Evening star., 1942-10-19
Republicans Expect
10 Gain al Least
4 Ohio House Seats
Bender Is Believed to
Have Edge on Young in
Statewide Race
BY GOULD LINCOLN.
Star staff Corresnnndsnt

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 19.-
Ohio, with its big House delega-
tion of %, is a prize worth fight
Ing for in the coming election.
In the present Congress, the Re-
publicans have IL Representa-
tives and the Democrats IL. The
State has lost one House seat,
however, under reapportionment.
Two of the Ohio members were
elected as Representatives-at-
large. So evenly did the State
divide in these congressional
elections two years ago that the
Republicans elected one Repre-
sentative-at-large and the Dem
ocrats one.
In this election these two Repre-
sentatives-at-large are fighting for
one seat between them. Repre-
sentative Bender, Republican, is ex-
pected to defeat Representative
Young, Democrat. 1t is a State
wide contest, and with Gov. Bricker,
Republican, holding a decided edge
in the gubernatorial race over his
Democratic opponent, John Nc
Sweeney, it looks as though Repre-
sentative Bender is also safe bet.
Indeed, both sides admit that the
results in number of the congress
sional races will be Influenced to a
considerable degree by what hap
pens In the gubernatorial contest.
Evidence of Republican Trend.
Ohio again is giving evidence of
a Republican trend. The COP is
likely to take from four to six Of
the congressional districts now rep
resented by Democrats. On the
other hand, there is one Republican
district, the 18th, which is shaky, and
which the Democrats may wrench
away.
Representative Baumhart, Repub-
lican, who was elected in this dis
trict in 1910, has resigned to enter
the armed forces. The Republicans
have nominated Alvin F. Weichel.
He is veteran of the World War,
former Sandusky prosecuting at
torney and has served as special
assistant to the attorney general.
His political strength is an un-
known quantity. The Republicans
have by no means given up hope
OF carrying the district, which they
took two years ago by margin of
$4,000 votes.
There are 10 districts regarded
as safe, or reasonably safe, for the
Republicans. They are the 1st, I'd,
4th, 5th, 9Th. 10th, 18th, 18th and
22d and all have COP incumbents.
Districts in which the Republicans
have chances to unseat Democrats
are the Sd, 9Th, 9th, 18th, 18th and
18th.
Certain for Democrats.
The Democrats are regarded as
certain to hold the 11th, 14th, 18th,
20th and 21st.
The Sd district includes Dayton.
1t has been Democratic and a tough
district for the COP. However, the
Republicans feel that their candi-
date, Harry jeffrey, has at least q
$3.50 chance to win. The 9Th dis
trict was lost by the Republicans in
1910 by about 600 votes. The COP
candidate is E. o. McCowen, a for
mer school superintendent. They
believe Mr.. McCowen will win. In
the 9th district, the Republicans
have nominated Homer A. Ramey,
a former Toledo Municipal Court
judge, who is believed to have a
chance against Representative Hun
ter, Democrat.
Representative Secrest, Democrat,
also has resigned for military serv-
ice. This takes strong Democratic
candidate from the 18th dis
trict and gives the Republican nomi-
nee, P. F. Griffiths, a chance to win.
Mr.. Secrest carried the district two
years ago by 1900.
Lewis Expected to Win.
Former Representative Earl r.
Lewis, Republican, who served in the
18th Congress, is expected to win in
the 18th district. In the 10Th dis
trict. former Representative Jim"
Begg, who years ago represented
the 18th district and was Republican
whip Of the House when Nicholas
Longworth was speaker, is running
this year. He has a chance to win,
although this district went strongly
Democratic two years ago.
The three Cuyahoga (Cleveland)
districts probably will divide as they
are today, with Democrats winning
in the Goth and 21st, and Mrs. Bol-
ton, Republican, carrying the 22nd
district again.
There is a fight in the 18th dis
trict Franklin County, between
Representative Vorys, Republican,
and Former Representative Lam
neck, Democrat. Mr.. Lamneck was
never a strong New Dealer. Mr..
Vorys is expected to win.
The issue of pre-Pearl Harbor
tsolationism was raised against sew
eral of the present Ohio House
members in the primary campaign.
It failed to defeat any of the in
cumbents. 1t is an underlying fac
tor in the general election in some
of the districts, but it cuts both
ways.
There is little doubt that in 1910,
with President Roosevelt on the
ticket, Democratic congressional
candidates did much better than
they would have otherwise. In Ohio
the Democrats recaptured half a
dozen House seats they lost in 1888.
This is another "off-year" election,
The vote may be light particularly
in some of the Industrial districts.
Although the Democrats are seek
ing to make Mr.. Roosevelt an issue
In the congressional races, the fact
that he is not actually on the ticket
will make itself felt.
The Democrats are counting on
the fact that they have no serious
marty dissentions this year as they
did In 1888 and 1910, when the
Martin L. Davey faction was aligned
strongly against that headed by
Charles Sawyer, Democratic ma
tional committeeman. Mr.. Davey
a former Governor, ran against Gov
Bricker in 1910, and MIR. Sawyer ran
AGAINST Gov. Bricker in 1888. Gov