The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-03-05

In other words. apart from the
question of candidates. which can
not be settled until the two major
parties meet IN convention this
summer. the Democratic party
must be regarded for the present
~ the majority party and the
Republicans ~ the minority"
party In the country as q whole.
This latest measurement of po-
litical sentiment IL based on per-
sonal interviews with more than
$1,000 U. 3. voters who were
asked:
(which party would you like TO
see win the Presidential election
this year," The results show,that
S. per cent Of those with opinions
on the question want the Demo-
Gratis TO win, while Is per cent
want the Republicans to win. One
person in six said he WAS unde-
vided or had no opinion.
As the recent Congressional by
elections In Ohio and elsewhere
have dramatically shown, how
ever. the Democratic party In not
~ strong today as 1t was In 1896.
A study Of all the by-elections
held 20 far this year outside the
South shows an average Demo-
cratic drop Of about 5is points.
Institute surveys reveal = par
allel trend. Mr.. Roosevelt was
elected with e2.5 per cent of the
major party vote four years ago.
Since only IS persons In every
hundred now favor q Democratic
President neat November. the ma
tion-~ide drop in Democratic
strength has been about tn
points.
What has happened 10
American political sentiment
In the Intervening years In
ahown In the Institute survey.
Out Of every 100 persons who
voted for President Roosevelt
four years sgo, 10 now say
they favor . Republican Presi-
dent. A few Republican, have
changed camps, too, but not
20 many. Only four out Of
every 100 landnn voters now
say they favor y Dcmocrst.
As the Democrats and Republi-
cans sird themselves for the COM
Ing campaign. however, the Insti-
tute survey points to two other
fundamental facts about u. S.
sentiment which may have a de-
cisive effect on the outcome next
November:
First. the sharp class division In
American voting, which became
apparent In the 1886 election. has
continued during the past three
and = half years. At the present
time the Republican party has its
center Of gravity in the upper in
come group-the class Of business
men. successful farmers. profess
sional people and sslaried workers
earning more than $40 q week.
Republican strength tapers off as
you 20 down the income scale.
until. In the lower income group.
only q few Republicans in proper
ton TO Democrats are to be found.
The reverse. OF course, u true
Of the Democrats. Their most con-
centrsted strength. except In the
Solid South. occurs In the lower
income group-including persons
on relief and others earning less
than $40 q week--and they also
hold = small majority Of voters In
the middle income group, which
earns between $40 and $40.
second. on q geographic basis
the Democratic party today has
. firm hold on both the South and
sections which account for
~ Of the IS states and 2l1 of the
SCI votes In the electoral college.
The Republicans. on the other
hand. are the majority party in
New England, with Its Il electoral
votes. In the region between
from the Hudson River to the
Rockies-lie IS states where opin-
ion is closely divided at the present
time. and where the next Presi-
DENTAL election n almost certain
10 Be- decided