly as to the eighteenth
and the Volstead act"
Mr.. Griggs, the Republican nomi.