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Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1936, Page 4

Including Mr Roosevelt, there have been 31 Presidents of the United States. Political parties were not clearly defined when the first and second—George Washington and John Adams —were chosen, and the present Democrats were originally the Republicans. . It is possible, however, b.v ignoring facts not strictly relevant, to compare the records of the two parties with a useful degree of accuracy. Omitting Washington and Adams, 16 Presidents have been Republicans and 13 Democrats. Rut the Democrats have succeeded in returning five of their Presidents for a second term, the Republicans only two. Consequently, Democrats have held the office for a slightly longer period than have Republicans, since 1801, when it be- , came the supreme prize for the competing parties. Mere figures of

this sort, nevertheless, convey no fully accurate idea of the position. For 60 years —from 1801 to 1861 — the Democrats were almost continuously in office, and it took the election of Lincoln to break the virtual supremacy and reduce their party to a minority for a generation after the Civil War. How difficult it lias been for them to regain and keep cuntrol cf Uke Administration is evident to all with knowledge of tne happenings of recent years; Woodrow Wilson’s experience stands out significantly. It seemed lately that the prestige of the Republicans' could not he greatly shaken. Yet it has Decn so shaken.