CRITICAL ELECTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1938, Page 5

CRITICAL ELECTION

VERDICT ON NEW DEAL

IN U.S.A. FOLLOWING ON BITTER CAMPAIGN. PRELIMINARY ANTICIPATIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. NEW YORK. November 8. 1 The public verdict on the New Deal will be given tomorrow, when 40,000.000 Americans in all States except Maine will go to the polls for the biennial Congressional elections. The closeness of the race between the parties has worked up intense national interest, and the balance of power in some States is so fine that the weather will be an important factor. The stock market today recorded one of the most unusual pre-election upward surges in history, traders basing much of their buying on expectation of gains among the New Deal’s opposition. Big business prefers to see a strong opposition able to check the Government’s tendency to quick and unexpected changes. Prices rose four points. . Most national surveys show the possibility of at least 50 congressional seats switching to the_ Republicans. President Roosevelt’s farm and labour policies and old age pensions ’are among the chief issues. Foreign policy is not involved, at least directly. However, President Roosevelt’s prestige is a big factor governing the extent of the United States’ participation in world affairs. Democrats point out that a Republican gain of less than 50 seats would be a virtual New Deal victory since the Administration will retain much of its control. MR DEWEY’S ALLEGATIONS. One of the most bitter New York campaigns in history closed tonight when Thomas Dewey, New York’s Special Prosecutor for the Racket and Vice Investigation, alleged that Benjamin Franklin’s alleged warning against the menace of Jews was being circulated among Jewish voters in campaign envelopes. He added that historians had disproved that Franklin stated at the constitutional convention: “If you don’t exclude Jews for all time your children’s children will curse you from their graves.” The police are taking the strictest precautions to prevent disorders tomorrow. Mrs Roosevelt is flying from Texas in order to vote with the President in the rambling wooden town hall at Hyde Park. President Roosevelt refrained from comment on the prospects but it is believed that 7 he is optimistic.

Meanwhile developments in the past twelve hours have so altered the situation that for the first time since he became President, Mr Roosevelt faces the prospect of serious political losses, and the Republicans, for the first time in a decade, may make their first substantial gains. The contest in New York State, which, since' it has one-tenth of the population, is always an important factor in a national election, has reached a point where the defeat of Governor Lehman and the Democratic contingent in Congress may becorhe an actuality. This would be a blow to the prestige of Mr Roosevelt, from which he would not easily recover. The ablest political observers are unwilling to predict the outcome in New York save to say that it will be unusually close. ATTITUDE OF PARTIES.

In the meantime Democrats throughout the nation are steeling themselves for some surprises and perhaps a shock or two. while the Republicans expect that their party will be revitalised their representation being increased from 25 to 50 in the House, and from four to seven in the Senate. Such evidences of Republican strength would be emphasized as a trend far beyond their numerical significance. The picture changed suddenly owing to successful charges of corruption levelled against Democratic candidates in Pennsylvania, the second most populous State, which has been recognised as a pivotal Democratic stronghold since President Roosevelt came into power. Charges by Mr Thomas Dewey, New* York District Attorney, linking Democrats with gangsters; charges of Communism made against Democratic candidates in Ohio, Michigan, and Minnesota; increasing dissatisfaction in the rural areas of the Middle West; the depressed commodity prices; antiCatholicism and anti-Semitism, are working against several noted Democratic candidates, particularly Governor Lehman.

Other factors are an alleged tie-up by the Roosevelt Administration with notorious'Democratic machines in New Jersey and Illinois, and increasing charges of the use of W.P.A. relief moneys for campaign purposes to aid the Democrats.

Forty million voters are expected to go to the polls.