The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-28
GARRETT ACTING
!. MINORITY LEADER
! IN LOWER HOUSE
High Honor Paid to Tonnes
sean and Service Thus Far
Has Demonstrated His Abil-
ity as a Leader.
~ JESSE 9. coTTRELL,
(spsela Correspondent u The News
Seimitar.)

n ~ JESSE Q. CoTTRELl,
Especial Correspondent u The News
Seimitar.)
WASHINGTON, Dec, 2s.-Con-
gresham Finis J. Garrett, Of the
Ninth Tennessee district, is now act
ing minority leader of the house. one
of the highest recognized honors that
can be bestowed upon a member who
is not the titular leader.
With the converting of the con-
gress for the present session, former
Speaker Champ Clark has been bush
ly engaged in other matters of leg
islation than handling the various
measures before the house, while
Minority Leader Claude Kitchin lis
i'll and unable to attend. Indications
are that his indisposition will re-
move him from active participation
in the house business for some time.
The mantle of leadership then fell
upon Mr.. Garrett and for the first
time during his long career in the
house he has been honored by hav-
ing the reins turned over to him en-
tirely, as 1t were.
Mr.. Garrett as a result Of this OPP
portunity has demonstrated beyond
all doubt his ability, his fairness and
his thorough knowledge Of the num-
erous measures pending.
In days gone by, Hon. James r.
Mann, Republican from Illinois, when
minority leader of his party in the
house, amazed his colleagues by an
intimate knowledge of every bill on
the calendar for consideration, no
matter under what circumstances it
was called up. But 1t was by ardu-
Gus work that Mr.. Mann equipped
himself for this task of hedging and
holding the majority in check, and
seeing to it that the interests of the
minority were subserved. The re-
suit was a general breakdown from
which he has not recovered, and
which was responsible to a large de-
gree for him relinquishing, under fire
as it was, the leadership when the
position of speaker was. within. his
grasp. Mr.. Kitchin as minority
leader also worked day and night,
and is today on the verge of in
validism.
With Mr.. Garrett, he goes about
the job differently. While he is the
first man to appear upon the house
AiVOi anu IilC lclSI 70 ISdNe, dHu dS n
result has little time for study, the
maker Of mems minds has dealt
with the Tennessee congressman
more generously than he has with
either the gentleman from Illinois or
North Carolina, in that he grasps the
point and can see through the ques-
ton, to use a hackneyed phrase,
more quickly than either, and once
he hears bill read or explained, or
glances over it himself, he never has
to refer to it again. For this reason
his peculiar gifts which equip him
for the minority leadership are be-
ing demonstrated daily on the floor
Of the house.
II was said of Senator Underwood
that he was an easy leader" and to
this faculty much of his success was
due. With Mr.. Garrett, he is able
to handle the situation with more
ease than did Mr.. Underwood, nd
moreover, he at all times has the
respect and esteem of his colleagues
on the Republican side. This is
because, doubtless, that he knows
the house procedure better than
any man in the house and Republi-
cans are as ready to accept his state
ment on a rule or plan of procedure
as are the Democrats, because all
recognize in him a square leader"