Show Democrats Win Congress Seat But GOP Cuts Margin Sharply By Lyle Lle C. C Wilson Wikon WASHINGTON ASHINGTON V March 1 UP New UP-New New York City's Tammany- Tammany controlled twenty first congressional district remains Democratic Wednesday after a presidential year car election by-election that cue machine majorities from a fat two to one to fraction Republicans claimed everything from a moral victory to evidence that the country will vili repudiate the Democratic leadership next November They estimated a 12 p per r cent G GOP 0 P gain in the by- by election Democrats could point out that their man won Tuesdays Tuesday's returns had been awaited for indications of New York state political trends The aggregate vote was light By percentages the trend d definitely and substantially was against the Democrats James H. H Torrens Democrat arid and American Labor party candidate candidate candi candi- date polled votes to for William S. S Bennet Republican Democrats suffered some intra intra- party part differences but both the Wendell Vendell i L L. Willkie WIlkie and Governor Go Thomas E. E Dewey factions actions of the Republican party backed the G GOP OP bp candidate Of Ot Torrens' Torrens aggregate votes were from the Labor party His majority was 1571 Comparative Figures What Interested politicians here was a comparison of ot Torrens' Torrens margin margin margin mar mar- gin Tuesday with the votes by y which Democrats have won in the past three elections Here arc are arc th the th figures Dem Rep Major 1938 1940 1910 1942 1912 Campaigning on a Roosevelt pro-Roosevelt platform and to win the war Tor- Tor Continued on Pa Pane Pan Four Column Four Democrats Win I Congress Seat Seal By Small Margin Continued from Pint Pass One tens rens charged Bennets Bennet's election would send to congress an opponent opponent opponent nent of ot the administration Bennet Bennet Bennet Ben- Ben net also campal campaigned ed for lor win the war- war and bore down heavily on tax simplification The Th small number of votes cast cut was normal for such a a. election by-election but it seemed to support the AmerIcan American American Amer Amer- ican Labor party contention that it holds a a balance of power in New NewYork NewYork York City Ci y Furthermore some political observers believe that the sharp reduction in the ratio of Democratic victory is an indication indication indication indica indica- tion that President Roosevelt's hold on his home state has hn been broken where it was strongest The vacancy was created by resignation of James A. A Gavagan Democrat t. t The Twenty-first Twenty isan is isan isan an upper Manhattan district going deep into Harlem and about 35 per percent cent of its voters are Negroes It is an area in which a Democratic Democratic Demo Demo- cratic supporter of f Mr Roosevelt should be as safe as any statesman statesman statesman states states- man seeking office could expect to be anywhere Metropolitan papers except the liberal and left wing press uni- uni uniformly uni uni- supported the Republican candidate The Daily Worker New v York organ of the Communist party has been conducting of page editorial campaign for Torrens Torrens Torrens Tor- Tor rens warning its readers that it jt would be a fatal mistake for labor and other supporters of F D R to take t this election by-election casually or orto orto orto to be b at all an overconfident because the district happens to o be Demo Demo- cratic The Worker also emphasized emphasized sized th the opportunity for the American Labor party to roll ron up upa a comparatively large vote for Torrens to give it a added weight in the political councils of the state and greater prestige among the people The returns show that the ALP did very well Had C CIO I 0 Support Torrens was further aided by support of the Congress of Industrial Indus Indus- Industrial trial Organizations council The Republican candidate however had support of the central trades and labor council Democratic house membership will total when Torrens takes the oath It would have totaled except for the death Tuesday night of Representative Thomas Hk H. H Cullen Democrat from the Fourth New York district Republicans Republicans Republicans Re Re- publicans now number progressives pro pro- gressi es 2 Labor Farmer 1 and andA ALP A L P 1 There are five vacancies vacancies cies des four of ot them formerly held by Democrats in New York Illinois Illi nois Colorado and Oklahoma The fifth vacancy in Illinois Illino s was held by a Republican Republicans confidently expect election by-election gains in Oklahoma and Colorado and to retain the Republican Republican Republican lican seat in Illinois The other Illinois vacancy was created this month by death of ot Representative Leonard V. W. a Democrat from the Seventh congressional district in m Cook county the he political cal domain of ot Mayor Edward J. J Kelly of Chicago Kelly has a powerful machine but won last time by only 1975 votes vote out of cast Republicans suggest that it it- would not require much to change the trend there Cullens Cullen's death gave the Republicans Republicans an another ther opening to fight foran foran for foran an additional seat eat He polled 21 21 vot votes s to for his his' Republican Republican lican opponent in the 1942 elec elec- |