The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-04-17
PAULINA WAS
CHIEF JOY OF
DADDY NICK
Meant More to Him Than
All His Politics, Said
House Speaker.
This is the seventh instslinsns Of
The story Of Nicholas LonEworth."
By HERBERT LITTLE
United Press star Corrrsrondent

u
United Press stan Correspondent
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE
whole nation had q thrill on 81.
Valentines day, 1925. A daughter
was born to Alice and Nicholas
Longworth, fruit Of that famous
White House marriage Of ninteen
years before. She was named Paul
ina, and she represented, as far as
she could in the United States. a
crown princess of the Roosevelt and
Longworth dynasties.
Longworth now was nationally
important, with the speakershiu in
Sureo Tor the coming session, but
he frequently indicated his child
meant more to him than politics.
He was with her constantly IN
later years. The whole nation was
informed of her liking for lo-cent
stores, and how she accompanied
him TO his Capitol Office and PLAYED
with daddy's watch.
Aept FIRM Grip on Situation
A few months ago. Paulina's pres
ence in the house gallery was gayiy
and respectfully announced on the
f1oor, where similar ofdcial notice
was taken on her birthday.
Longworth himself was reelected
as Speaker with the solid support OF
his party in 1927 and 1929, and
unanimously nominated by the party
caucus for reelection a few weeks
before his death.
He maintained a firm grip on the
legislative situation through party
conference and personal contacts
although he worked at politics and
legislation only few hours daily.
He slept eight hours or more every
night, and he spent many hours
daily in the life of society, music
and his cronies. Yet he was not
cosmopolitan. He had intimates in
many walks Of life, but they were
carefully selected.
Belonged to Unique Club
He played golf, and was the lead
ing spirit in a Sunday morning
walking club, a Cardinal rule of
which was that the oldest member
must speak first, then down In or
der Of seniority. He was q member
OF the Alibi Club, unique organiza-
ton Of men who could cook. His
social clubs here and in Cincinnati
were most exclusive.
His closest friend In congress was
Representative John N. Garner of
Texas, the Democratic floor leader
and his certain successor in case Of
Democratic control of the house
They were mick and jack
Damon and Pythias" every one
on Capitol FIJI, despite Gardeners
rough-Spoken, commoner Texas
background and Democratic char
acteriStics and beliefs.
LIndbergh Was a Favorite
At the other end Of the scale, an
other erony Of Longworth was Sen
ator James ". Wadsworth Jr. Of
New York, an aristocrat Of a family
older than that Of the Speaker.
Charles Lindbergh was a Savorite of
Longworth. rs was VIII Rogers.
Longworth was a favorite Of the
newspaper men, and he played great
and trivial music on his violin for
them.
He YVES a pIayboy, and suspected
among politicians Of the orthodox
method because of that. But his
policies and fundamentals were
orthodox conservative Republicans,
taxes and tariffs and all.
Parody Ruined Suggestion
When the first Mellon tax bdli
was before the house, there was
distress among administration lead
ers because the Democrats had
gathered enough strength from in
dependent Republicans to put
through the major change In rate Z
structure known as the Garner
amendment.
At conference, Treasury Secre-
tary Mellon tentatively proposed to
withdraw the bill and revise IL.
What would happen2 Longworth
foresaw the public reaction In a
Mother Goose parody which effec-
lively disposed OF that suggestion.
''Hary had o little lamb.
TITS fleece was white ~ snow,
S'TTaey took IL TO Pittsburgh enc day
Nov look at the damn thing"
ITO Pc C0mnYVzNaSA