Pocahontas star herald., 1924-04-25
The Democratic Whip


legislative body and how a real whip
operates was emphaM.ed in the
Chandler Blooll contested election
ease, when a democratic minority mem
ber won ont against a former member
in bitter c0n,cSe For party majority
in the New York delegation. which may
he an important factor in the coming
presidential election is thrown into the
House.
Few of those who lCok down on the
proceedings of the House from the
galleries even realize that there is such
an official as "A party whip. and still
fewer have any idea what whip is
supposed to do.
This sort of a whip has No snap
especially when he acts as a bell
weather for the minority side The
whip is supposed to keep posted On
what may happen in the House and
be ready to muster the strength of his
party when an important issue is at
stake, or perhaps to have some mem
bers absent themselves when lack of
quorum may delay action on some
measure which his party is opposing.
The job requires generalship.
OF course, the whip for the maio
ity is kept posted on the party leader
as to when men may be released from
attendance in the chamber tO-perform
other duties. But the minority whip
is always working at a disadvantage
because he must constantly he prepar
ed to meet any issue that may arise,
with the opposition cunningly working
TO lead him astray when some import
ant issue may he raised.
Representative William A. Oldfeld
of Arkansas has been the minority
whip in two Congresses, and is ac-
credited by leaders on both the re-
publican and democratic sides of the
House with being the best whip seen
i'm action during the memory of sit
ting members. Speaker Gillett has re-
peatedly congratulated Representative
Oldfield on his success in mastering a
full party vote, while Minority Leader
Garrett and Representative John Gar
ner. ranking democrat on the ways
and means committee. himself Il form
er whip. have given Whip Oldfeld full
credit for repeated victories by the
minority on roll call vote.
In n letter of appreciation for the
splendid services rendered" Minority
Leader Garrett wrote to Representa-
tive Oldfeld:
Throughout this entire Congress.
beginning with the votes upon organi-
zation and running through all ques-
tions that have partaken Of any party
character. you have rendered 100 per
cent service. During my ten terms of
service in the House l have never
known a whip on either side who was
more fully measured up to the exac-
tions of the place Our party (and in
saying this | express the universal
feeling of its members in the House, |
owes you debt Of gratitude"
Representative Garner's econium of !
Whip Oldfield that he 'is the best we
ever had" was won when Garner was
leading the fight on the revenue bill !
i'm the committee of the whole House.
oldfield brought in all but three demo
Gratis and they voted sOlidly. OF the
three absentees, one was at the point |
of death and did die few days later;
another was stricken last October and
has been bed-ridden ever since, and the
third was attending the funeral Of a
near relative in Richmond.
Representative Oldheld is now being
pointed out by visitors by the guides
as the man who has charge of getting
his party colleagues on the floor and
keeping them there when needed, and
as having done that job amazingly
Washington Star.