The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1950-11-15
COP Gains Held
Major Setback
Republicans Win

WASHINGTON, DC. Nov. 10
(ADC)-The Republican gains in
the election. coupled with the de-
feat of key administration leaders
are being interpreted on the Hill as
ajor setback for the crusading
measures of the Truman Fair Deal
in the 82nd Congress.
The Republicans scored a net gain
of five seats in the Senate, and 81
seats in the House.
The Democrats will continue to
control the Senate by razor-thin
margin of 40 to AZ The Demo-
cratic margin in the House now
stands at 234 to 200. with one seat
held by an Independent.
What these figures mean is that
Congress will be more than ever sub
ject to the control of a Republican
Southern Democratic coalition.
Liberal groups in Washington to-
day are glum over the results of the
national election. But. as one la
Dor leader said:
1T is not that we are disappoint-
ed with the results. 1t Is the in
depreciation Deing placed upon
those results that concern u.s."
1t is felt here that local issues
we're the predominant factors in ma
ny state elections. For example.
Sen. Willard E. Tydings went down
to defeat in Maryland. His OPP
ponent. political novice. John
Marshall Butlen made a major
issue out of the so-called white
wash" report issued by Sen. Ty-
dings committee against those
charged with being pro-Commu-
mist by Sen. Mccarthy.
While Mccarthy may have had
some effect, it by no means explains
Tydings' defeat. When Gov Will
liam Lane, Jr., lost his race for re-
election to a Republican who piled
up the biggest majority ever polled
in that race. this helped pull down
every other Democratic candidate
in the state. Sen. Tydings did
much better than Lane.
In the Maryland election. voters
attacked Lane because of his spon-
sorship of a two-per cent sales tax,
the BIG issue in that state; and ex-
pressed resentment over such purely
local conditions as over-crowded
schools. traffic. and political corrup-
ton.
The heavily populated counties
fringing the District of Columbia,
where registration indicated to l
Democratic majority, went Republi-
can down the line, with but rare ex-
ceptions.
The COP vote. which worked
strongly against Tydings, again was
an expression of a long suffering
dissatisfaction with the general in
eptitude and corruption of the hoary
Democratic machines. and a clear
cut rebellion by the newcomers"
/. e.. those who have lived in the
counties less than Is years against
the traditional domination of local
politics by handful of wealthy to-
bacco farmers IN the rural areas.
In Illinois. the pundits feel that
local corruption in Cook County as
exemplified by the notoriety attain
ed by the richest copy in the world
running again for office in Chica-
go. did more damage to Sen Ma
jority Leader Scott Lucas fight for
J reelection than the entire two
year campaign of Dirksen based upon
restrictive conservatism.
The Washington Post observed
editorially that the election was
not a sweeping revolt against the
Truman Administration. but there
can be no doubt that it has eclipsed
the Fair Deal it is a setback for
the President. especially in view of
bis unrestrained appeal to the vo-
tiers last Saturday Nov. ~.