Evening star., 1934-01-26

A Republican victory in a Vermont
election to the Federal Senate and
House of Representatives inspires the
comment in the press that the Green
Mountain State is like the Rock OF
Gibraltar" Few believe that the re-
suit gives any indication Of Democratic
losses in other parts OF the country. 1t
is remembered that this State supported
President Taft in the complete defeat
of his party in 1912. 1t Is not in the
habit Of encouraging Democrats.
Vermont runs true to changeless
form" observes the Miami Daily News.
and that paper comments 1T is strange
that thrifty Vermont, the Vermont OF
economical Calvin Coolidge, should
have continued through these change.
less years. the unnecessary expense OF
holding elections. With perfect accu-
racy that eternally changeless State
could write down in prophesy now its
electoral vote for a half century TO
come as history now writes down its
vote for a half century past. But
there! Holding elections is Q habit
there. and in Vermont habits do not
change. So this week Vermont has
held another election. There was a
Senator to elect, say nothing OF Con-
gresham. The Republican candidate
Is elected by little less than so per cent
of the total vote"
Recalling that "the Republicans had
worked themselves into q scare" the
Baltimore Sun concludes: There was
uneasiness lest these Green Mountain
boys might have become so bedaZzled
by the tremendous show in Washing
ton that they would decide that dis
cretion was the better part of valor and
jump for the bright lights.
the much bewildered G. o. p can now
feel that all Is not lost. 1t looks, in
deed. as If it had been unnecessary
ator-elect Gibson had resigned his job
in the House to stand for the Senate.
Vermonters not being given to risking
a bird in hand for two in the bush, Mr..
GibSon's action in the circumstances
should have been taken to indicate that
he believed he had the accustomed cop
per-riveted cinch. It Is true that Mr..
Gibson did not win on an anti-Roose-
velt platform. He had no quarrel even
with the administrations monetary
policies and announced after election
that he would support them so far as
they had been announced. Neverthe-
what comfort they may out of the
victory.
THE light vote that was cast seemed
to be lighter on the Democratic side
than on the Republican side" says the
Springfield Union, recognizing that
there is q natural inference that
Vermont's Republicanism has been
strengthened rather than weakened"
The Providence Journal makes the OBJ
servation: This special election was
the first of Statewide character held
in the East since Mr.. Roosevelt became
President. and the first of such char
acter in any part of the country since
the new year came in. The new deal
ers will say, we suppose. that Vermont
is not the whole country; that is. OF
course. SO. But Vermont is Vermont,
and plainly recognizable in her old
familiar role"
"As q national political barometer
the Vermont election doesn't mean a
thing" concludes the Roanoke Times,
the analysis Of the situation: There
licans greatly, or to alarm the Demo-
Gratis, who are looking forward to q
general congressional election next Fall.
Vermont Is such q rock-ribbed Repub-
lican State that President Taft carried
It in 1912, when but two States In the
Union voted for his reelection. While
q great deal can happen between now
and November, neither present condi-
tions nor present trends hold forth any
formidable hope for the Republicans to
regain control Of either house Of Con-
gress. President Roosevelt continues to
be tremendously popular with the rank
and file Of citizenry, regardless Of party
affiliation. The present Congress is, for
the most part, doing his bidding be-
cause his popularity Is clearly sensed
In Washington. To be sure, he has
. partisan majority In both houses. but
J It would not b such . docile majority
were not most Congressmen convinced