Evening star., 1942-11-05

the straight-ticket Republicans to
bring about a majority in numerous
districts and in many States.
Wartime restrictions caused the up-
heaval in 1918, and they are primari-
ly responsible today. Along with this
are. the shifting minorities register
ing q protest against things" Thus
stable group Of voters who want
victory, but don't think the ad-
ministration is operating eticiently,
voted Republican on Tuesday. Still
another dissatisfied group thinks the
administration is using its war
powers to put over social revolu-
tion and voted Republican to tell
Warrington that there's q limit to
that sort Of high-handed tactics.
A third group consists of foreign
born as well as some second genera
ton Americans whose loyalty to
America is unquestioned but who
still feel that America should have
kept out of the war either by ap-
peasing Germany or Japan or both.
The fourth group, the straight
ticket voters, merely believed that
America Is better off with a Repub-
lican than q Democratic Congress.
Small Shift Can Do 1t.
It doesn't take a big percentage
OF the electorate in each district
to swing congressional election.
ometimes a shift of less than 5
per cent among the voters, as COM
pared with a previous election, can
turn the election.
It will be recalled that although
Wendell WILKES electoral vote was
small in 1910, the margin Of victory
for Roosevelt in nearly every State
showed q substantial reduction as
compared to 1896.
It Is most unfortunate that the
people who are irritated over the
administrations management of the
war restrictions should have no
opportunity to explain their votes,
because it is fair to assume they
want the war won and they are
ready to make sacrifices. But the
administration has temporized with
the war mechanism since 1910 and
has coddled pressure groups and ap-
piled its rules 50 unevenly that 1t
is not surprising to read today Of
the Nation wide resentment caused
by incompetent New Dealers. The
latter had had no experience in
large scale organization or In ad-
ministrative work but the Presi-
dent insisted on letting them oper-
ate the tremendous mechanisms set
up to handle the civilian economy.
Members of Congress tried in
vain to persuade these administra-
tive officers to take care of the
protests and grievances of the pub
lie, but the complaints of their
constituents were arbitrarily brushed
aside. The country now has sent to
Congress men who know the tenn
per Of protest and the spirit Of
complaint that lies underneath the
war effort. Perhaps q salutary
change will develop.
No Lag In Victory Interest.
As far as the war objectives are
concerned, there isn't a scintilla Of
evidence that the Nation is less in
terested in victory than 1t has been.
In fact, the protest vote may be
construed as proof that the people
are ahead Of the administration and
want the war industry put into
higher speed. AS for wartime re-
strictions, they will be accepted will
ingly, no matter how painful, pro-
vided all citizens are treated alike
and fairness rather than political
lavoritism is the formula used.
The one disquieting note about
the election is the possibility that
the isolationist spokesmen will in
terpret the result as brake against
what is coming to be known as a
"slobal peace" Thomas Dewey,
newly elected Governor of New
York, has in his speeches from time
to time leaned more toward the
isolationist than the international
side, and 1t Is probable that his
views and those Of Mr.. Willkie will
clash as the next two years see
debate on Americas responsibility
In the postwar world.
Such a debate inevitably will pro-
iect Mr.. Roosevelt into a fourth
term race, for he could insist that
on such an issue the emergency de-
nands his management of the peace
conference. Incidentally, in 1888,
Mr.. Roosevelt told friends that con-
gressional elections are largely local
and that 1910 would see the so-called
Republican tide wiped out. 1t was.
II remains to be seen whether the
President win modify his radicalism
tust because OF the election results.
They didn't bother him after 1898.
James A. Farley's role inside the
Democratic party win bear watching.
He tried to- head OF the tide by
nominating q man for Governor OF
New York known as more or less
Of an anti-New Dealer, but the con-
servative voters of New York State
saw the Roosevelt Endorsement Of,
Bennett and baked. Mr.. Farleys
effort to save the party In his State
failed. Unless the Democratic party
follows the Farley leadership and
repudiates the sociaAstic wing that
has gotten possession Of II, . Re-
publican landslide In 1914 would
eeem to be inevitable.
0auseauetien,N Nishts NssssSsll