The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-11-21
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4M1hA1hA
Happenings That Affect the Dinner
Pals, Dividend Checks and Tax
Bills of Every Individual. National
and International Problems Insep-
arabic from Local Welfare.


An analysis of the election statis-
tics produces some highly interesting
facts. Most obvious of those facts is
that Mr.. Roosevelt's tremendous Elec-
toral College majority gives no indi-
cation whatsoever of the closeness of
the contest. Measured in popular
votes, this was the closest election
since 1916, when Wilson and Hughes
were the standard bearers. With a
total vote of close to 50,0O0,O0O, the
Presidents plurality was under 5,O0O,-
600. The vote cast for Mr.. Willkie
was the largest ever given a Repub-
lican candidate. The Presidents per-
centage of the total vote was about
54.5 per cent-which is comparatively
slim margin, inasmuch as he needed
81 per cent to win, because of the ex-
lcessively heavy majorities the Demo-
cratic ticket always rolls up in the
lSouth.
What this means is that for the first
time the President has met real op-
position. AS Time put it, BESIDE a
great victory, Roosevelt also had the
greatest vote of no confidence that any
President ever received" That is not
a carping, spoil-sport observation-it
| is simply the fact. The President won
a clean-cut victory, but he didn't win
in anything resembling landslide.
Indeed, if only about one million votes
had been cast the other way in the
big key states it would have been pos
sible for Mr.. Willkie to have obtained
popular majority.
The big cities of the country did
much to give the President his win.
He carried New York State by less
than 250,0O0 votes-yet his plurality
in New York city was 100000 He
carried Illinois by margin of $4,000,
while Chicago gave him almost a
100000 lead. While he had an edge
of 10000 in Milwaukee, his net ma
jority in Wisconsin was but 10000.
Mr.. Willkie ran very well in the rural
districts and the small towns all over
the country, except for the South. On
the other hand, Mr.. Roosevelt's
strength in some New England areas
which are die-hard Republican by
tradition, was greater than before.
Mr.. Roosevelt's tremendous ma
jorities in the big industrial towns in
dicates that labor was pretty close to
solid behind him, and that John l.
Lewis endorsement of Willkie did lit
tie if any good for the Republican can,
didate The farm vote went Repub
lican by considerable majority, which
Indicates that Mf.Nallace was less
: effective as a calnpaigner than Sen
. ator McNary. The two vice-presiden
tial candidates did most Of the cam
: paigning in the farm belt.
What effect Mr.. WILKES total o.
almost 220O0,O00 votes will have OF
Congress is now a subject of grea
discussion. The Republicans lost seats
in the House, and made small gains il
the Senate, and the set-up in botl
branches will be little different mex
January than it is now. However, i
} may be that some of the old linz
: Democrats who have disapproved o
: part of the New Deal program viii
become more aggressive. And tn
7 Republicans have certainly been cheer
ed by the size of their vote, and, de
spite the smallncss of their number
in Congress, are in the best position il
eight years to form an intelligent AM
effective opposition.
+ In the meantime, few look for an.
! surprise. There will probably be SOM
cabinet changes before long-Stimsol
, and Perkins are supposed to be on tn
= way out. Foreign policy will yer.
: likely involve still more aid to Britain
Next session there may be move
ment to repeal the Johnson Act, whic1
= forbids this country giving credit t.
!. nations which are behind in war deb
[ payments to us. If England starts t.
o run short of cash, and obviously is il
! need Of credit, it is probable that
>. majority can be found in favor of let
ting the bars down.
The arms program will be pushe
: hard. Reports have it that business o
labor groups which are slow to cooper
4 a