REPUBLICAN GAINS IN U.S. ELECTIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 266, 10 November 1938, Page 11

REPUBLICAN GAINS IN U.S. ELECTIONS.

YESTERDAY'S POLL. Roosevelt Majority Still Safe. MANY SURPRISE RESULTS. ! United rrcss Association.—rislit. (Received 10 a.m.) NEW YORK. Xo\ ember 9. j Suffering important lo<s o s but! nevertheless holding strength remark-' ably well in several vital contents, notably New \ ork. Kentucky and Maryland, President Roosevelt and the Democratic parly came through the national election with losses whieh may not be numerically large in Congress but which definitely show a significant trend toward the Republicans. This is seen principally in the capture by the Republicans of social States which had been Democratic since 1932, and in tlie sharp reduction in Democratic popular majorities. it would, however, be misleading to say that the nation is not still .">1 per cent lor Mr. Roosevelt and the Xew Don!. 'Lite Republican gains in the House of Representative- are unuuii;. Thev lsave definitely won :>■} scat:- and are leading in 38 others. A total of 100 -cats| or higher appears po-.sible. In the last j t-'ougiess the Republican* held !»«> scats 1 in the House and the Democrats oJS. j Ihe Republicans have definitely j gained eight Senate scats and are likely j to win at least two more. r i he probable "line-up" is 09 Democrats, 2."> Republicans and four others. The strength of parties in the last .Senate was: Democrats 7f>, Republicans IC. Only one-third of tile Senate is concerned in the present election. f lhe Republicans have gained 12 governorships and lost two to the Democrats. namely, Maryland and California, making a net gain of 10. Results Favour Business. Wall Street interpreted the election returns as favourable to business. Most leading issues reached new high levels for a year or longer, particularly railway stock, utilities and steel. The dollar turned up sharply. With the pivotal re-election of Governor H. H. Lehman for \ew York State and of Senator R. F. Wagner (Democrat Xew York), the leading New Dea legislator, apparently assured, althougrl a slim majority seems indicated, tin Roosevelt luck is holding and tin national results will probably indicati : further endorsement of the President' regime. That Mr. Roosevelt's control of Con gress has hardly been shaken is seei in the fact that, in spite of the Repub T liean inroads, the Democratic chairmei of nine important House committees only one of whom opposed the Presiden on crucial measures, have been re elected.

There are many surprises in the results, one of which is the re-election of Senator M. E. Tvdings (Democrat, Maryland) whom Mr. RSbsevelt openly opposed in the Democratic primaries, and the defeat of Congressman J. J. O'Connor (New York). whom the President drove out of the Democratic party and who was defeated to-day, although running as a Republican. Unpleasant Surprise for Roosevelt. Another unpleasant surprise for Mr. Roosevelt was the apparent election of a Republican Governor of Massachusetts. a strong Irish Catholic Democratic stronghold. Mr. Leverett Saltonstall, a so-called "blue-stocking" antiXew Dealer, defeating the veteran Democrat politician, Mr. James Curlcv. Striking victories for Mr. Roosevelt included the election in Illinois of the Democratic Senator. Mr. Scott Lucas, a Democratic Governor aud State Administration and a contingent to Congress. One of the worst items against Mr. Roosevelt was the defeat of Governor Murphy (Democrat) in Michigan. He was staunchly supported by Mr. Roosevelt and was noted for carrying out the. Xew Deal labour policies. The Republicans made a clean sweep in Pennsylvania, re-electing Senator J. J. Davis and defeating Governor Earle, Mr. Roosevelt's close friend, and an aspirant for the senatorsliip. and electing a Republican governor and several congressmen. Farmers Against Democrats. The defeat of Senator <!. McGill (Democrat, Kansas) by Mr. Clyde Reed (Republican) and the election of a Republican governor is considered an expression of the mid-west agrarians against the Government's farm policy. An entire Republican State Administration was also elected in Kansas. The election in Wisconsin of a Republican governor and of a Republican, Mr. Alexander Wiley, to the senatorsliip, and the defeat of Governor Philip la Fullette. a supporter of Mr. Roosevelt, indicates that State's repudiation also of the La Toilette third party movement organised last April. The necessary fantastic touch was given the elections when news from Kentucky indicated that six people had died and three were dying after the most violent election day fighting for many years. Senator Barkley, Democratic leader in the Senate, was re elected with a heavy majority. California elected a Democrat. Sena tor Stewart Downey, although il defeated the 30 dollars a week '"ham am egg" pension plan. North Dakota, in cidentally, carried a referendum cstab lishing a 40-dollar minimum nionthl; pension for all over 00 years of regardless of need. California elected its first Democrat! governor for 4-> years, Mr. Ctilhei Olson, who is reported tn have planuet that one of his first acts will be t< pardon Tom Mooney. who has been 2' years in prison.