The Coolidge examiner., 1938-11-24
Politics

iSlIStIy hepuDllCdn administrator
has been succeeded by a shorter
Democratic one, attesting to the
American peoples inherent conserv-
atism. Since the Republican party
reached its latest low ebb under
Candidate Alfred Landon in 1886,
none but the most optimistic expect
ed anything but minor gain Sc
early as 1888. But it has proved
otherwise, thanks to Cd a growing
belief that the Roosevelt administra
tion's expensive recovery efforts
have been unsuccessful, and (2) a
fear that New Deal policies were en-
couraging the growth of radicaliSm.
Moreover, it has been apparent
that the public must eventually pro-
test against the political corruption
which unavoidably gathers around
SO large financial project as WPA.
Though the Roosevelt administration
may be blameless in this respect,
such political machines as that Of
Pennsylvania Gov. George H.
Earle have unSavory regulations.
Another consideration. one that re-
ceived less attention than eventually
proved justified, was dissatisfaction
among Americas numerically inn
portant farmers. Since the agricul-
tural vote can control congress. it
looked bad for the administration
when this years highly touted farm
program failed. Despite Secretary
of Agriculture Henry A. Wallace's
sincere efforts, New Deal farm leg
islation has left producers in north
ern states without permanent relief.
(See Agricultural
Almost without exception the No.
vember general election has there
fore made the u. S. return to its
most normal political alignment in
approximately Is years. Always
Democratic, the solid South" has
clung tenaciously to tradition. But
this tradition does not mean the
South will line up 100 per cent behind
President Roosevelt, for South Car
olina, Georgia and Maryland elect
ed senators partially unsympathetic
with the New Deal. Several other
southern senators and congressman,
not up for reelection this year,
are also unsympathetic.
Though in many cases the Repub-
lican trend is not so great as first
appearances might indicate, practi-
cally all northern states have shown
a surge back to conservatism. This
was especially marked in Minnesota
and Wisconsin, where Farmer-Labor
and Progressive partisans were
ousted after long incumbencies.
Michigan swung away from Demo-
cratic Gov. Frank Murphy largely
because he sympathized with the
radically tinged Committee for In
dustrial Organization. In all north.
western states the swing to Repub-
licanism was due partly to agricul-
tural dissatisfaction. New England s
industrial population rebelled
against allegedly oppressive taxa
ton and the c. l. O., while this ter
ritory's traditional conservatism
also played an important role. Sub
stantially the same explanation can
be made for votes in Ohio and
Pennsylvania.
The only important New Deal
gains have come in California,
where a rock-ribbed Republican
governor was ousted; in North Da-
kota, whose notoriously unsettled
political situation has freakishly
placed Democrat in the governor s
chair. and in Maryland.
But such a resume does not tell
the entire story. for even those
states which remained Democratic
have shown an amazingly strong Re-
publican upsurge. New York's Gov.
Herbert H. Lehman won by only
10000 votes over his Republican op-
ponent, youthful Thomas E. Dewey,
whereas two years ago Mr.. Leh-
man had a 500,0 900 margin. Illinois,
which remains predominantly New
Deal, increased its Republican house
representation and returned much
larger conservative vote than in
1886.
Having gained at least 8 senators,
81 house members and II governors.
the Republican party once more has
a vocal minority in congress. More
over its 1910 presidential hopes are
better, despite the defeat in New
York of Tom Dewey. once consid-
cred likely candidate. If the 1888
election has created any new presi-
dental possibilities. they are Ohio's
Republican Sen. Robert Taft and
Missouris Democratic Sen. Bennett
Champ Clark.
What the Republican upsurge will
do for the-U. S. remains conjectural,
but post-election stock market activ-,
ity has been encouraging. To help
industry, the American Federation
of Labor is already banking on G.
o. P. congressional aid in amend
ing the Wagner labor relations act
The outstanding fact is that 1885
Republican party has emerged
liberalized entity, well-spanked for
its former ra-conservatism.