Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-11-08
The G. 0. p. Comes Back

Although the Democrats will retain at least
nominal control of Congress-in the Senate by
the narrowest possible margin-the conspicuous
result of yesterdays balloting is an impressive
comeback for the Republicans.
And it is resurgence which cannot be
explained away by the familiar abba light
vote in an off year. Present indications are
that record breaking total of more than 40
million voters went to the polls and registered
their choice.
Some of the Senate setbacks were stunning
defeats for the Democrats and the Fair Deal
sponsors. The lineup in the new Senate
apparently will be 40 Democrats, At Republicans.
This is net gain of five seats for the G. o. P.
Among the fallen Democrats, however, are Scott
Lucas in Illinois, the majority leader, and
Francis Myers in Pennsylvania, the majority
whip. While these two party stalwarts were
being retired from Office, Senator Taft the
Republican leader, won an overwhelming victory
These three contests alone would have added up
to a Republican moral victory of sort. But
the overall results were even more impressive
The lost Democratic seats were in Pennsylvania,
Maryland, California, Idaho, Utah and Illinois.
Only one Republican fell by the wayside-Senator
Donnen in Missouri.
It is doubtful that any one factor could be
singled out as being responsible for the Demo-
cratic rebuff in the Senate races and their
apparent loss of some Is seats in the House. In
Maryland, good Democratic Senator was beaten.
Senator Tydings probably was hurt by the pro-
nounced swing against Democratic Governor
Lane But the Mccarthy charges undoubtedly
were the big factor-and on this score Senator
Tydings did not deserve defeat. The Communist
issue figured in some of the other contests,
especially in California, where Helen Gahagan
Douglas bowed to Representative Nixon, who did
more than any one else to send Alger Hiss to
iail, and in Utah, where the veteran Senator
Thomas loyal friend of organized labor. was
beaten by Wallace Bennett, former head OF the
National Association of Manufacturers.
In these and the other contests there were
a variety of additional issues, some national and
international in scope, others purely local. But
there is one dominant thread which runs through
this pattern and the administration can Ill
afford to ignore It,
This vote whether appraised in individual
States or in the aggregate, was no mandate Tor
the Fair Deal. Where Fair Dealers survived,
with the exception of New York, whose G. O. P.
candidate could not leave the hospital to vote,
the margin of victory was very slim. The voters
plainly have raised stop, look and listen signal
on the domestic front If Mr.. Truman is wise,
he will pay careful attention to it-certainly for
the immediate future. In The Stars Judgment
this check to the Fair Dealers is healthy thing.
There is danger, however. very real danger,
that the Republican gains will be interpreted as
an Endorsement of the isolationist wing in that
party Certainly the position of this faction will
be strengthened, and II Mr.. Truman insists on
stubbornly pursuing his rejected domestic pro-
gram he can expect to find himself with a
thoroughly hostile Senate on his hands. That,
in turn could lead to defeat of the really essen
tial features of the administrations foreign pro-
gram, and If this should happen nothing but
disaster awaits this country. The decision bas-
ically is up to Mr.. Truman, and the next year
will bring true measure of the quality OF his
craftsmanship.