National Affairs: Straw

Last week statesmen eyed the first straw in the political wind of 1934: the Illinois primaries. On Democratic ballots 810,000 votes were cast, on Republican ballots 755,000—the largest Democratic majority in Illinois primaries. Further corroboration of a Democratic wind: all 18 Democratic Congressmen were renominated save one who did not have the backing of the State organization. All six Republican Congressmen were also renominated save one. Socialite James Simpson Jr. of Chicago’s North Shore, who alone criticized the New Deal.