UNITED STATES ELECTION POSITION

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3497, 5 November 1926, Page 7

UNITED STATES ELECTION POSITION

Parties Balanced in the Senate

REPUBLICANS LOSE HEAVILY

[By Electric Cable—Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Thursday, 7.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. I. Late election returns indicate Democratic inroads into’thc working majorities of the Republicans. It is certain that the Western insurgents will hold the balance of power in tho Senate, and possibly In the House, besides gaining seven of the nine seats constituting the Republican majority in the Senate. The Deihocrats reduced by thirteen the Republican majority in the House, with four contests undecided. Tho Democrats elected fourteen Senators, and the Republicans fourteen. This gives the Democrats forty-seven seats in the Senate, or two less than a majority, with fourteen districts still unfinished. To-night the Democrats have elected 191 members to the House, and the Republicans 225, Farmer-Lab-our and Socialist 1. NEW YORK Nov. 3., The latest election returns show the state of the parties to bo as follows; Senate. Democrats 47 Republicans 47 Doubtful 1 House of Representatives. Democrats 194 Republicans 230, Farmer-Labourii.es .... 2 Socialists 2 Independent 1 Doubtful 23

The situation in the House of Representatives shows that the Democrats gained 11 seats with 23 doubtful. They appear likely to pick up 20 Republican seats altogether. Regarding the prohibition Issue, inconclusive tabulations indicate that the “wets” are also apparently leading in California, Missouri and Nevada.

Both the women governors have apparently been eliminated, the Attor-ney-General, Mr. Woody, being elected over Mrs. Ferguson for Texas, while Mrs. Ross .of Wyoming, is still far behind her opponent. There are now four Women members of the House of Representatives compared with three in the former House, eight other women candidates being defeated. The first reaction of the election on Wall Street was lower quotations on loading issues. The Missouri senatorial contest was doubtful throughout the night, but it is now indicated that Mr. Hawes (Democrat) will probably defeat Senator Williams (Republican) by 30,000 votes.

Altogether the Democrats have failed to obtain a numerical majority in either House, they have gained seven Republican seats in the Senate, leaving another doubtful. They needed nine for a clear majority. This means that the small independent group of seven Republican senators consisting of Messrs. La Follette, Blaine, Frazier, Nye, Brookhart, Norris and Johnson, will hold the balance of power. They voted Democrat as often as Republican on past occasions.

Eight States, with the exception of New York, voted three to one for modification of tho Volstead Act. Illinois voters apparently endorsed a similar proposal by a substantial majority. Wisconsin favoured tho petition for 2.75 beer. Nevada appeared in favour of modification. California and Montana voted for the repeal of State enforcement acts, Missouri and Colorado recording majorities in the negative. Mrs, John Langley was elected for the Kentucky seat in the House ol Representatives which her husband vacated when sent to the penitentiary for conspiracy to violate the national prohibition law.

REPUBLICAN POSITION PRECARIOUS. (Received Thursday, 8.40 p.m.) NEW YORK Nov 4. The latest returns for tho Scnatf show; — Republicans Democrats 47 Farmer-Labourite .... ] This shows a definite loss of control of tho Senate by the Republicans. Both “drys” and "wets” claim that tho election indicates an important victory for their causes, and give conflicting enumerations of the “dry’ and "wet” composition of Congress. PARTIES BALANCED IN SENATE. ONLY POPULAR LEGISLATION POSSIBLE. (Received Thursday, 10.35 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 4. No party having a definite majority, indications are that only legislation favoured by tho blocks composed of tho various parties, can hope for passage through tho Senate. Tho House of Representatives returns are still incomplete, but the present figures give the Republicans a safe majority of thirty-one, compared with a majority of fifty-one in the last House. The state of tho Parties now is;— Republicans .. .. -. 233 Democrats 197 Farmer-Labourites .... 2 Socialists 2 The Prohibition Issue. Independent 1 Tho Anti-Prohibitionists won six States, Nevada voters answering in the affirmative the questions: "Should Congress call a constitutional convention to amend the eighteenth amendment?” and “Is Prohibition a failure?” Californians voted, “yes” on. the

question: “Should tho State Prohibition Enforcement Law bo repealed?” Two States voted “dry,” Colorado saying “no” to the question; “Should the State constitution be amended to procide for tho manufacture and sale of liquor, whenever it conflicts with Federal laws?" and Missouri voting "no” on the question: “Shall the State Prohibition Enforcement laws be repealed?” The “drys” point out lhat the referenda is an unfair indication of national opinion, since many "drys” were urged not to vote on the ground that the referenda was unconstitutional, and that there was no clear expression of tho popular will of the nation on this question, can be soon in the fact that Illinois, which voted “wet” by an overwhelming majority in the referendum, yet elected Smith, an avowed “dry,” as Senator, over Brennan, an avowed “wet.” Similar conflicting indications are visible in other States.