Evening star., 1931-04-11
POLITICAL RESULTS
OF DEATH CITED
Mrs. LongWorth Held to Be
Outstanding Candidate for
Seat in House.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

If Washington seethes with discussion
of the political consequences Of Speaker
Longworth's death, at time so early
as to raise question Of taste, the rea-
son, II not the justification. Is that the
consequences, whichever way they turn
out, are 50 fundamental.
The suggestion is made that as one
way of determining some Of the conse-
quences Mrs. Longworth may be asked
to accept the Republican nomination
in the Cincinnati district held by her
late husband. It Is certain she can have
the nomination If she is willing to take
it, 1t is almost equally certain she
would be elected. 1t has become almost
rule for districts, partly as matter
Of sentiment. to elect widows as the
immediate successors Of their husbands
Of the IA women who have been men,
bers of the House since the adoption
Of woman suffrage in 1920, eight have
come as widows and one has come as
the daughter of a deceased member.
They do not always remain for SubSe-
quent terms. The two widows who have
remained and through experience and
seniority have become important MEM
bers are Mrs. Florence p. Kahn of Cali
fornia, who has been here steadily since
her husbands death in 1925, and Mrs.
sented Massachusetts, district co1tin-
uously since her husbands death in
1925.
Mrs. Longworth would be an out
standing member of Congress by al
most any conceivable test. AS the
daughter Of O former President and
widow Of former Speaker, her back
ground in this respect would be un-
paralleled in American history. She
understands politics to an extent prob
ably not much exceeded by even her
father or her husband. Her personality
is one CT the most vivid and salient in
Washington. On public questions she
has views more definite and fortnight
than Congressman ordinarily permit
themselves to entertain. 1t would be
difficult to think Of any person in pub
lie life whose introduction into the
House would add 50 strong a quality OF
tonic to that body. 1t Is certain she
will be given the chance to be a member
and certain that many persons viii hope
she accepts.
Democrat Stands Chance.
A related consequence Of the Speak
er's death has to do with whether his
successor as Representative from the
first Ohio district will be Republican
or Democrat. Competent judges think
it quite possible that, barring Mrs.
Longworth as the Republican nominee,
the successor may be a Democrat. The
Importance OF this lies in the now fa-
miliar fact that both parties are within
one of having a majority Of the House.
Whether the successor OF Speaker
Longworth and the successors OF others
who may die before December will
swing the majority to one party or the
other Is, of course, fundamental and
dramatic. On this point, however, there
has come to be among leaders OF both
parties in Washington new. psychol-
ogy. It is pregnant with important
consequences.
About half the Republicans hope
about half the time that the Democrats
will have the majority and control the
House. About half the Democrats hope
about half the time that the Republic
cans will have the majority. The situa-
ton Is almost at point where the con-
test for control of the House consists
not in striving for the majority but in
edging away from it. The situation
may become like one of those card
games In which the art consists in so
maneuvering as to force your opponent
to take the undesirable card.
Intricate Situation Cited.
The reason for this point Of view ex-
isting among leaders of both parties is
apprehension about what the next seS-
sion Is sure to be. With the two parties
divided so nearly equally, the one that
happens to hold nominal control by a
majority Of one or two will have respon-
sibility without power. Any program or
policy attempted by the party having
nominal control can be frustrated by
the opposition with the aid OF deserters
who are sure to appear. If the Repub-
licans should have the nominal con-
troll they would, for example, try TO
keep appropriations down and prevent
an increase in tax rate. The Demo-
Gratis, according to ordinary political
motives, would try to Illustrate that
purpose. On the other hand, If the
Democrats should have the nominal
control, they would be conscious that
the country would look to them as re-
sponsible. In that condition. the Demo-
Gratis would have a motive for keeping
appropriations down and preventing
increase OF the tax rate. The pSychol-
ogy created by the evenneSS Of the two
parties Is extremely intricate.
AS respects the successor to the late
Speaker, 1t is almost universally taken
for granted that John Q. TilSon OF Con-
necticut will be the successor In the sense
of being made the Republican nominee.
There will be talk Of alternatives, but Mr..
Tilson is almost as sure to be the Repub-
lican nominee as Representative Garner
of Texas to be the Democratic nominee.
I