Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-11-10
DEMOCRATS RULE
HOUSE BY 3 TO |
Control in I'D Congress to
Be Largest Majority
in History.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.


The Democrats will control the House
in the Seventy-third Congress with the
largest majority ever known in Ameri-
can legislative history-approxima
200, or almost a three-to-one propor-
tion OF members. This will give the
party free hand to carry out party
policies, promises and programs without
having to deal with any small group
or bloc representing special interests,
as both parties have had to do in recent
years.
Members Of the Republican Old
Guard were ruthlessly swept aside and
veteran leaders cest into the discard
This includes such men as Representa-
tive Gilbert N. Haugen Of Iowa. former
chairman Of the Agriculture Committee,
who Is rounding out his thirty-fourth
year Of consecutive service: Represen-
tatives James c. Mclaughlin of Michi-
gan and Burton L. French of Idaho
both OF whom are completing 26 years
Of service and Representative Willis c.
Hawley OF Oregon former chairman OF
the Ways and Means Committee, and
John NJ Nelson of Maine, also serving
26 years
Included also in the political slaugh-
ter is Representative Will R. Wood Of
Indiana. former chairman OF the House
Appropriations Committee, and Of the
Republican Congressional Committee;
Representative Carl G. Bachman Of w
Va, the Republican whip; Represent
alive Albert Johnson of Washington,
former chairman OF the Immigration
Committee; Representatives Kitchener
of Michigan and Purnell Of Indiana,
counted among the Republican strate-
gists. Representatives Addison T. Smith
of Idaho Curry of California, Leavitt of
Montana and many others Of promi-
nence.
Pou Dean of House.
Representative Edward W. Pou,
chairman of the House Rules Commit
tee, who is completing his 32d year
Of continuous service and proud of the
fact that as a presidential elector he
voted President Cleveland into the
White House, now has the aided dis
tinction of being the oldest member in
point Of service in the new Congress.
While Pennsylvania stood Loyalty TO
its Republican tradition in voting for
President Hoover, the Democratic tide
swept away nine House seats from the
G. o. p stronghold, snatched every
seat in West Virginia and returned solid
delegations from a number OF other
States such as Missouri, Washington,
Kentucky, Virginia.
In Minnesota five Farmer Laborites
we're threatening further inroads on Re-
publican strength.
The long roll of defeats will compel
Republicans to overhaul thoroughly
their organization in both branches, to
plug up the vacated places Of leader
ship, vital even to a party of such small
strength as the G. o. P. in Congress
now is to be.
But organization questions will face
the Democrats also, both in division OF
kew committee chairmanshipS in the
Senate, which are Of vital Importance
because OF the influence which may be
welded from them on legislation. and
in the selection of a Speaker TO sue
ced Garner in the House when he moves
to the Vice Presidents chair. In the
House, though aided by the magnitude
OF their majority, the Democrats will
have fresh difficulties within their own
ranks because of the so numerous new
corners. inexperienced in legislative
methods.
Effect on Short Session.
The big overturn will also have its
direct and immediate effect in the in
coming lame duck" session next month,
when at least lie defeated members
90 Republicans and "a Democrats-Wlll
serve approximately three months in
what will probably be the last lame
duck" majority in history.
Seventeen States already have adopted
the constitutional amendment elimlnat-
ing the short session and beginning the
terms of newly elected members IN
January instead Of March. Prospects
are the required So will have done so
before the next election.
OF the Republicans, Is retired and
the remainder were defeated either in
the primaries or elections. Ten Demo-
Gratis retired and most Of the other IA
were unsuccessful in primaries.
Three Democratic House members
will go over to the new Senate-Overton,
Louisiana; Lonergan, Connecticut, and
Dieterich. Illinois. A fourth, Stewart OF
New Jersey. was defeated by Republican
Senator Barbour.
There will be four vacancies in the
short session at the start, resulting
from the death Of Representative
Karch. Democrat, Illinois. and Repre-
sentative Vestal, Republican, Indiana,
and the designations Of Representatives
Tilson Connecticut and Dallinger,
Massachusetts, Republicans.