The Washington times., 1929-04-12
| EXAM HAS
Is YEARS
SERVICE
HERE
By WILLIAM s. NEAL
international News Service


A new captain will take
command of the Democrats in
the national House in the
special session starting next
Monday, with the prospect
that the Republicans will
meet the most spirited and
united opposition that the
minority party has offered
since the crushing Harding
landslide.
The new leader Of the House
Democrats is Representative John
N. Garner, of Uvalde. Tex. veteran
of "a years service in that body,
atural fighter and an extraordinarily
able rough-and-ready debater.
With flair for leadership that
was nurtured in struggle for sue
cess on the south Texas plains, still
in some places pioneer section,
Garner has already declared that the
keystone Of his reign win be harmony
and activity-and opposition to the
Republicans.
Undaunted BY the shattering Of
the Democratic ranks in the Hoover
election, he plans to fight every step
OF the way to inject Democratic ideas
and principles in the tariff revision
and farm relief bills.
Is Fighter.
With Gamers assumption Of the
leadership, already assured by eau.
Gus action, the captaincy of the Dem.
acrats will pass from scholar to q
fighter. Representative Finis Gar
rett of Tennessee, retiring minority
floor leader, was known as one of
the ablest students of the House. He
was defeated in contest for Sem
ator and now is judge OF the court Of
customs appeals.
Garner is q lawyer, an extensive
land owner, controls many banks In
his district, and served in the Texas
legislature and as a judge before
coming to Congress. He entered
his thirteenth term on March 4.
He is said to have been the
largest Angora goat raiser in the
world at one time, and still owns
many fine herds. Irrigation has
brought embarrassing upon some OF
his land. Although reputed to be
wealthy as result Of his own
hard work, Garner is known as one
OF the most democratic, men in
Congress, with a careless regard for
the usual amenities of official life.
He was born in Red River country,
Texas.
Rises Rapidly
Gamers entrance in politics Al
said to have been the result OF a
protest of land owners. Texas had
law providing that owners of less
than 1000 acres of land could post
It against hunting. A number Of
owners of bigger ranches wanted
the same protection. They asked
Garner to put the bill through the
Legislature for them. He did, and
did it handily
From that time on his rise in
politics was rapid. He has carried
the frankness and modesty of the
story book Texas cowboy into off.
cial life. A few years ago he star.
tied Congress by lashing his col.
league, Representative Tom Blanton
OF Texas. Gamers ire had been
aroused by speeches Blanton maze
against members of Congress for &C.
cepting mileage pay and other al.
lowaAces.
Though Blanton has been en-.
gagged in more than one fight or
near Tight in Congress, his threats
did not halt Garner.
Practical Politician
Garner is known as a practical
politician, but he is quick to con.
denim false motives. An Eastern
magazine. attacking his attitude on
public buildings, once quoted Gar.
ner as saying: Every time a North.
ern member gets a ham I'm going
TO do my best to get hog This
statement he heatedly disavowed.
Garner has not always agreed with
his Southern colleagues on the tar
III. His district producing fine wool,
ne has not been so greatly concerned
with charges that exorbitant wool
tariffsp hass ; shot up the cost of
clothes to the benefit of the Eastern
clothing producer.
Durlng the fight on the Fordney.
McCumber tariff in 1922, Garner is
said to have accomplished an un-
heard of feat in forcing the bill back
to the committee because of an en-
hargo on dyes and high potash
tariffs.
The new Democratic leader did
not look with great favor upon pro-
hibition, but he has consistently
voted for enforcement measures, and
his personal views have not caused
him great trouble in his dry dis.