Evening star., 1937-11-05

versing the situ-
alton in the State Legislature.
The Democrats and Republicans had
State Senate, but now the election
has given the Republicans Is to the
Democrats s.
Likewise in the Assembly, where the
Democrats had 80 and the Republicans
only 90, the new lineup is Al Re-
publicans to only 19 Democrats.
Over in New York State the Re-
publican gains appear to be even more
considerable than when the first
nights reports were available. The
Republicans in a Statewide test cap
tured from 80 to 95 of the delegates
to the coming constitutional conven-
ton, including of the is delegates
at large.
Republicans Make Gains.
In the Assembly contest the re-
suits are just as significant, for instead
Of 76 Republicans and "a Democrats
Is the figures have been, the new
Assembly is to be composed of IS
Republicans and 81 Democrats and 4
American Labor representatives.
Even in the mayoralty contests in
both New Jersey and New York, the
candidates using the Republican label
won more victories than the Democrats.
Thus out of 80 contests in New York
State, n Republican mayors were
elected to IL Democrats, while in New
Jersey, out of 19 contests, 13 Re-
publicans were elected to s Democrats.
In nearby Pennsylvania, the Repub-
1ican drift was particularly noticeable
in the defeat administered to four
constitutional amendments sponsored
by Gov Earle, Democrat. In the city
of Philadelphia, which was won by
100000 by the Democrats year ago,
the margin of the local candidates
elected by the Democrats fluctuated
this time between 1,700 and 1900
and it is stated that more than 30
per cent Of the registered voters went
to the polls.
The actual majority by which the
Republicans beat the Democrats in
New York State will not be available
for some time with respect to the
Legislature contests, but the total of
1,3S0,o74 for the Republicans as
against 1,338,606 for the Democrats
on the vote for delegates to the con-
stitutional convention would seem to
indicate that the Republicans will
have . substantial margin especially
since the unreported districts are in
Republican territory.
Republicans In Control.
National significance can be at
tached to the fact that the Republicans
will dominate the Legislatures of
New Jersey and New York be-
cause it will tend to bring out into
the open the conflict between State
and national policies. The tendency
OF local legislators on the Democratic
side has been to accept blindly the
laws written for their respective States
by the bureaucrats in Washington and
to surrender their State rights. The
appearance of Republican majorities
may cause the clash between Federal
and State prerogatives to become
more pronounced in the coming two
years, perhaps even furnishing the
outlines of the 1910 campaign issues.
Incidentally adoption by New York
State of constitutional amendment
giving the Governor a four-year term
hereafter instead of a two-year tenure
and providing also in effect that the
election shall be held in year that
does not coincide with presidential
election may change the whole aspect
OF party politics in presidential year
In the Empire State. 1t was AL Smith S
desire for a strong supporter in 1923
IN the governorship race that caused
him to draft Franklin Roosevelt as
his running mate and likewise in 1886
1t was President Roosevelts anxiety
about New York States electoral vote
that prompted him to persuade Gov.
Lehman to run for reelection after
he had publicly announced that he
would not be candidate again.
Cliques Tied Together.
Just how much effect the guberna-
torial races have on the presidential
tickets Is hard to determine especially
Ax Mr.. Roosevelt won the governor
ship In 1928 when Al Smith lost the
State for President and also since
President Roosevelt carried New York
In 1885 by many thousands of votes
more than did Gov. Lehman. But
nevertheless the coincidence of State
and national elections does manage
to tie the State and national party
cliques together in common cause
and works to the disadvantage of the
voters who wish to decide State issues
On State premises and national issues
on national grounds. The voters OF
New York wisely followed the lead Of
other States in separating national
and State elections.
tCopyrisht, 1879