The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-04-09
Longworth Lauded
AS Human Being
And Party Leader

Continued from page one)
was hOarse from colds to which he
was subject.
When this man greeted anyone, he
smiled; and his directnesS was the
same with the messengers, to whom
he invariably nodded in the house
lobby, as with the titled European he
would welcome to his home in flaw
less French. The evenness of his
temper was traditional. So was his
capacity for fraternal good will in
politics.
Not long ago the music magazine,
"Etude" asked the speaker, in q SYM
postum, what composition he would
choose to hear, if he could, when he
was dying. Longworth chose Bee
thoven's seventh symphony. He was
an accomplished viOlinist and q pl-
anist.
Reporters Were Friends
Newspapermen were the speakers
friends and he was theirs. Through
his ever open door they passed singly
and in groups, confident he would
answer their questions directly or ex-
plain why not.
On him they depended. often, for
implied steers" that served in pre-
dieting dubious outcomes Of contro-
versies.
The success Of Longworth's leader
ship lay in his ability to sense the
temper of the membership.
The speaker somehow knew. Far
from letting his own decisions wait
upon the trend, he formed his opin-
ions on legislation, and made every
effort to put them through. It was
said, in fact. that upon the power IN
~Longworth's capacity for holding his
hands and waiting until the rank and
file came to his position rested many
a solid Republican vote.
He was by native political philos-
ophy a regular Republican. But his
spectacular detection on the veterans
loan bill only last session was q DEM
onstration that his party loyalty was
not abject.
Had Narrow Escape
One of the narrowest escapes
Mick ever had was in the last elec-
ton. He was reported to have said
that q houSe-to-houSe canvass was
made against him, to warn veterans
of his hostility-though he voted for
the bonus.
Then came the new loans proposal.
After he had announced his support,
and another administration blast was
threatened, newsmen went and asked
him if he might be swayed.
II don't think anything, replied
Longworth, could make me change
my position"
The loan bill passed over the presi-
dents veto.
In many touchy incidents did Long,
worth as speaker preserve the pro-
prieties. A gift for phrases served
him well. His Harvard training made
his rulings from the rostrulr. how
ever technical. a delight to hear. !
A In this phase of his job, he held .
universal reputation for fairness and
consideration. 1t was in his regular
business of presiding, in fact, that he
won widest recognition as a bulwark
of support for the rights of the ml-
nority.
Before he became speaker. he had
established a reputation for hard
hitting debate. He employed irony
however. rather than sarcasm Like
wise in his personal associations with
political opponents, he let a sharp Wit
play always with the ~softeninc
shadow of humor.
The story is told that his friend,
Garner of Texas, nee In q jovtal
mood suggested that. though he was
! LongWorth'S friend. he would, Of
course, break the speakers nCs po-
litically when opportunity offered.
why" Longworth's retort went, IN
the story, where is your patriotism?'
The story his associates told Thurs
day around the capitol was that Of .
| man born with a silver spoon In hts
mouth" who went to work and for sis
years occupied what he was always
proud to call the greatest Office II
any legislative branch of any govern
ment In the world"-the speakership
in the house Of representatives.
Was U~nif0rmally Courteous
He was uniformaly courteous To
every member OF the house," said one
Democratic leader. ANY memher,
whether the humblest Y the proud