Evening star., 1942-01-04
Senate Leaders See
Men, Not Party Ties,
Winning in November
War Reduces VoIue
Of Political LobeIs,
Toft, Tydines Hold
~ the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
With the war going . long way
toward making political bedfellows
out of Democrats and Republicans,
legislators predicted yesterday that
the results Of this years congress
sional elections would be determined
by personalities rather than issues.
Senators Taft, Republican, Of
Ohio and Tydings, Democrat, OF
Maryland said in separate inter-
views that they did not believe party
affiliationS would mean as much next
November as they have In the past,
adding that the war had removed
many Of the issues which ordinarily
would figure in the contests.
Both parties will be for prose-
cutting the war to the fullest extent
Of the Nations ability and both will
support an all-out production pro-
gram" Senator Taft said.
Helpful Criticism justified.
He added that he thought Repub-
hcans were justified in any con-
structive criticism they might be
able to make of the war effort, but
intimated he thought that was not
likely to become a major issue un-
less the administration program
gave clear signs of begging down.
"The way to win control Of the
House will be to put up better can
didates than the other party" he
declared.
Senator Tydings said he expected
few shifts In the majority and mi
nority lineups of the House and
Senate. barring unforeseen develop
ments In the next 10 months.
"As conditions now stand" he
said, IT don't see any clear-cut issue
ahead. Almost everybody will be
standing for the same thing-to win
the war-a and personalities are
likely to decide many Of the races. y
Thirty-four Senate seats will be
involved In the November voting
OF these. "a now are held by Demo-
Gratis. nine by Republicans and one
by an Independent, Senator Norris
Of Nebraska. Senator Norris has
said he would not run again, but
many of his friends hope to per-
suade him to change this decision
Democrats Talk House Gains.
All the House seats. of course, will
be at stake. Some Democrats who
| feared a few weeks ago that the
Republicans might make heavy in
roads in the House altered their
calculations after the Japanese at
tack on Pearl Harbor and now are
talking of gaining instead of losing
Representative Joseph w. Martin
of Massachusetts,, national Republi.
can chairman and leader Of th'
House minority, declined to max,
any predictions about Novembe
results. Several months ago he hat
said the Republicans stood goot
chance of gaining control of tn
House.
at would be foolish to make an,
guesses now because so many thing
could happen between now and mex
November" he said.
Declaring that this was no TIM
for abuse or criticism" Mr.. Martil
said Republicans would reserve thu
right to call attention to any mis-
takes that might be made in tn,
war effort.
Meeting Called OF.
Chairman Martin has called of :
meeting of the Republican Stat
chairmen, which he had set TO
Januray II here, to discuss plans fo
the coming congressional elections
He also had planned a meeting o
the National Committee. Both thes
meetings probably will be held late
in the year, after it has been clearf
demonstrated that the Republican
are 100 per cent back of the effor
to win the war.