Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-11-02

tricts are doubt Ii
full mai, ,
The present
Congress-the seventy-fourth-has 800
Democrats, 100 Republicans, Z Pro-
gressives and 3 Farmer-Laborites and
Is vacancies. But the Congress to be
elected this week, which takes ONCE
on Juary 8 next, may see minimum
of 259 Democrats, $50 Republicans, 6
Progressives and Farmer-Laborites.
If the II doubtful districts 60 almost
evenly to the Republicans and the
Democrats, then the totals would be
267 Democrats, 159 Republicans, s
Progressives and Farmer-Laborites.
The significance of the foregoing is
that the Democrats seem certain to
lose the two-thirds weapon which
they have had heretofore in order to
suspend the House rules. There are
many occasions when a two-thirds
vote can jam legislation through when
demanded by the President. With
only $50 votes, the Democrats will fall
short by 81 of the 29O needed to over
rule committees and upset the normal
priority that some bills have.
Detection Of IL Could Rule.
Likewise with only 259 votes in the
Democratic majority, the detection by
about Al Democrats of the conserva-
tive school of thought would give q
conservative coalition q majority on
vital pieces of legislation. The dini-
mutton by Al Is not a very large num-
Der as votes sometimes 60 on bills in
the House.
In the Senate, there are some i'm
portant changes coming, too. Thus
the present Senate has SO Democrats,
% Republicans, 2 Farmer-Laborites
and Progressive. Two seats are
vacant-one Republican and one
Democrat.
Senate would appear to be gain Of
four or possibly six Republicans and,
assuming the latter, the lineup would
be:
Democrats, 81; Republicans, 40;
Farmer-Labor, 2; Progressive, !. To-
tai. 96.
Only a third of the members of the
United States Senate are up for cleo
ton as usual, but there are four seats
In which vacancies occur for unex-
pired terms so that So Senators will
be elected.
Party Labels Misleading.
The party label will not count for
30 much, however, in the senatorial
elections. Thus if Governor johnson
Of Colorado, conservative, is elected on
the Democratic ticket, he will replace
Senator Costigan, Democrat, who has
been regarded as radical. Likewise,
the possible defeat Of Senator Norris
In Nebraska would remove nominal
Republican who has been voting with
the Democrats and elect Robert G.
Simmons, who would become a men,
Der of the regular Republican group
IN the Senate, though he has Pro-
gressive leanings.
Again it is important to note that
party label divisions do not mean
everything. When it comes to the
confirmation of justice of the Su-
preme Court of the United States,
nominated by the President to fill a
vacancy, party lines would disap-
pear. If the nominal Democratic
lineup is 81, it can be taken for
granted that Is Of that number would
refuse to confirm to the Supreme
Court a man who. it was believed,
would decide cases on a political basis,
rather than in conformity with es-
tablished precedent.
The prospect that rs Democratic
Senators will form a group which
will insist upon considerable revision
Of New Deal legislation and will OPP
pose the revival of the N. r. A. has
been talked about privately in this
campaign among some Of those who
are going down the line, so to speak,
for Mr.. Roosevelt this time, but who
do not feel that he can expect their
support If he deviates from his 1885
campaign promises.
Promises In Speeches Noted.
Mr.. Roosevelt's statements in his
speeches have been contradictory, but
the assurances which he gave to bust
ness and the conservatives in recent
utterances have been carefully noted
BY Democratic Senators who intend
to hold him to the conservative side
and to desert him If he proposes pol
icies at variance with the speeches he
has made.
The average citizen who Is voting
the straight ticket may think he Is
taking the easiest course, but there
are many millions who prefer to be as
careful as possible about their choice
Of Representatives and Senators in
Congress, and this would indicate
much scratching of tickets. After
all, the members Of Congress are the
direct spokesman of the citizens, and
whatever there is to popular govern
,nent can be Immediately asserted In
the face Of possible Capitalization only
II Representatives are held account
able by the people generally.
Check Factor Gains.
Il the American form Of govern
Ynent Is truly q system Of checks and
balances, then the coming election VIII
demonstrate how important II u to
use the congressional check to in
sure Q maintenance Of constitutional
rights. The drife toward Republican,
ism shown in various congressional
districts Is an indication that, In some
q the districts, at least, the electorate
n