The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-11-05

 facts their due weight in stimating i944 prospects,
 All aspects of the returns indi- cate an anti-adminiStration trend But majority party losses are normal in off-year elections They are important in proportion to their extent.
 Behind Administration
 Congress remains solidly behind Che administration on fighting and winning the war. Big war appro- priations will continue to highball through house and senate but on other issues it looks like the presi- dent is in for legislative troubles,
 There were heavy New Deal cas- ualties in the northeast and mid- west but the south came through with its customary quota of walk over victories for Democrats who frequently line up against the ad- ministration on domestic questions although voting for all-out war.
 Labor, social security and admin istration tax policies apparently are In fer more opposition than here toforO and MT. Roosevelt probably will be compelled to change his pat terms somewhat under new legisla- tive preSSures.
 Manpower problems and the is- sues of infiationary controls also will tend to draw conservative Dem- pcrats toward occasional coalition with those clements of the Republi- can party which are coming to the 1eth congress to buck the White House on other than strictly mill fary questions.
 Divided Strength
 And there is, of course hang @ver of suspicion in congress that Sur system of divided military re- responsibilities is unsatisfactory. This vas particularly noticeable in re- 'ent weeks when news from the southwest Pacific was discouraging .srld there were intimations of em- arrassing congressional questions or investigations to be developed after he election.
 The present senate with it's com aratively small Republican repre- entation already has shown dis osition to battle the administra- ton on such issues as farm prices, he l8-year old draft, tax policies nd related issues.
 The increased Republi can strength can be expected to lead to further nti-administration maneu- sers notably on manpower which ,ooks like the next big issue up for decision.
 It is difficult to determine the eX- tent to which the nation has elected congressman disposed to challenge MT. Roosevelt on labor matters. But It is reasonably obvious that both the New Deal and labor suffered considerable losses in this weeks polling.
 Targets Win Out
 In general. the outstanding tar gets of New Deal. liberal or leftwing attack were returned to office. Most notable were the successes of Sen. c. Wayland Brooks, R., Ill: Rep.- at-Large Stephen A. Day, R., Ill.,; Rep. Hamilton Fish, R.. N. Y.; Rep Clare Hoffman, R.. Mich. and Rep, Dewey Short, R., Mo.
 On the other hand, some of the administrations best friends were among the missing.
 One senate contest still is unde- cided. But of the nine seats defi- nitely won by the Republicans, one was et the expense of the grand old man of farm belt progressive pol- tics, Sen. George w. Norris. of Neb- raska, who started out as an un- beatble young Prairie state Repub- lican and wound up Tuesday night as a defeated 8i-year-old Independ- ent. Norris wept.
 Rep. Frank E. Hook. D., Mich, an ardent administrationite, was licked and so was the capable Sen. Prem tiss Brown, likewise Michigan Democrat
 Surprise In Oklahoma
 But the biggest surprise came from Oklahoma. Sen. Josh Lee. a New Deal Democrat and elocution- let of rare ability, was bumped out after one Senate term in which he had distinguished himself by support of the administration and a rider to the i8-year-old draft act which would have established wartime prohibition for military es- tahlIshments and the areas in their Vicinitses.
 Tne senate would have undoubt- edly have adopted that amendment last month had not the leadership devised pre-eiection, dodge-the- issue maneuver which enabled har- need statesmen to vote, instead to send it to compittee for fur flaer study. Both the War and Navy departments publicly condemned Lees dry amendment.
 Lees defeat in a dry state SC xnun after attracting national at- fenllon uith his dry proposal may nrove fo be e severe reverse Tor the eonpaissclng phrobition movement which showed up in the entries for lasf tuesdays polling with more candidates than any other minor nnrfv for state and national office. None Of the drys was elected And x.ee.s repudiation in 6 normally oesnnexa1se state VII be looked Into taxefuIiv by politicians who have teen depending pretty heavily on their administration connerEhons 1o kken tzzem In office.