Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-09
GARNER. SPEAKER CANDIDATE,
ROSE IN LIFE BY OWN EFFORTS
Texas Democrat, Rated Best
on Capitol Hill at Yarns, Is
Cactus-L and Native.
One Time Ranger Rider Be-
gan Career by Hard Study
After Gaining Health.

Representative John N. Garner of
Texas, prospective Democratic Speaker
of the House, has pulled himself up by
his bootstraps.
The rugged lawmaker from cactus
covered Red River County is not a COL
lege-bred man. He didn't even finish
grammar school. His education has
been mostly of a catch-as-catch-ca
nature. Nevertheless, the nimble-
witted Texan, to borrow a figure of
speech popular in his neck of the woods,
lis as smart as a whip" and has sur
passed in solid achievement many of
his highly educated colleagues.
Garner Is known by friends through
out the Nation as Jack" Some refer
to him as Fighting Jack" others as
Mustang JACK" and still others as Tito
Juan, which Is Spanish for Uncle
john
Replies to Goat Ditty.
Perhaps the reason people apply these
colorful nicknames to Garner is be-
cause he has such marked ability to
make and keep friends. HIS is one of
those rare individuals who appreciates
good joke even if he is on the receiving
end
He has been the butt of manv a con-
heralded fondness for goats. His con-
stituents go in for mohair goats in
big way. 1t was due to his influence
that when the Underwood tariff bill
was reported some years ago 1t con-
tanned 10 per cent rate on mohair
ana none on wool. So j. Hampton
Moore. former Representative from
Pennsy lvania, broadcast doggerel ditty
entltled Gamers Goat of Texas"
Inc resourceful Texan replied with
"Hampy Moore is helava pote. He
don't know sheep from a cote"
Rated Best StOry-telIer.
Veterans rate Garner as the best
story-teller seen on Capitol Hill since
the days of Uncle Joe" Cannon, for-
mer Speaker and resident of the yarn
spinning belt of Illinois.
To look at Garner no one would br-
!ieve he was virtual weakling as a BOY.
He suffered from tuberculosis in his
teens however, and had to leave his
birthplace on i ranch in Red River
county, 60 miles from civilization, and
move to Uvalde county. Aided by the
nlgner altitude there, he fought his
way back TO health. Base ball, ridiug
hunting and fishing figured in his re-
coVery. He has been an ardent sports
man ever since
His father, for whom he was named,
was man Of moderate means. Texas
eoucatlonal facilities were limited IN
those days. The South was In the
tnroes OF the rect construction period and
money was scarce. The blood of DO
neers flowed II young Gamers veins.
ana the obstacles didn't bother him.
every day and studied at night.
Became UyaIde Editor
After several years of this regular
burning OF the far-famed midnight
OIL Garner was admitted to the Texas
bar. He was only 20 then. Almost
immediately he became a member Of
the law firm OF Adams, Fuller & Gar
ner. The partnership acquired a strue-
cling newspaper, the Uvalde News. The
Junior member te-ame the editor. His
biting editorials at once attracted at
tention. ~
At "a Garner was elected to his first
public off1ce-Uvalde County judge.
year or two later Garner was elected
to the State House of Representative.
During his two terms in the Legislature
Garner introduced but one bill His
vetoed by Gov. Sayres. Garner pro-
posed to divide Texas into five States.
Inough denounced as crazy" he still
believes such legislation would benefit
Texas and the rest of the country.
He commended the South should have
more political power. He pointed out
such split-up would increase Southern
representation in the Senate by eight
members and add eight electoral votes
to the existing 20 for Texas. He added
the Lone Star State has an area suffi-
Gent to equal 220 States the size of
Rhode Island.
The North Atlantic area. by reason
OF the fact, that it is divided into a
group of small States" the Texan said,
has year after year held the balance
of power In the Senate, and has been
enabled to direct national legislation
along channels most favorable to their
sectional interests. Such progress as
the South and West has made has
been due to their almost unlimited
natural resources.
"It cannot be denied that their eco
nomic and industrial future has been
retarded by the sectionalism of the
Northeastern group and the control
which this group has for years exercised
over the political policies OF the Ma
ton"