The Daily News FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1930. UNITED STATES ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1930, Page 6

The Daily News FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1930. UNITED STATES ELECTIONS.

The most important national elections in the United States since those of 1928 took place on Tuesday, when one-third of the Senate, the entire House of Representatives and many Governors and other State officials were chosen. Active campaigns in all parts of the country preceded the voting, an unusual degree of interest being taken, due chiefly to the injection of the Prohibition issue. There was, howevgr, a determined struggle on the part of the - Democrats to obtain the balance of power as a prelude to the success of their candidate, Governor F. D. Roosevelt, at the election of President! in 1932, he

having declared for repeal of the Prohibition Amendment and for leaving the whole matter in the hands of the respective States. The cablegram from New York that appeared in yesterday’s issue stated that Mr. Roosevelt had been re-elected Governor of New York State by a majority of 550,000 votes, marking the largest majority ever given to a candidate in that State, and stamping him as a certainty for nomination as the Democratic Party’s Presidential candidate. There is, of course, no reliable means of forecasting what may take place be-

tween now and 1932, but one of the common traits of humanity is to follow a successful leader, hence it is quite possible Mr. Hoover may be succeeded by Mr. Roosevelt, and that the strength the Democratic Party may grow sufficiently to give it ad-

mhiistrative control. It appears to be evident that the drift away from Prohibition seriously alarmed the Republican leaders throughout the country, and that may account for the fact that the first of the important figures to repudiate prohibition in the recent campaign was Dwight AV. Morrow, the New Jersey Republican candidate for the Senate, who was elected by a large majority. Another factor in the elections was the general industrial depression. The figures given yesterday show that Republicans hold 47 seats in the Senate, as compared with 45 held by the Democrats, there being four others that may be doubtful. In the House of Representatives the Democrats hold 218 seats, the Republicans 216, and FarmerLabour one, it being considered that the latest returns give the Democrats undoubted control of the House, though their majority is insufficient to give them freedom from inter-party blows. That any exceptional significance attaches to this Democratic victory from an international point of view is unlikely, - the probability being that the Democrats will take special care not to fritter away ' their strength by injudicious proposals. Undoubtedly their wisest policy would be to do all in their power to improve their prospects and make sure of the success of their candidate for the Presidency and supremacy of voting power! in the Senate. It is stated that a tabulation of Congress (both branches of the Legislature) along prohibition lines indicates large gains for the “wet”-' forces, which have won at least 28 seats in the House of Representatives and have lost none in the Senate, retaining their present number of 18. The House will apparently have at least 117 “wets” where there were only 91 before, while the total of 298 “drys” appears to have been elected. The two outstanding issues that seem to await attention are connected with the liquor question and the general industrial depression. Associated with the latter is tariff revision, and other minor, factors < have influenced the result of the elections. So far as foreign policy 'is concerned it is hopeless to expect any change from the isolated stand taken by the United States for a long time past, that policy appearing to be firmly rooted there. It. may be, however, that the Democrats may in the process of time, should they be fortunate enough to be in the ascendant, educate the people to a more modern frame of mind with regard to the League of Nations, and there should be no, anxiety over the relations between America and Britain. Inasmuch as Republican control of the Senate appears to be nominal in consequence of a considerable section of insurgent Republicans consistently voting with the Democrats, there is every prospect of the next session of Congress proving a thorn in the flesh for President Hoover. There seems to have arisen a species of political epidemic of upheaval is several countries of late, all the more unfortunate because of; the serious note of unrest throughout the world. The only consolation, if it can be so called, is that the United States can more easily stand an upheaval in politics than can any other important country; also that for once the political change there cannot be due in any way to the sinister activities of the Moscow Communists. Developments will certainly be followed with much, interest by all the nations, and especially by the British Commonwealth.