The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-11-03

DER = w nat 1aCJOrS VIII Influence CIlaC
voting? And how will the newly elect
ed Congress behave?"
Newsweek recently put these three
questions to about two-score political
correspondents representing daily
Of all shades of political
opinion, and to eight seasoned pro-
fessional politicians, including Jim
Farley and John Hamilton. Their
answers tabulated in late issue of
the magazine, cast an interesting light
in a topic which, with the elections just
around the corner, is engaging great
interest. .rYT5 ~
At the present time, the Democrats
have 'the largest congressional ma
jority: in history.e There are 33 follow
ers Of the Donkey in the House, as
against SO nartisans Of the Elephant,
and 13 members of minor parties.
There are II Democrats in the Senate,
as against NJ lonely Republicans and
4, members of minor parties. & s.
The answers of the correspondents
responding to, /, Newsweek's query,
when averaged, revealed that they be-
lieved the Republicans would gain ex-
actly so seats in the House, the Demo-
Gratis would lose so, and the repre-
of minor parties would re-
main at 13. The eight politicians re-
plies, when averaged, forecast that the
Republicans, would gain So seats, the
Democrats would lose so, and the
of minor parties would
remain, at 13. The eight politicians
replies, when averaged, forecast that
the Republicans would gain 81 seats,
the Democrats would lose SO, and the
minor parties would lose 2.
Both. groups forecast a gain of 4
seats in the Senate by the Republicans,
at the expense Of the Democrats.
/. If these predictions are borne out,
the Republicans will thus make de-
cent showing in the election-a gain
of SO seats, even in an off-year cleo
tion, cannot be discounted. However,
there would be nothing about that to
cause excessive back-slapping in the
COP ranks. 1t is significant fact
that when Newsweek sent a similar
group of questions to similar group
of politicians and political correspond
ents last April, the consensus was that
the Republicans would gain 60 seats
in the House. = Thus, on the basis of
the two sets of predictions, the Re-
publicans have lost strength since
Spring.
Going into the second question
what factors will influence the
voters), 90 Of the men replying said
that the recession would be the prin-
cipal factor, and 12 gave it as the
secondary factor. Eleven listed the
traditional mid-term swing away from
the party-in-power as their first
choice, 6, gave Democratic dissension,
and g.. the Administrations fiscal poll
cies. 1T is al neesSle fact that none
gave the Administration's foreign
policy as first choice, and only one
gave it as second choice-which in
dicates that in this, field the President
has gained almost universal favor
In answering the third question
chow will the newly elected Congress
behave), 6 correspondents said that
Congress would behave about as it did
last session, 7 thought it would be ex-
tremely independent, and 7 more
thought it would be somewhere be-
tween "a little more" and Extremely"
independent. Thengreat majority, 33
in number, forecast it would be ga lit
tie more independent"
Summing UPON the basis Of News
weeks survey, the elections will mark
the start of mild comeback for the
GOP-but will still leave the Demo-
Gratis with tremendous majorities in
both branches. Congress will be slight
ly less susceptible to White House de-
mands. But there will be no revolu-
tionary change.
News from the business front is al
most uniformly good. Typical COM
ment came recently from Alfred b.
Sloan, head of General Motors, who
said, 81 feel encouraged for the first
time in many years that American
business and industry are headed for
a long uphill pull" Inasmuch as Mr..
Sloan has often tended to be very
pessimistic in the past, this is regarded
as being Of exceptional significance.
For about ten successive weeks, the
business indicators have shown steady
advances. This is largely due to ma
jor improvement shown by the auto
mobile industry whose new models are
now coming on the market. In one
late week, car output jumped so pei
cent. Monthly shipment rate, it is ex.
pected, will soon. be at the 250,O0o
point.s ]. j, y 3
Construction figures continue to be
another bright spot,in the picture, with
both residential and non-residential
building far Sabove the levels Of last
year. Still; more substantial increases
lin all kinds Of building, including pub
lie works. afeianticipated for this win,
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