Evening star., 1941-12-07

The announcement last week that the
America First Committee would actively
participate in the 1912 primaries and
elections by supporting those who "op-
pose further steps to involve us in war"
was reminder that pressure groups as
well as the two major political parties
are making plans for next years con-
tests for the Seventy-eighth Congress.
In the present Congress. the Demo-
Gratis enjoy ma iority of los in the
House, with 267 members against l62
Republicans Six members represent
other parties In the Senate the Demo-
cratic majority is 38. with 66 members
against q Republicans. Two Senators
represent other parties.
Even if the Republican party were not
disorganized. diSunited and nearly bank
rupt. there would be little likelihood that
these majorities could be overcome next
year. AS it is, the professional Demo-
cratic politicians at the National Com
mittee headquarters and in Congress are
smugly confident they will encounter few
troubles next November. They boast that
they probably will pick up 10 seats.
Chairman Joseph w Martin, jr., of the
Republican National Committee is max
ing the customary prediction prediction
that his party will win so to 60 new
House seats and cut down the Demo-
cratic ma iority in the Senate. OF the
81 Senate seats to be filled next year, %
are held by Democrats and eight by
J,,lo
endent. of Nebraska has announced he
Is not a candidate for reelection. Sen
ators from the Solid South hold 10 of
these seats. They will either be re-
elected or succeeded by Dmocrats. The
Republicans would be lucky If able to
show net gain of six Senate votes.
Situation Differs From 1918.
Although there has been no formal
declaration of war. the forthcoming
election has been compared with that
Of 1918, when the Republicans regained
control of the House in the face Of Presi-
dent Wilson'S plea for Democratic Con-
ereSs as a symbol Of national unity. De-
spite superficial similarities the situation
W
differs fundamentally from 1918.
Basically, there is no effective organ
ized opposition to the Roosevelt admins
tration. Individual opposition leaders
are unable to command a cohesive Ma
tionwide following. The outstanding Re-
publican figures in Congress are Sena-
tors Taft of Ohio, Vandenberg Of Mich
t1o, ~
Leader Martin of Massachusetts. Repre-
sentatives Wadsworth and Fish Of New
York. MiChener of Michigan and Dirk
zen of Illinois. Among the Republican
Governors the most prominent and
promising are Harold Stassen of Mime
sofa, Dwight Green of Illinois, Leverett
Saltonstau of Massachusetts and John
W. Bricker Of Ohio District Attorney
Thomas z. Dewey of New York is bidding
for fame and if he becomes the next
Governor of New York he will rank with
Wendell L. Willkie, who has the largest
personal following among the Repub-
licans. Former President Herbert Hoo
yer and former Gov. Alfred M. Landon Of
Kansas have shrunk to political insignifl-
canoe.
When G. o. T. Was Strong.
In 1918, the Republicans were organ
lied. united and well supplied with
funds. Charles Evans Hughes had barely
been defeated for the presidency two
years before and in the Senate were such
hardboiled politicians as PenroSe and
Knox of Pennsylvania, Lodge and Weeks
of Massachusetts, Curtis of Kansas. New
and Watson of Indiana Harding of Ohio,
Fall Of New Mexico, La Toilette of Wis
consln, Borah Of Idaho, Smoot of Utah
and johnson of California. These men
knew all the political tricks, including
the raising of party funds.
The war was almost over at election
time and wilson's aloof manner and his
international program had aroused the
politicians even in his own party. Be-
tween now and next November the war
spirit undoubtedly will increase, and
Democratic professionals predict this will
unseat half dozen or more non-inter-
ventionist Republican Congressman. the