The Key West citizen., 1952-11-06
COP ContrO1s
Congress By
Slim Margin
BY RUSSELL BRINES
and JOE HALL

returned to Republican control by
margin so thin that President
elect Dwight D. Eisenhower prob
ably will depend upon bipartisan
support to put through many of
his policies.
This support, many believe, he
is likely to get.
While the general was winning
with a landslide vote Tuesday. his
supporters fought bitterly and in
some cases neck and neck for seats
in the 83rd Congress, which will
consider major international and
domestic problems next year.
Eight congressional races went
into vote-by-vote counting, with at
least three of them dependent upon
absentee ballots from throughout
the world, including Korea. In
some close races, defeated candi-
dates have indicated they may con-
test the outcome.
Complete Senate returns gave
the Republicans 4S seats and the
Democrats AZ. Sen. Wayne Morse
of Oregon, who resigned from the
Republican party to support Gov.
Stevenson, was listed as an indie
pendant with possibly a decisive
vote.
The Democrats held a 49-47 edge
in the S2nd Congress. In the last
Republican-cOntrOlled 80th Con-
gresS of 1947, the COP had a 51-45
advantage in the Senate.
Republicans Tuesday won 220
House seats, two more than neces-
sary for control. The Democrats
took 206 but one of these became
vacant with the death last night
of Rep. SABBATH (D-IlD, dean of the
House, who had just been elected
to his oath consecutive term. A
House vacancy can be filled only
by special election.
One independent who usually
votes with the Democrats was re-
elected, and Democrats were lead
ing in all eight undecided districts.
The Democrats held 232 House
seats in the last Congress, but this
advantage was largely nullified by
an anti-Truman voting coalition of
Republicans and Southern Demo-
Gratis.
In 1947, the Republicans con-
trolled the House by 245-18S mar
gin, with one vacancy and one
American Labor party member.
The victory gives the COP a vo-
ting edge. particularly if Southern
Democratic support continues, but
the Republicans viii gain greater
power by controlling committee
chairmanships and other top pos
itions in both houses. From these
posts, COP leaders can direct the
progress of legislation.
an The new Congress faces basic
decisions on how much money to
spend on foreign aid and the mill
tary buildup. whether to continue
the present high tax rates and what
to do about expiring wage and price
controls.
Many of the top Republicans in
Congress favored reducing the ma
tons foreign commitments below
the minimum that Gen. Eisenhow-
er, before his nomination, said was
safe.
The Republicans captured % of
the IS Senate seats at stake, with
the Democrats winning II. This
was a net COP gain of two seats.
Four incumbent Republicans
were beaten-Henry Cabot Lodge
Jr. of Massachusetts. who was
Eisenhower's preconvention cam
paign manager; James P.Kem of
Missouri; Harry Cain Of Washing
ton and ZaleS Ecton of Montana.
But IL members of the Republi
can "Class of 1946''-prominent in
the last COP Senate victory-sur-
vived They included Sens. Joseph
r. Mccarthy of Wisconsin and VIII
liam z. Jenner of Indiana. who
drew heavy Democratic fire dur
ing the campaign.
Four Democratic senator's also
were Overturned-Er Ernest McFar-
land of Arizona, the ma iority lead
er; the veteran Joseph O'Mahoney
of Wyoming: William Benton of
Connecticut and Thomas Under
wood of Kentucky.
Morse emerged as one of the
Senate's most controversial figures
because he has not indicated how
he will vote. a tie would be broken
by Vice President Barkley until
Jan 20 and after then by Vice
President Nixon.
Sen. Styles Bridges of New
Hampshire. top-ranking Republican
for seniority, viii become key
figure in the new COP majority.
He can become the ma iority leader
and also can have his choice of
the craftsmanship of either the ap-
propristionS or Armed Services
Committee.
Sen. Robert A. Taft who lost
the Republican nomination "a FL
senhower. also viii be highly in
fuentisl. he could take over either
the tax writing Finance Committee
or th. Iahnr and Emhlle Malfara