Evening star., 1932-11-08
TENSE D. c. WAITS
ELECTION OUTCOME
Uprooting of Old Ties Due for
Many in Change of
Administration.

Washington waited with nerves on
edge tonight, helpless spectator, while
the rest of the Nation voted.
In the behavior of crowds gathered
this evening before newspaper bulle-
tin boards, of moving picture audiences
and of groups listening to radio returns
in the corner drug stores, parks and
community Centers there was an under
current of anxiety, regardless OF the
apparent surges of the ballot tide in one
direction or the other A good deal OF
vocal sentiment was manifested for
both parties.
Perhaps never before has Washing
ton been so obviously out OF the pic
ture" on election night. Not only Is
the National Capital cast in its ac-
cIIstOmed role of spectator without voice
in the outcome but all the chief actors
in this great recurrent drama Of Amer
lean history are far away. The eyes
Of the Nation are not turned toward the
White House whose future occupancy
Is in the balance. but toward New York
and California.
Few at White House.
The White House itself seemed de-
across the continent two of President
Hoovcr's secretaries we're the only ad-
ministratiOn officials there to receive
returns by radio, telegraph and tele-
phone Walter Newton. who has Just
returned from the Midwest where he
left the Presidents campaign party.
Joined with Theodore Joslin in listen
ing to the radio reports in the latterS
office A few members of their families
and some close friends were there also.
With only two exceptions, the men,
hers of the Presidents cabinet are
out of the city. The sane is true of
many lesser officials whose political
fortunes depend On the swing of the
tide
Another factor is the weather The
6rab damp night is an induSement to
stay indoors Much of the underlying
drama of the occasion. so far as wash
ington is concerned is hidden under
private roOf-treeS with neighborhood
parties gathered to hear the returns
over family radios.
Crowds Despite Weather.
But. despite the threatening weather
there were large groups at the various
parks where radio returns were furnish
cd by The Star Besides there were large
reighbOrhOod gatherings at community
Centers all over the city where the I
latest results of the election were pro-
Ided by this newspaper throughout !
the evening A large gathering Congre- !
gated or PENNSYLVANIA avenue in front +,
of The Star Building to watch the min !
ute-by minute announcements on the |
bulletin board
Everywhere there was manifest note |
OF Geep concern. Whichever way the |
election turned would be Of vital mo-
ment to Washingtonians-fa more so !
in respect TO obvious and tangible effects /
than to any other American community. !
So with mingled feelings, not alone as !
soCiated with academic or emotional |
political SympathieS. the city waited !
in the drizzle for the triumph or the |
rrash Of the Republican dynasty with |
which its fortunes have been so inti- |
mately associated for the past - years. |
Elsewhere there is no very direct effect |
on the lives Of individuals. The National
Government is remote from the work
day world. Only indirectly and over a
protracted period is it likely to make
itself felt in the intimate, personal af-
fairs of any except the almost inviS- |
ible handful of Federal employees scat
tered over the country at large. What |
ever happens the necessary functions
OF the Federal machine will continue |
Men and women can afford. from Su- |
perfcial viewpoint al least, to be Demo- |
Gratis or Republicans purely from the !
standpoint of their reasonings or ration !
alizationS
Vital to Washington.
But in washington there is a vital !
difference, more or less manifested in tn" |
attitude of the watchers tonight. A
national administration, especially one !
of y years duration, becomes init !
matelv rooted in the friendships. the !
everyday life, the bread-and- butter af-
fairs Of the city. 1t cannot be uprooted |
for good or evil so far as the ultimate |
result is COncernei. without serious
wounds to the civic structure.
There were many in the crowds whose
political sympathieS and considerations
of the larger issues pulled in one direc
ton. but whose anxiety over more init
mate affairs at their own dcUrStepS
pulled III another direction. So there
was a touch OF sobriety to the election
night gatherings. SO far as yocalized
sentiment was concerned. perhaps there
was slight edge for the Democrats. 1t
has been apparent for some time in
such manifestations as the hand-clap- |
ping Of theater crowds. But, on the !
other hand, the Republican scheme of
things has grown into the habit pat !
tern of the city. Civic life in most of
its aSpects-business. social. industrial |
and religious-has become adjusted to |
it. 1t is hard to make new ADJUST |
ments to still unknown factors.
There were diverse elements in the |
crowds watching the bulletin boards !
A few were political appointees whose |
Jobs are directly at stake. Thousands |
were Civil Service employees, not so di-
rectly concerned. but whose lives are
tied up very closely with the fate of |
departments and bureaus bound to be !
more or less effected by anything that !
happened tonight. A change meant !
new bosses. new neighbors and new
faces in church pews.