THE CONGRESS: Democratic Senate

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When President-elect Roosevelt moves into the White House March 4, a Democratic Congress will come into being at the Capitol. Thus as a result of the election both arms of government were placed solidly in control of one party, paving the way for positive legislative action in the next two years.

In the Senate the Democrats ran their strength up to the record-breaking figure of 58 and possibly more—a clear gain of eleven seats over their present membership. This startling increase was secured mostly at the expense of Republican Old Guardsmen who suffered defeat not only because they had been "ins" for many a long year but also because they were identified in the voters' mind as conservative supporters of the unpopular Hoover regime. Dean of the Senate in point of service (29 years) and chairman of its powerful Finance Committee is long, lanky, lugubrious Reed Smoot whom Utah voters summarily retired for Democrat Elbert D. Thomas professor of political sciences at the State University. The defeat of 70-year-old Senator Smoot whose name adorns the discredited Republican tariff, was attributed in part to his failure to get something done at Washington to up silver and copper prices.

Indiana's James Eli Watson, long-legged, large-stomached, small-eyed leader of the present Republican Senate majority of one, was defeated by Democrat Frederick Van Nuys, Indianapolis attorney. President Hoover, campaigning in the State, had made a warm personal appeal for Senator Watson's reelection. Watson entered the Senate in 1917, succeeded Charles Curtis as G. 0. P. leader in 1929. Long a Dry, he ran as a Resubmissionist. Senator-elect Van Nuys, a longtime Democratic worker, favors Repeal and beer. There was a real partisan revenge in the defeat of New Hampshire's Senator since 1919, George Higgins Moses, whose tart tongue has made many a Democrat wince.* Victor over him was Democrat Fred H. Brown, onetime Governor, new Public Service Commissioner. The Brown attack: "Moses is a hireling of the power interests. The Insulls and others paid Moses' campaign expenses. He hasn't been a square-shooter in New Hampshire politics in a generation. He votes dry and drinks wet, pats the War veteran on the back with one hand and cuts his throat with the other." Husky Senator-elect Brown chews Navy cut plug, makes a thundering speech.