The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-09-12
CIV Staff Writer)

W1GISOy pO44C1SoA AOASSaSISAS "a
accustomed to tell what's going to
happen in the future pointing to-
ward growing strength for the
election of the Republican Presi'
dental candidate, there remain
several weeks to 60 in which
public sentiment has plenty OF
chance to change. That is q warn
ing against over-optimism on the
part of readers who may believe
that the numerous polls prove
that MIR. Willkie has a walkover
and against dependency among
the friends of Mr.. Roosevelt.
The only thing certain about
the political complexion Of the
President and the Congress which
will take office next January is
that, whoever may be elected
President, and how large the ma
jority of either party may be in
the House of Representatives, the
Senate of the United States will
still have Democratic majority.
The best that the Republicans can
hope for is to reduce the size OF
the present Democratic prepon-
derance in the Upper House.
Not everybody remembers that
the Constitution of the United
States calls for the election OF
Senators for six-year terms, so
staggered that only one-third OF
the Senators are elected every
two years. And since the 80 Sen
ators whose terms expire this
year, even if all were replaced
by Republicans, would still leave
more than 48 Democrats in the
Senate for another two years, at
least, the next President will
have a Democratic Senate, re-
gardless of whether he is Dem
ocrat or a Republican.
No Senate Support
If Mr.. Willkie should be cleo
ted President, therefore, he can
not count upon Senate support
in matters in which the President
must rely on the Senate. The
President, for example, has sole
power to make treaties with for
eign governments, but they are
not valid unless two-thirds Of the
Senators concur. Every appoint
ment by the President of Fed
eral judge, or so many other high
offices, must be approved by the
Senate. The incoming President,
in fact, must submit the names
of the men whom he wants in his
Cabinet as his personal assistants,
and if the Senate does not ap-
prove any one of them the Presi-
dent must pick someone else.
That situation has occurred more
than once.
And, of course, unless the Sen
ate agrees, no legislation which
the President desires and the
House of Representatives ap-
proves can become law without
the Senate's approval.
1t is apparent, therefore, that
it is important to the Republi-
cans to try to gain as many Sen
ate seats as possible under the
circumstances, and thereby re-
duce the prospect, if their Presl-
dental candidate wins, of his
having a Senate on his hands
which would block all of his eff
forts to make important changes
in the administration of public
affairs for the first two years OF
his term.
Less Concerned
Since there are several Demo-
cratic Senators who have been
openly opposed to Mr.. Roosevelt
and his policies, who will hold
their seats for two or four years
more in any event, there is some
what less concern in Republican
political circles than there other
wise might be. In the cases where
Senate seats are being contested
the major effort of the Republl-
cans is to unseat Senators whose
opposition Mr.. Willkie, If he
should be elected, is assured ir
advance.
Four of the Democratic Sena-
tors now in office have been eli
minated in primary contests in
their own states, but with no GER
tainty that Republicans will be
elected in their places. But the
latest estimate of Senatorial
chances compiled here by expert
observers gives the Republicans
chance to gain at least twelve
seats, if not more.
Senator Hiram w. Johnson OF
California is safely reelected,
having gained a majority of the
primary votes of the Republican,
Democratic and Progressive par
ties of his state, an unheard-ot
achievement. Senator Arthur
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