AMERICAN ELECTIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1922, Page 2

AMERICAN ELECTIONS.

MILLIONS NOT VOTING

DEMOCRATS WIN. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. NEW YORK, November 8. There was a lack of issues and apathy in the Congress elections, while a poli- • tit-iil landslide, such as resulted in the Republican victory in 1820, cannot be expected. The substantial nationwide returns, shortly before midnight on election day, showed vast cratic gains in the Congress and StSaSBF offices. The Republicans, who expected to hold their strength in Senate, and possibly to gain one or two members, now appear to have lost important States in New Jersey and New York. A democratic candidate for the Senate, Mr Edwards, on “light wines and beer” platform, opposed Senator Freeling-Huysen for re-election to the Senate in New Jersey and won. .£ Air Freeling-Huysen is a personal friend of President Harding, and a . strong Administration man. Mr Copeland opposed Mr Calder in New York for re-election to the Senate. Mr Copeland appears to have been carried to a victory, which lias signalised the success of the Democrats iii New York.

The Democratic Gubernatorial candidate in New York, AH Smith, is winning over the Republican, Mr Miller by half a million majority in this, the largest State of the Union. ‘Senator Ledge at Massachusetts the “grand old man of the Senate,” appears to te doing badly on the basis of the early returns, and is in danger of being defeated by Mr Gaston, a Democrat. This would be tlie most strange reversal of the election. Ohio, Air Harding’s own State appears to have gone Democrat. Mr Pomeron is leading Air Fess for reelection to the Senate. Air Fess is a close personal friend ,of Air Harding. Ohio, incidentally, appears to have voted two to one in favour of light wines and beers.

Chicago also gave an overwhelming majority in favour of light wines and > beers, though the complete State of Illinois State is doubtful regarding the beverage. „

The Republican candidate, Mr Ralston. in West Virginia, appears to have been elected.

The Democrat Air Neely, is winning over the Republican, Senator Sutherland, who ran for re-election. Al i- Bruce (Democratic) is leading the~A-** Republican, Senator France, in Alaryland, who also is seeking election.

Pennsylvania, which is normally Republican, stayed Republican by the election of two Senators, one to take tlie place of a Senator who died. Connecticut, Illinois, and California have stayed Republican. Senator Johnston, the so-called Radical Republican of the Senate, is being re-elected for the latter State. Senator Hitchcock (Nebraska) appears to be the only Democratic Senator running for re-election to he defeated, his successful opponent being Air Lowell, who had the support of the Non-Partisan League. This is a Farmers organisation, having State Socialism for its programme. The best estimates indicate tlie Demacro ts will gain six seats in the Sen ate. .

The Democrats’ victory in the House of Representatives is now believed to he so considerable that there is a danger of the Republican majority being reduced to less than thirty.

The Democrats appear to have gained at least sixty seats. At least five, out of the fifteen women running for Congress are known to be defeated.

It is pointed out that with a reduced majority and the existing dissensions in the Republican ranks, the Democrats may he able to take the lativo leadership from the Republicans in the House of Representatives. Air Harding announces a special Congress session will be called for November 20th, to consider the Ship Subsidy Bill and an Anti-Lynching Bill, (which the House have already passed) and also the matter of farmers’ long term credits.

SUCCESS OF THE "WETS.”

PROHIBITION RECEIVES SETBACKS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 8 Later returns show only the following changes. Air Lodge was elected by a small plurality. Fess is now leading Pomeren and will probably win Ohio Senatorship, otherwise the Democratic gains urO"~ increasing. Kansas which showed 179,000 Republican plurality in 1920, now shows 40,000 Democratic plurality. Lafollette, another of the famous Radical Republican Senators was reelected. Senator Rex who was attacked by ex-President AVilsou was re-elected for Alissouri. The only woman Congressional representative was defeated for re-elec-tion by £t Democrat in Oklahoma. The Wets appear to have won ■ wherever the issue was tested. In Illinois an overwhelming majority for flight wines has been the measure for the enforcement. ! Prohibition was defeated in California and Alassachussetts. Representative A T olsted, of Alinnesota, the author of the \ r olsted prohibition law, will probably be defeated for re-election. ! Representative Hill, the most outspoken leader of the “Wets,” in Congress, was re-elected for Afaryland; and Hageman, running for Congress in lowa on the Wet platform, was elected by a iarge majority. Tho “New York Times” which is , Democratic in its national policy, commenting on the election, says it was not the tariff or League of Nations that defeated the Republicans, but a mass of various dissatisfactions, cross™ currents and diverse local issues.