U.S.A. ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1930, Page 6

U.S.A. ELECTIONS

DEMOCRATS HOPEFUL. DRY LAW LOSING GROUND. WASHINGTON, October 28. With the regular biennial Congressson al elections only a. week off, President Hoover has entered the lists against what he terms “reckless and infamous” charges being, made that his (the President’s) administration are disposing of valuable oil shale lands to private interests. “The publication of.these charges in the press 'was an attempt to charge oil scandals in this administration,” declared Mr Hoover to-day. Tlie Presidential statement grew out of the publication of a Democratic neswpaper of the charges made by Mr Ralph Kelley, the former Chief of the Field Division of the Federal land Office that many millions of acres of shale lands, containing oil valued at forty billion dollars, have been passed over by the U.S.A. Department of the Interior to large oil interests.

The Department of Justice has recently declared that the charges are unfounded.

President Hoover makes the statement that the publication of the articles written by'Mr Kelley “as a piece of politics, is certainly far below the ideas of political 'partisanship held by substantial men in that (Democratic) Party.” This statement marks the not-expectod entry of President Hoover into the Congressional campaign.

REPUBLICAN LOSSES LIKELY. The indications are the Dejnocratic Party will make large- gains in both of the Houses of the National Legislature, and also that Prohibition and the existing economic depression will he the major issues on which the Republican Party can expect to sustain serious reverses. The. polls are on November 4th. It is further believed that in 1982 the Republicans will completely lose control of the National Adminstration. CONTROL OF SENATE. The Party struggle for the control of the Senate is entered in nineteen States out of the thirty-four wherein Senators are to be elected. Actually only a third of the Senate membership of ninety-six is chosen bennially, but due to deaths and. to unfilled seats., the total number to be chosen this year is thirty-foui;.-The other fifteen States are so definitely either Republican or Democratic—that is so dominated by one p ar ty—that only a startling and unexpected revolt of the voters will change the indications already' given in the primaries. Of these, nineteen seats the Rep'ublicians now hold fourteen.

The remaining five States are filled by Democrats,, who are all seeking reeiection, and they include , Senator Steck (Iowa), Senator Walsh (Montana), Senator Bratton (New Mexico), and Senator Brock (Tennessee). To seize control of the Senate, the Democratic Party must not only reelect the four latter incumbents, but must also capture eleven of the fourteen seats held by the Republicans. Nominees of both Parties who are certain of election are: Republicans: Senators...Borah, Couzens, Capper and Allen, of Kansas, Senator Keyes, of New Hampshire; and the Secretary for Labour, Senator Davis, wluo is nominated from Pennsylvania; also Senator Wallace Whyte, of Maine, already elected in an early Maine election. Democrats: Senator Bankhead (Alabama) ; Senator Brynes (South Carolina) ; Senator Bailey (North Carolina) ; Senator Sheppard (Texas); Senator Robinson (Arkansas); Senator Harrison (Misissippi) ; Senator Glass (Virginia); Senator Long (Louisiana); and Senator. Harris (Georgia). The fate of various interesting figures in the Senate was of- course decided by the primaries. AL SMITH’S ENEMIES OUTED. WASHINGTON( October 28. In the primaries for the Congress elections, Senator Biease, who for forty years has been a Representative, and a Senator from South Carolina, was defeated. Senator Simmons (North Carolina) was defeated in the primaries. This result is tantamount to a repudiation by the Democratic Party of the leaders of the anti-Smith movement in the 1928 U.S.A. Presidential election.

THE HOUSE ELECTIONS

The full United States House of Representatives, with its membership of 435, is to be chosen at the coming elections. The Republican majority in the House at present exceeds one hundred. It is believed that the Republican majority will be completely wiped out, or will be so reduced that Republican control of the House will lapse, by default, to the Democrats, and paricularly since many of the Republicans are irregular. THE: ISSUES. The two national issues dominating the campaign are prohibition and eeoInomic depression. Outstanding “Dry” losses have already been registered. There are the defeats in the primaries of three of the ‘‘Dry” Congressional leaders, and the nomination of Mr Dwight Morrow by the Republicans in New Jersey State on the repeal of. the prohibition plank on the Republican platform. There is also the adoption of Repeal planks bv the Republicans of New York and Rhode Island States.

The Anti-Salooir League despite this, Contends that tine minimum. “Dry” strength in the: new House will lie three hundred. This admits of a loss of twenty nine. It is believed that the loss may be, however, considerable larger. On the score of economic depression, it is no secret that President Hoover is very much worried as to its effect on the. Republication Party. His national unemployment relief campaign, it is hoped, may reassure the electorate.

Tlie Democrats, however, have )>een stressing the “Hoover Depression,’' and they claim there is a “landslide” in their favour as the result of the economic setback.

The effect on the 1932 election will, of course he closely watched when the returns come in next Tuesday.