Evening star., 1934-08-25
SPEAKER CONTEST
EFFECT WATCHED
Selection Of House Chief
Likely to Influence 1886
Election.
Az the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
Administration officials are watch
ing the contest for the speakership
of the House for its political effect,
particularly on the 1886 presidential
election.
While thus far keeping hands off, "
President Roosevelt's political advisers
realize there are many elements in
volved which might react against the
Chief Executives chances of re-elec-
ton in 1896.
That the administration desires
the strongest leadership in the new
House is certain. This is considered
especially important by Democratic
chieftains, who concede they will lose
around two score seats to Republic
ans in November.
Firm Direction Held Need.
That would reduce the Democratic
majority below the two-thirds it con-
trolled in the last House. With the
administration anxious to carry on
the new deal" the Presidents ad-
visers feel that firm and skillful man.
agement will be needed to put meas
ures through before presidential CAM
paigning gets under way.
The geographical element also en-
ters the picture. Thus far all the
announced candidates are from the
South, although there are prospective
candidates from Northeastern States.
Knowing a President cannot be
elected without the support Of many
Northern States, White House ad-
viSers indicate that a North and
South division of the leadership is
desirable. They do not want North
ern Democrats to say that the South
is in the saddle" which they might
do If both Speaker and leader were
from below the Mason-Dixon line.
However, by their long service and
prominence, the leading contenders-
Representative Joseph w. Byrns OF
Tennessee, Sam Rayburn of Texas
and William B. Bankhead of Alabama
have large blocks of supporters
reaching into Northern States. John
Rankin of Mississippi ran third in the
1888 contest.
Compromise Is Possible.
That the speakership will go to
Byrns. Rayburn or Bankhead appears
likely now to many observers. How
ever, in the event of deadlock, a
compromise candidate might be Sc
lected at the party caucus before the
new Congress meets in January. Rep
resentative Lea of California already
has been mentioned in that role.
Authorized in a telephone CONVEX
sation to make Byrns' formal an
nouncement, his colleague, Represent
ative McReynolds, who also is his
campaign manager, said:
Until after the election in Novem-
ber, Mr. Byrns' first attention will be
devoted to his duties as chairman Of
the Democratic Congressional Com
mittee. In that position he feels that
his energies should be devoted to the
gress so that President Roosevelt will
continue to have the unstinted sup
port of Congress in the administra-
tion's winning battle against depres-
sion and want.
Cites Service Record.
"The above is all the statement Mr..
Lac ~ IN 10 of
this time. However, I feel, speaking
for myself, that I should direct at
tention to Mr.. Byrns' qualifications
and claims for Office. He now is
finishing his twenty sixth year of
consecutive service in the House.
For IL years he was ranking
Democratic member of the Appropria-
tions Committee, and in the Seventy
second Congress was chairman of that
committee.
I'm the present Congress, he is
majority leader of the House and
in that capacity has been charged
with the responsibility of putting
through the administration vast
reconstruction and rehabilitation pro-
gram. In this Office he has served
with marked distinction
Certainly, when a leader has
served with the ability which Joe
Byrns has demonstrated in that office
during a most trying time in our
country's life, there is no reason
whatever for violating this precedent.
I predict Joe Burns election by an
overwhelming majority"
At present there are indications that
either of several prospective Northern
candidates, including John McCor-
mack of Massachusetts,, John j.
O'Connor and James Mead, both OF
New York, might team up with a
Southerner for the leadership. Repre-
sentative Crosser of Ohio also is con-
sidered a possibility.
In working out the trade for House
control in 1893 the late Speaker
Henry T. Rainey and Byrns created a
position of assistant leader, which is
held by Thomas Cullen, chief of Tam
many's delegation. Crosser, con-
tender. was made chairman of the
specially created Steering Committee
Byrns appointed Greenwood of In
diana as whip, and Lea was made
chairman of the Democratic caucus.