Governors

In 34 States last week new Governors were elected. The nation-wide Roosevelt sweep carried many a Democrat into gubernatorial office, caused many a startling turnover in traditionally Republican States: Wisconsin. Deserted by the Progressive wing of his party Republican Walter Jodok Kohler ("Kohler of Kohler") who in September wrested the nomination from Governor Philip Fox La Follette went down in defeat before Democrat Albert George Schmedeman, Madison's mayor. Not in 37 years has a Democrat been chosen to head the Badger State's government. Commented Governor-elect Schmedeman: "A return to sanity. . . ." Illinois. Chicago's Mayor Anton Joseph Cermak became undisputed boss of the State Democracy when his candidate, Henry Horner, longtime judge on the Chicago probate bench, overwhelmingly beat Republican Len Small. Because of his unsavory record at Springfield, Nominee Small was ditched by most "decent" G. 0. Partisans at the polls. Judge Horner, author of the "Horner Plan" for expediting the settlement of estates, had the support of the arch-Republican Tribune and Daily News in Chicago. A plump, bald, sober little man, Governor-elect Horner declared: "Don't paint me as a hero. Picture me as a man. I have a responsibility to the public which, militant and aroused, gave me this big vote."

Michigan. As the "angel" of his party in the State, Democrat William A. Comstock ran thrice for Governor, was thrice defeated. This year, much against his will because he had lost most of his money, he made the race for a fourth time--and appeared to win by a narrow margin. Not since 1916 has Republican Michigan elected a Democratic Governor. The Comstock campaign slogan: "I'm broke just like the rest of you." Evidently turned out was Republican Governor Wilber Marion Brucker, personally unpopular. New York. For four years Democrat Herbert Henry Lehman, scion of the Manhattan banking family, served Governor Roosevelt as second-in-command at Albany. Last week Lieutenant-Governor Lehman was elected to the job he had efficiently understudied by a vote surpassing that of Roosevelt-for-President in the State. Regardless of party, New York City Jews massed to support him. Opposing him, Republican William Joseph ("Wild Bill") Donovan, war hero, one-time Assistant to the U. S. Attorney General, and ardent 1928 Hooverizer, failed to carry even his home city of Buffalo.

Indiana. Republican Raymond Springer rode circus elephants in an effort to be Governor. But Democratic Paul Vories McNutt, onetime (1928-29) Commander of the American Legion, rode the Roosevelt wave, left him far behind. Ohio. Democratic Governor George White, onetime gold-rusher in the Klondike, managed to resist the popular tide against the "ins" and hold his office against Republican David Sinton Ingalls, young and wealthy, the Navy's only War ace. At the President's request, Governor-reject Ingalls had left the Hoover sub-Cabinet as Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Aeronautics to try and carry Ohio for Hoover. Rhode Island. Impressed with his strenuous campaign as the "All-Round Man" who, stripped to the waist, lugged stones (TIME, Nov. 7), voters preferred Democrat Theodore Francis Green as Governor to Republican Norman Stanley Case, incumbent.

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