FEATURES OF POLLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21952, 8 November 1934, Page 11

FEATURES OF POLLS

SWING TO GOVERNMENT STRIKING INSTANCES TRADITIONS BROKEN STATES REVERSE POLICY By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 7, 10.5 p.m.) NEW YORK. Nov. 7 Early election returns indicated that the predictions of a widespread Democrat victory were being fulfilled. The next Congress will be preponderantly Democrat, with the likelihood of gains of five seats in the Senate and the party's strength .in the House of Representatives probably being increased in spite of the Republican leaders' hopes that they should regain at least 30 seats. Some Democrat candidates gained majorities bigger than those of 1932. New York and Connecticut re-elected Democrat Governors and other State officials and delegations to Congress. The former Mayor of Boston, Mr. Curley, a friend of Mr. Roosevelt, apparently won the Governorship of Massachusetts.

Vermont, which has not returned a Democrat for 75 years, seemed to have chosen a Democrat Senator, Mr. Fred Martin. Senator van den Berg (Michigan), a noted Republican, seemed to have been defeated by the Democrat aspirant Mr. Frank Picard. Democrat campaign managers everywhere hailed the results as an overwhelming victory for the "new deal." Sixty-eight candidates for major offices in the Senate and House of Representatives and for Governorships were unopposed. A Surprise is Maryland

Among noted Democrat Senators who were re-elected were Messrs. D. I. Walsh (Massachusetts) and H. F. Byrd (Virginia), brother of Rear* Admiral Byrd. Virginia incidentally chose nine Democrat members of the House and Florida five and a Democrat Senator.

Texas re-elected a Demcfcrat Senator, Mr. T. Connolly, and 21 Democrat members. of the House. Rhode Island gave the Democrats 'a sweeping majority. Kansas was one of the exceptions to the rule. It appears to have elected a Republican Governor. In Maryland a curious anomaly occurred. Apparently the Governor, Mr. A. C. Ritchie, one of the most noted Democrats in the country and four times Governor, was defeated by his Republican opponent, Mr. Harry Nice. An interesting explanation is given for Mr. Ritchie's defeat, namely, that he is noted for-opposing the "new deal," while his Republican ° opponent, curiously enough, has outspokenly supported Mr. Roosevelt's measures. Illinois appears to have gone strongly Democrat and to have retxirned Democrat members to the House of Representatives. Successes and Defeats Senator H. D. Hatfield (Republican), one of the most outspoken critics of Mr. Roosevelt, was defeated in West Virginia.

Democrat nominees in Tennessee lead by a substantial margin. Senators ,K. D. McKellar and | N. L. Bachman have been re-elected as well as the Democrat Governor.

Democrat victories, including Governorships and members of Congress, were recorded in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, North and South Dakota, Oklahoma and North and South Carolina.

Well known Democrat Senators reelected include Messrs. Key Pittman (Nevada), B! K. "Wheeler (Montana) and W, H. King (Utah) . Nebraska, like California and Kansas, was one of the few States to. elect a Republican Senator and Governor.

In California Mr. Upton Sinclair, author, has been defeated, by Mr. Frank Merriam (Republican) for the Governorship.