Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-20

While Democrats Of the Northern
States are declared to have ambitions
for chairmanShpis in q Democratic
House, the debate as to the seniority
rule. (which favors Southern States, has
resulted in no suggestions likely to offer
satisfaction to both groups. The chief
argument for the rule Is that greater
permanence in home support Of legis-
lators from the South has enabled them
to gain the experience that will fit
them to perform such duties with eff
cheney. It Is agreed that in many past
years Democrats, both North and South,
have given service without hope of the
high rewards.
Pointing out that ain many cases the
men who are in line for such promo
ton have served for long period as
ranking members of their committees
and are, in consequence, thoroughly
conversant with the work CT their COM
mittees," the Charleston Is. Co. Eve
ming Post holds that 'it Is absurd for
Democrats of Tammany and other
members of Congress from Northern
States to demand or expect Southern
Democrats to agree to forego their SEMI
ority rights" Emphasizing that "the
Democratic party has not had many
periods OF ascendancy In the National
Government during the past 90 years,
and lsuding the Wilson administration,
the Post observes that "for most OF thu
other so years the South performed the
greater part of the drudgery of the mi
nority party and has been performing
1t continuously fer the past IL years"
Assuming the election of Representa-
tive Garner as Speaker, the Louisville
Courier Journal suggests that Gamers
chairmanShips, of course, VIII be avail
able, and his Texas colleagues might be
induced to yield him q few OF their
eight ranking positions" That paper
finds the problem difficult and declares
as to individual rights: "a distribution
of the honors will not be easily achieved.
Committee assignments are highly eS-
teemed by congressman. IL Is asking
a great deal for a member to renounee
a long deferred honor which he has
earned by service. The seniority rule,
moreover, has merit. Experience and
acquaintance both with the subject
matter and the membership OF the
House and committee are valuable aids
to procedure. Strategic posts probably
will be consigned to old hands, but 1t
will be q delicate task to show a rank
ing Democrat why he should relinquish
his claim"
The men who have won their places
by long service, in the opinion of the
Yakima Morning Herald, will not be
likely to step aside for Democrats from
the North and West without bitterness
of feeling that might be reflected later
in voting on legislation. The Herald
agrees that possibilities Of victory in
the presidential election next year may
dictate that the organization of the
House from the Democratic view should
be arranged on a national basis, but we
doubt very much whether the Southern
Representatives will abdicate for their
brothers from the North and West"
The Rockford Register-Republic thinks
that Representative Garner will find
his powers Of Cancellation taxed to the
utmost to hold the sectional rivalry
within bounds"
Law Is law and rule Is rule" declares
the Charleston CIV. va Daily Mail. |
Were conditions reversed, there would
be no complaint coming from north Of
that famous line which separates the
country into North and South It Is |
but natural that Southern Democrats !
should claim the reward for party fealty |
maintained through good and bad re-
port. The other side would do the same |
under similar circumstances and ac-
count 1t a piece of political righteous |
ness, in which the rewards went to the |
most deserving and according to Mr.. |
Hoyle as applied to politics. But a |
political victory without substantial re-
wards thereof-bah!"
So ~
Observing that Democratic Repre-
Sentatives from other sections are re-