The Bismarck tribune., 1934-11-07
POWER
MAY SEE BREAKUP
OF FORMER Lines
Whether Democrats Can Stand
Strain Of Top Heaviness
Is Question
NEW ALIeNMENTs FORECAST
Friction From Within Due to
Variety Of Elements Is.
Possibility

Washington, Nov. 7.-(R)-The elec-
ton returns have settled several po-
litical questions with emphasis. They
have left several others-potentially
Of far greater significance = wholly
untouched.
The obvious thing Is that the vast
majority Of the voters are willing to
60 along with Mr.. Roosevelt for an
other two years: that the Democratic
party has been lifted to q high throne
Of prestige and power unoccupied by
any previous political regime in Amer
ica: that old-line Republicanism has
fallen to its lowest estate since the
existing two-party alignment came In
to being.
In this sense, and to this degree,
the election returns have written his
tory. But beneath the obvious runs .
set Of implications embodying much
deeper historical possibilities. The
margin Of Democratic control is SO
great, the power conferred by the
electorate Is 80 sweeping, that the
national destiny itself may depend on
what the voters do with their victory.
That question the election returns do
not answer.
Candidates OF almost every conceiv-
able twist, q opinion have been swept
into office On the Democratic ticket.
Their collective mental processes
range from the inner shrine Of con-
servatism to the borders Of sheer
radicalism. They have come to new
power under the wing Of an admins
tration whose policies have appeared
to many to swing visibly from left to
right, from right to left.
New Questions Raised
Can this party, which has come 50
near to taking the place Of both old
parties in the conduct Of the govern
ment, remain one party under the
tightening strain Of these years Of
constant change?
II 1t does remain one party, can the
dominance Of one wing over the other
be avoided, and which will become the
controlling element? If 1t does not re-
main one party. IS the long -foreseen
realignment Of American political
groups now In prospect2
These questions point directly to-
ward 1885. They are questions which
must. perforce, receive the earnest
consideration Of the president be-
tween now and the time when, In all
human probability, he will 60 before
the electorate seeking reelection.
The alignments in that battle will
depend very largely on Mr.. Roosevelt
himself. The election appears to have
left him quite free to choose which
way his party will turn.
The president must put before con-
gress q series Of recommendations on
such matters as the budget, the con-
tinuation Of government control over
agriculture and industry. and perma-
nent social legislation.
So far as the Republicans are con-
cerned, the decisions they now face
will be difficult enough: but their sit
uation will be tempered BY Z realixa-
ton that hardly even small part Of
the responsibility for what happens at
Washington viii rest now on Republi-
can shoulders
With the Republican party It will
be . question Of beginning al over
again-for 1896. and thereafter. Only
time - and the circumstances as
shaped by the course chosen by the
Democratic adminstration-can deter
mine whether . reunited and powerful
Republican party ever will be possible.