Evening star., 1938-10-17
NEW DEAL AWAITS
ELECTIONS TEST
Both Parties Holding Hopes
for Victory at Polls in
November.
Nv the Associated Press

os inc hSnuClAtcQ FIeSS
Thiry-three Governors, 467 members
Of Congress. and hundreds Of lesser
ofiicials will be chosen November
in an election which may show how
firmly President Roosevelt has re-
tanned his hold on the voters.
Wide Republican gains would bring
instant claims that his grip Is slip
ping. A Democratic loss OF only Is
or 30 House seats and a Governor
or SO would leave the Democrats feel
ing that they had ridden out the
storm pretty well.
Most Democratic leaders expect
some losses. 1t has been customary
for backswing to set in after a
party has surged upward in the sweep
OF presidential election.
Yet, the issues and the parties have
become so ensnarled in the pre-elec-
ton maneuverings that unless there
is major upset, it might be hard
to prove very much from the elec-
ton results.
Platform Promises.
In some States Republicans are
seeking of1ice on platform promises
that bring shudders to conservative
Democrats. And the Democratic
ticket is laden with numerous con-
servatives whose very names cause
liberal Democrats to get red in the
face.
In few places have the questions
been boiled down to the simple one
Of whether a candidate is for or
against the policies of the New Deal
The Presidents own attitude has
not helped to make it a straight party
fight He fought certain members OF
his own party in the primaries be-
cause they were too conservative to
suit him. He said he would not
object to the election Of a good liberal
who happened to be running on the
Republican ticket.
Along came Postmaster General
Farley speaking as the chairman of
the Democratic National Committee,
to say that. he would support all the
candidates on the Democratic ticket,
irrespective of whether they were con-
servative or liberal in their views.
Mr.. Roosevelt then said that If he
were Mr. Farley he would have said
the same thing.
Farmers Big Issue.
Two movements are being watched
closely by the officials of both major
parties One is the reaction OF the
farmers to the operation OF the new
farm program. The other is the
demands of high pension advocates
Republicans say they will make
their biggest gains in the farm States
of the Middle West The farmer, i'm
PEELED by soil-conservation program,
has been improving his lands. The
acres he was allotted produced more
than they used to. These products
added to a surplus Prices fell
Many farmers are not very happy
about the situation. Washington Of
fcials have expressed concern about
1t, and Secretary Wallace has been
seeking remedies.
The pension movement cuts across
both parties The proposals range
from "s30-every- Thursday" movement
in California to a moderate increase
in old-age benefits.
In California. the Democratic sena-
torial nominee, Sheridan Dovney. is
riding the "s30-every- Thursday plan
In Maine several victorious Republic
ans we're Endorsed by the Townsend
organization.
In spite Of these conflicting cur
rents. any surface gains or losses by
either party will be counted by them
or their opponents-in post-election
Statements
As far as these statements go, the
Presidents gain or loss will depend
on whether the Democrats can hold
the most top-heavy majorities that
any political party has enjoyed since
the days of Monroe.