Evening star., 1937-11-03
Election Indications.


Yesterdays election results we're not
especially significant as regards a
national trend in politics. They did not
indicate movement either for or against
the New Deal, being in the main almost
Wholly local as to causes and effects.
The greatest interest attaches to the
La Guardia, who defeated the Tammany
candidate by an overwhelming margin.
La Guardia ran for a second term
strictly upon good performance" rec
ord. He overcame the influence of the
chairman of the Democratic National
Committee, who supported Mahoney, but
who did not directly appeal to the voters
on the ground that the regular Demo-
cratic candidate represented the domi-
nant party in national affairs.
Tammany's defeat in the mayoralty
race was not, however, its chief loss. The
most important fight was over the dis
trict attorneyship. to which Thomas E.
Dewey was elected by margin of more
than 100000 against the concentrated
efforts of the organization. His record
as special prosecutor against the rackets
won for him the support of many thou
sands of regulars. Coupled with the
Mayors reelection, the Dewey victory
was serious blow to the Hall" 1t
insures a continued campaign, in condi-
tions promising even greater results,
toward cleaning up New York than have
been thus far scored.
II there is any trend agc inst the
may be indicated by Republican gain
Of thirteen seats in the State Assembly,
seven of them in Manhattan and one in
Brooklyn. These gains will at present
reporting give the Republicans eighty
seven seats to sixty-three held by the
Democrats.
In New Jersey the governorship was
won by the Democratic candidate, a
result that was expected. The race,
however, was closer than had been FORE
cast. There may be some solace for the
Republicans in a nearer approach to
supremacy in the State.
A mayoralty election in Detroit fur
nished an opportunity to measure the
influence of the c. I. O. in political
affairs in that State. The Republican
candidate, backed by the A. F. of L., won
by a large majority over the Lewis
Endorsed nominee of the Democratic
organization. That result may be of sig
nificance in a measurement of the
G. I. O. as factor in politics in a city
that has recently been the scene of a
bitter battle over control of the labor
organizations.
In Boston five-sided, non- partisan
mayoralty race was lost by former Mayor
Curley to a comparatively youthful
school committeeman, a newcomer in
politics. Both are Democrats. That result
is of no national significance, though it
denotes the passing of a prominent
figure.
1aken altogether 1t would seem that
yesterday gave no indication of any trend
either for or against the nationally domi-
nant party. Too many local issues were
involved to permit any assured deduc-
tions from the results. Nevertheless there
is evidence in the New York result that
the administration influence, as far as it
was manifested by the participation of
National Democratic Chairman Farley as
supporter of the mayoralty candidate
OF Tammany, was not effective. That
may suggest something of encourage
ment to the Republicans, who are eager
for any crumbs of comfort that may be
strewn about in these, for them, dark
days of encouragement and defeat.