The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-15
PARTY WHIP IS
 PLACE OF HONOR Considered One of Most Impor-
 tant in the House GET OUT THE VOTE Dwight of New York and Garner of Texas May Continue to Represent Their Respective Parties
 in Position
By JONATHAN WINFIELD

Washington, January 14-(Special)- With the possible exceptions of the chair
 manships of the ways and means and
 appropriations committees, many repre-
 sentatives regard the position of party
 whip as being among the highest honors m the House, and as the duties of such position are extremely arduous great care is taken in selecting men to fill these offices. It is the whips who are
 responsible for getting out the vote when important measures are to be passed
 and they follow the trail of an absent member like blood hounds on the track
 of criminal. in order to round him up before the final vote is taken.
 This important position is at present
 being filled by Representative John w Dwight Of New York for the republi-
 cans, while Representative John N Gar
 ner of Texas looks after the interests of the democrats, and from present indica-
 tions they will be continued in office
 when the Sixty-second Congress opens
 next December, though their positions
 will be reversed, Garner becoming the
 whip of the majority, while Dwight will | represent the minority.
 There Is but little difference between
 the work of the minority whip and the | majority whip, and as for responsibility It may be said to be greater on the minor ity whip. This is due to the fact that the minority cannot overlook anything | like shortcoming on the part of the
 majority, and the roll call always plays
 prominent part in the House. Representative Dwight was selected whip at the republican caucus held be- fore the extra session of the Sixty-frst Congress, which met March 15, 1909.
 He is seasoned member, entering upon his fifth Congressional term at the time of his election. Indications are he will succeed himself when the republi- can caucus meets next December
 The best proof that Whip Dwight has made good in the office is the reward given him by Speaker Cannon. The first vacancy to occur on the ways and means committee last summer was filled by the appointment of Dwight. The republican whip is of imposing appearance. He stands 6 feet and weighs about 200 pounds His hair Is slightly gray, but his face Is youthful, indeed boyish. He wears a small mustache, which does not ob- scure a well shaped mouth denoting strong character. When he first entered upon his duties as whip he found the work anything but pleasant. He had to make the acquaintance of a number of his colleagues, and as so many members look alike on the floor of the House, he frequently made mistakes which were taken good naturedly. But he soon caught on," and in a little while he could call every member by his Christ ian name.
 Whip Dwight found that as the officer charged with the responsibility of keep ing in close touch with all of his party colleagues, 1t was necessary for him to be on guard from the opening of the ses- sion until adjournment for the day Sometimes the session would continue until after o'clock. Of course, if there
 was nothing to indicate a political squall," which often happens, the whip
 could leave his post, feeling sure that everything was all right. Once or twice last session the whip was almost caught It was during the days just after the in- surgents successful fight on the rules, when Speaker Cannon was deposed from the rules committee. Whip Dwight had left the House to get some luncheon when the unexpected happened.
 He was sent for immediately. and in less than a half hour he was in commu- nication with his absent colleagues, who were requested to return to the House as an important vote was expected. It is this suddenness of record votes that make 1t imperative for the whip to be on hand. He is blamed by the members who do not get there to vote. They as- sort that he should know when important record votes are to be called, but the whip cannot always know this, because often the most exciting and most parti- san parliamentary fights will spring up over small matters that in themselves are trivial. It can be said that Whip Dwight has made good in the office he holds and will continue to hold 1t, his friends say. unless he should decline to serve in the next Congress because of the exacting work demanded of the whip | The democrats have no set rule in the matter of selecting the whip. In the last half of the Sixtieth Congress, when Rep resentative Champ Clarke of Missouri was chosen minority leader, Representa- tive Thomas M. Bell of Georgia was ap- pointed whip by Minority Leader Will Hams of Mississippi, to succeed Repre- sentative James T. Lloyd of Missouri who had been elected chairman of the democratic Congressional committee, Whip Bell named as his assistants Rep TeSentaIlVe JOIu N. GdIueF OI IeAdS dHu Representative Hughes of New Jersey. At the beginning of this Congress Mir. Clarke appointed Whip Bell and his as- sistants, but owing to sickness in Repre- sentative Bells family Representative Garner became acting whip. which office he has filled during this Congress. Act ing Whip Garner is of medium size. He has a well shaped head with clear cut features, and impresses one as being
 student To say he is popular with his
 colleagues would hardly express it. His
 personality is most pleasing. which ac-
 counts in large measure for the success
 that has attended his labors as whip. He
 can always be found on the floor of the
 House before the chaplain offers prayer,
 and when the House adjourns he Is
 among the last to leave. He says he
 finds this necessary for often he will
 learn at the last moment of some repub-
 lican scheme to put through a party bill
 and by getting the tip few hours
 ahead he has been able to notify the ab-
 sent democrats. Whip Garner also keeps
 a close watch on the House calendar,
 and by so doing he Is able to furnish
 his colleagues with full information
 about legislation that is coming up, and
 whether there is any likelihood of rec
 ord vote.
 Many member has been refused a
 on a bill of national importance or was
 absent when a bill of local interest was
 called up," said Whip Garner today. and
 knowing the importance of this I have
 made it a rule to notify all democrats
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