Evening star., 1938-10-09
COP. .HELDL|KELY
TO ADD Is SEATS
Gain in House May Be More,
Depending on Strength
of Ballot Drift
This is the first OF a serieS Of
articles dndlyxino the Republican
drtpe to Din back House seats.
By WILL p. KENNEDY.

BY WILL r. AENNEDY.
Capure of some IS seats in the
House now held by Democrats Is
indicated As the Republican cam
paign warns up in 352 congressional
districts in a States. What the net
gain will be depends largely on the
strength of the drift" The two prin-
cipal fighting sections are Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio. where the big ma
jority of seats now held by Democrats
are In danger. In Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, California, Michigan, Mime
. sofa and New Jersey substantial gains
are expected.
Republican leaders. while protest.
ing their intention to be "conserva-
tive," have made surprising predic-
tions. Chairman Joseph w. Martin, jr.,
of the Republican Congressional Com
nittee started with a prediction Of
q gain Of so seats, then increased it
to 80 and later told the Massachusetts,
State Convention not to be surprised
if the Republicans gained control
OF the House. That is only remote
outside chance. But If it did come true.
Mr.. Martin would probably be elected
Speaker. since Minority Leader Smell
'vas not q candidate for reelection.
With the present standing of 327
Democrats. 90 Republican,, 13 other
party members and 6 vacancies. the
Republicans would need 2l8 to have
a clear MISUNDERSTANDING gain
of 129 seats for absolute control; !;
while If the other parties held their
present combined strength of 13, the
Republicans might be in control If
they make gain Of ll6 seats from
he Democrats. Representative J. Will
Otter of Pennsylvania, vice chair
ian Of the Republican Congressional
ommittee, after careful canvass,
id:
"On the basis Of our latest reports
om the field. I estimate as of today
gain of 10 seats for the Republicans :"
AL Over in Five States.
The election is all over In five States.
aine held its election on September
), and returned three Republicans.
four Southern States the Demo-
attic candidates are unopposed-
lrkansas, 7: Georgia, 10; Mississippi,
7, and South Carolina, s. Then in
Alabama seven Democrats, including
Speaker Bankhead, are unopposed,
leaving two contests. In California,
Representative Harry L. Englebright,
Republican, second district, has in
dorsement Of all parties and is unop-
posed; Representative Richard j.
Welsh, Republican, fifth district, has
all Endorsements and is unopposed:
Representative Clarence F. Lea, Demo-
crat, first district. has both the Re-
publican and Democratic Endorsements,
opposed by a Townsendite, and will
win: Representative Frank H. Buck,
Democrat, third district, has both
Democras and Republican Endorsement,
opposed by a Communist, will win;
Representative Albert E. Carter, Re-
''ublican. sixth district. and Repre-
entative Bertrand w. Gearhart, Re-
''ublican, ninth district, have both the
publican and Democratic indorse-
,ents. Each is opposed by Town
,ndite and will win. Leland M. Ford,
>spublican. has also the Democratic
ldorsement in the sixteenth district,
succeed Representative Dockweiler,
.lsuccessful candidate for Governor,
ID will win.
In Florida four Democrats are un-
)posed. and there is one contest, in
ls fourth district, vacated by Repre-
,ntative J. Mark Wilcox who was an
unsuccessful candidate for the Senate.
here Pat Cannon, the Democratic
'lonlinee, is opposed by J. s. g. GAL
,gher, Republican. In Louisiana eight
Democrats are unopposed, although
here is a run-of between rival Demo-
Gratis in the NTH district. In North
Carolina four Democrats are. unop-
posed. In Tennessee four Democrats
ere unopposed. including Joseph w.
Byrns, jr., son Of the late Speaker
syrns. In Texas there are II Demo-
rats unopposed and nine contests. in
"luding House Leader Rayburn, Chair
nan Summers of the Judiciary Com
'1ittee, Chairman Lanham of the Pub
c Buildings and Grounds Committee
nd Representative Wright Patman.
N Virginia four Democrats are un-
opposed.
That makes n Democrats already
" as good as) elected and Repub-
cans.
Survey Of the Contests.
Surveying the contests in alpha
:. cal order of States:
Both contests in Alabama are ex-
,cted to be won by the Democratic
.cumbents - Representative Sam
..obbs. Democrat, fourth district, op-
':osed by c. W. Mckay, Republican,
nd Representative Luther Patrick,
Democrat. ninth district, opposed by
Thomas ]. Kennamer, Republican.
In Arizona, the at-large contests
hould be won by Representative Carl
Hayden, Democrat. who is opposed by
-5urt H. Clingan, Republican.
In California there are is contests
The Republicans will win one and
have fighting chance in the others.
In the fourth district, Representative
Franck r. Havenner has the Demo-
cratic and Progressive Endorsements
Iie won two years ago by margin OF
"a per cent of the votes cast. This
is the district long held by the late
Representative Julius Kahn, Repub-
lican. who put through in the House
President wilson's wartime military
-ffairs legislation and who was sue.
ceeded by his widow, Mrs. Florence
Kahn The Republican nominee Il,
-Sennett b. DaWson -''
Representative John Tolan. Demo.
crat. is opposed by Charles Wade
3nook, Republican, in the seventh
California district. Tolan won two
years ago by go per cent OF the vote
cast. This is the district long carried
by Henry W. Barber, Republican, with
10000 to 10000 votes. He was sue.
ceeded in 1892 by Representative
Ralph r. Elise, Republican. whom Mr.
Tolan defeated in 1884 by 51,962 t.
47,414 votes. Representative John J
McGrath, Democrat, in the eighth dis
trict is opposed by John z. Anderson