Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-03
Election DaY.

Election Day.
The elections today, despite the fact
MAT only I'VE House seats are balloted
for. may determine whether the Repub-
licans are 70 have a majority Of one in
the Lower House during the coming
session Of Congress. II the Democrats
win in one congressional district which
hitherto has been Republican, and hold
their own, the narrow Republican ma
iOrity viii have been wiped out. Seven
vacancies exist in the House, five Re-
publican and two Democratic. Two Of
these Republican vacancies will not be
filled until later, the one in New Jersey
IN December /. and that in New
Hampshire in January.
The significance Of the election re-
suits In the light Of the national cam
paign which comes next year may be
considerable. For example. should the
Republicans fail to carry either the
first Ohio district, the old Longworth
district. or the eighth Michigan dis
trict In todAys elections. both consid-
cred strongly Republican in the past,
IL would be a serious blow 10 Repub-
lican hopes.
The election in New York, where the
voters are passing upon a reforestation
amendment TO the state constitution,
has It's bearing on the presidential as
ptrRtions Of Gov. Franklin d. Roose-
veit. and those, IL he still has them, OF
former Gov. Alfred e. Smith. Roose-
welt has supported the amendment and
Smith has attacked It. The Democratic
and Republican organizations have both
Endorsed the amendment, which would
appear to leave Gov Smith fighting al
most single-handed against the pro-
posal. In New York, too, the Demo-
Gratis are making desperate efforts 10
gain control of the Assembly. The
Tammany Democrats feel that II they
can accomplish this end, Tammany rule
win not only have been INDICATED, but,
more important, an end may be put TO
the legislative investigation Of New
York City's government. which, to say
the least, Is embarrassing to the Tam
many officials. Upstate the Democrats
are working hard TO make gains in the
Assembly to prove the strength Of Gov.
Roosevelt.
OF all the forty-eight States, only
three hold gubernatorial elections, New
Jersey. Kentucky and Mississippi. In
Mississippi the election OF a Demo-
cratic Governor Is always assured as
soon as the candidate has been nomi-
mated by the party. But in Kentucky.
elections are fiercely fought. The pres
emit Governor is Republican. But the
Democrats claim that they will elect
their candidate today by a substantial
majority. The Republican candidate,
mayor Of Louisville, has made a strenu-
Gus campaign. however, in an effort to
retain at least some Of the Republican
rains made in the Blue Grass state in
recent years.
The election Of Governor in New
Jersey is expected not only to give a
hne on the trend Of political sentiment
IN that State and its bearing on the
national campaign in 1882, but also to
mark the rise or the setting Of boom
for the Democratic presidential nomins-
ton. Former Gov. Harry Moore, the
Democratic nominee for Governor, has
been suggested lately as a presidential
possibility, provided, of course, he can
win over the Republican candidate, for
mer Senator David Baird, jr. New Jer-
sey has fallen into a habit Of electing
Democratic Governors in "ofI years" and
OF swinging back to the Republican fold
IN presidential elections. This fact must
be taken into consideration in esti-
mating the result OF the election TO-DAY
Of Mr.. Moore, should he prove a victor
what New Jersey does today, under
these circumstances, is not necessarily
O criterion for what she may do next
gear.
~-S-SS@-~--