Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-19
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL KENNEDY.

the public eye because ne is the storm
center Of partisan politics and Republi-
can party policies in the House, is i'm
pressing thoughtful observers by his
style of leadership, which differs quite
radically from that of predecessors, in
that, while neve; passing the buck"
and always in command, he shares re-
sponsibilities with those of his col
leagues who have proved their special
fitness. In this respect his long mill
tary training has been very helpful in
picking his lieutenantS, directing their
efforts and preserving unified action
and morale of party forces for efficient
and expeditions transaction OF business.
Col. Tilson was an intimate friend
and close observer of the method of
leadership employed by the late James
r. Mann of Illinois who probably kept
better informed on all legislative mat
tiers than any other man of his day in
Congress. Representative Mann was
not only leader of his party. but car
ried individually the whole load OF re-
sponsibility He did it with remarkable
capability. but
Col Tilson has different method.
He believes in sharing the response
bility with those who are qual11ed 10
assume it capably. When he was elect
ed House leader, in his acceptance
speech he served notice that his col
leagues must be prepared to work WITH
him and not under him. He began
Immediately to call into conference men
who, while not holding chairmanships
Of committees, were natural leaders,
as he sized them up. He solicited and
insisted upon, chairmen OF committees
not only taking charge of legislation
within the field covered by their COM
mittee, but cooperating with him In
keeping the legislative program moving
steadily in the right direction. He has
found such help of incalculable value
in getting work done and the party pro-
gram carried out.
He believes also that the office OF
House, unobtrusive, seldom heard on
diplomacy, as we'll as for framing and
directing the legislative program. In
his handling of men he makes few mis-
takes and cements strong personal
friendships. He works on the theory
that House leaders duty Is not to
make himself stick out" but to de-
velop the splendid ability Of his COL
leagues that oftentimeS heretofore has
been kept in the background and to
encourage personal responsibility. He
believes that under such policy the
whole country will benefit.
Yet at all times he has his hand
firmly on the leadership lever. His COL
leagues, regardless Of party afhliation,
respect him and have confidence in him.
for he does not break faith with them,
shirks no duty, keeps his word with
friend or adversary alike and Is always
ready to talk it over and get the other
fellows viewpoint.
4 X
One of the most retiring men in the
House, unobStrusive, seldom heard on
the floor, has work to his credit that
few persons attribute to him. In these
days of revival of dramatic clubs one
of the most popular plays of the sea-
sen has been My New Citrate" by
Canon Sheehan. Years before he came
to Congress this book was dramatized
by John j. Douglas of Boston, then
been prominent in oratorical contests
and dramatics while attending George
town University.
Representative Emanuel Celler Of
New York explained to his colleagues
the other day and to many visitors to
the National Capital who were occupy
ing seats in the gallery how the streets
in Washington came to be named. He
said that when he first came here he
asked a little girl, why is it that
they letter the streets "A B. etc, or
First Second etc, and SO through
SYSTEM" She replied. Don't you
know?" When he answered that he
did not. she said. why, that is the
only way we can teach these Congress
men the alphabet and how to count"
X x 4 X
Lo the poor, humble, grounding pea
nut! 1t has been a bone of contention
before the ways and means committee
where protective tariff has been
urged to save the Southern peanut
growers in every Southern Atlantic and
Gulf State from Virginia to Texas
from being wiped out by Chinese COM
petition. Years ago some sailors took
a bag of American-grown nuts to China
and as a result, since 1914, they have
been in serious competition with Amer
lean nuts. In 1922 there were IL ,000,-
900 pounds imported and the amount
increased steadily to 100000 pounds
in 1925. During the recent disturbances
in China the cultivation of the peanut
crop fell off, but the imports last year
climbed back to 100000 pounds.
Congressman have been impressed by
the fact that the prevailing wage in
China is from 10 to Is cents per day
and frequently less, and the crop is
raised mostly by women and children
on relatively small plots. These pea
nuts, raised by cheap labor, are brought
across the ocean as ballast in return
ing ships, and sold at San Francisco
and Hampton Roads at pa cents
pound These are principally shelled
peanuts and only the large, select nut
corresponding to the famous Virginia
Jumbo, named for and made famous
by the elephant in Barnum & Bailey's
circus. According to the United States
Tariff Commissions study the average
cost of the corresponding domestic pea
nut is 1853 cents per pound. More
than rs peanut farmers testifying be-
fore the Tariff Commission placed the
average yield in Virginia at 900 pounds
per acre.
The Departments Of Agriculture.
Commerce and Labor are particularly
interested in this contention over the
peanut tariff-which shows into what
prominence the lowly goober has come.
ut shall not pass!" is the watchword
of the United States Department Of
Agriculture guarding against an inva-
sion of the dread foot-and-mouth
disease, one of the worlds most viruIent
live stock diseases. Practically every
member of Congress has received i'm
portant demands from constituents that
the United States borders must be ade-
quately guarded. The first line OF
defense. says DR.. John r. Mohler. chief
of the Bureau of Animal Industry, lies
in veterinary inspection and quaran-
tine service.
In spite Of an imposing array Of
barriers this elusive disease has OBJ
tanned temporary foothold in the
United States on nine occasions since
1870. In view of the country's extern
sive foreign commerce and the preva-
lence OF foot-and-mouth disease