The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-08-30
BOY PRODIGY
FIGHTING FOR
SENATE SEAT
United Mine Workers Are
Behind Nomination
of Holt.

By Scripps-HoWard Newspaper Alliance
WASHINGTON. Aug. 30. - II
young Rush D. Holt is elected sena-
tor from West Virginia--and politi-
cal observers predict he will be-he
can thank John L. Lewis and his
United Mine Workers of America.
The significant part of the Holt
primary victory to capital politicians
is the amazing strength of the mine
unionists. The recovery act opened
the way Of a rebirth of the union
and now, with new members being
added constantly in Pennsylvania,
West Virginia, Ohio and other coal
states, the union is in a position to
make itself felt politically.
Holt, as the Democratic nominee,
will oppose Senator Henry D. Hat
field, former Governor, a surgeon
by profession and one of the SEN
ate's most outSpoken critics of the
Roosevelt recovery program.
Favors State Power
Holt has pitched his campaign on
support Of the New Deal, labor,
veterans and old age pension legis-
lation and state development Of
power plants. His popular appeal
and labor support indicate, West
Virginia observers say, an easy
victory over the conservative Hat
field, who came to the senate in
1928 in the Hoover landslide.
The primary drubbing which Holt
administered to two seasoned poll
ticians, Glenn L. Shaver, former
Democratic national chairman and
the choice of Postmaster General
Farley, and former United States
Senator William E. Chiffon, instilled
new life into the political fortunes
of Senator M. M. Nicely, a DEM
ocrat.
Although he took no active part,
Nicely worked under cover against
Shaver. Both hail from the same
city, Fairmont, and a victory for
Shaver would have opened the way
for Governor Kump, a Shaver ally,
to run against Nicely in 1926. 1t is
traditional in the state that one
senator shall be elected from the
northern and the other from the
southern end.
Shaver Defeat Significant
Shaver's defeat disorganizes his
machine and diminishes the chances
of Nicely Mansfield the Mighty"
they call him in West Virginia-be-
ing defeated by Kump two years
hence.
Young Holt may find himself in
need of a champion if he defeats
Hatfield and shows up to take the
senate oath and Nicely, who prides
himself on his oratory, probably
would fill the order.
Holt is only % and the Constitu-
ton says senator must be 80. His
next birthday won't be until July,
1885. When this objection was raised
during the campaign Holt retorted:
They'll seat me; they seated
Henry Clay, didn't they?"
Senate records bear him out, al
though in $50 years there have been
only three cases in which members
of congress have been under the age
requirement.
Three Under-Age in Congress
Clay entered the Senate to serve
out an unexpired term in 1906 at
the age of 90. William Charles
Cole Claiborne of Tennessee was %
in 1897 when he entered the House,
three years under the requirement
for representatives. John Young
Brown of kentucky was "a when he
was elected in 1859, but did not
present himself to be sworn in until
the second session, when he had
reached 25.
Holt treated West Virginians to
one of the most colorful campaigns
they had seen in many years. With
the blessing of Van A. Bittner, state
leader of the United Mine Workers,
he called on the voters to support
the New Deal and defeat Hatfield.
His victory over Shaver was about
two to one.
A child prodigy, he completed high
school at ID, went to college and in
1880, at 20, he was elected to the
state house of delegates. Tall,
dark-haired, studious-appearing, he
soon began to impress his colleagues
with his oratory and tireless search
for facts to support his arguments.
Before the primary campaign he
made 1875 speeches on utility regula-
ton. Then he gave seventy cam
paign talks in twenty-six days.