NEW DEAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23191, 10 November 1938, Page 11

NEW DEAL

ELECTION WIN REDUCED SUPPORT REPUBLICANS' GAINS FIGHTING IN KENTUCKY SIX DEAD, THREE DYING By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 9, 8.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 9 Suffering important losses but nevertheless holding strength remarkably well in several vital contests, notably New York, Kentucky and Maryland, President Roosevelt and the Democratic Party came through the national election with losses which 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 several States which had been Democratic since 1932, and in the sharp reduction in Democratic popular majorities. It would, however, be misleading to say that the nation is not still 51 per cent for Mr. Roosevelt and the New Deal.

Returns so far give the state of parties as follows —compared with the Inst elections:—

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1936 1938 Democrats 328 221 ; Republicans .... 90 100 Farmer-Labour .... 5 Progressive 8 2 Vacancies 4 Doubtful ...... . . SENATE Old New Democrats 76 72 Republicans 16 19 Farmer-Labour .... 2 Progressive 1 Independent 1 4 Doubtful 1 Only one-third of the Senate is concerned in the present election. The Republicans have gained seven State governorships. . v ■ With the pivotal re-election of Governor H. H. Lehman for New York State and of Senator R. F. Wagner (Democrat —New York), the leading New Deal legislator, apparently assured, although, a slim majority seems

indicated, the Roosevelt luck is holding and the national results will probably indicate further endorsement of the President's regime. That Mr. Roosevelt's control of Congress has hardly been shaken is seen in the fact that, in spite of the Republican inroads, the Democratic chairmen of nine important House committees, only one of whom opposed the President on crucial measures, have been re-elected. 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 New Deal labour policies. President's Friend Beaten

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 senatorship, and electing a Republican governor and several Congressmen. The defeat of Senator G. McGill (Democrat- —Kansas) by Mr. Clydo 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 senatorship, and "the defeat of Governor Phillip la Follette, a supporter of Mr. Roosevelt, indicates that State's repudiation also of the La Follette third party movement organised last April.

North Dakota re-elected Senator G P. Nye (Republican). Violent Kentucky Clashes

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 reelected with a heavy majority. California elected a Democratic governor, Senator Stewart Downey, although it defeated the 30-dollftrs a week "ham and egg" pension plan, North Dakota, incidentally, carried a referendum establishing a 40-dollar minimum monthly pension for air over 60 years of age, regardless of need. The.'solid South, as was expected, returned completely Democratic tickets, including Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Virginia, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Alabama and Texas. Democrats were also returned in Illinois, Nevada, Arizona, Tennessee and Washington.

California elected its first Democratic governor for 45 years, Mr. Culbert Olson, who is reported to havo planned that one of his first acts will be to pardon Tom Mooney, who lias been 20 years in prison.