Evening star., 1935-12-08
new FLOOR LEADER
MOVE PERS|ST|NG
Demand for Replacement
of Bankhead Unquieted
by Plan to Return.
BY WILL 2. KENNEDY.

Agitation among House Democrats
for election Of q new floor leader re-
ceived a setback yesterday with an
nouncement that Representative
william B. Bankhead will return to
Washington in January to assume the
duties Of his post, but it failed to
silence the demand among some party
chieftains that another be chosen for
the honor.
Elected after a bitter fight at the
opening Of the present Congress,
Bankhead has never served because
Of serious illness. He spent most of
the first session in hospital. His an
nouncement that he has recovered
fully and will take charge next month
came In a letter to Representative
Taylor of Colorado, who acted as
leader during Bankheads absence.
Taylor, one Of the Oldest members
of the House, was selected as a COM
promise leader to prevent further
factional fights among candidates for
the post. Before receiving the letter
from Bankhead, he announced he
does not desire to continue as the
acting leader and asked his fellow
Democrats to relieve him of that
arduous task.
Likely Candidates Considered.
There are many among the most
prominent men in the House VINO do
not believe Bankhead will ever be able
to take over the exacttng work as floor
leader. They are forehandedly con-
sidering who are the most likely cam
didates for the post, If and when
Bankhead Is forced to relinquish it, es-
pecially in view Of the fact that the
Democratic party in the coming ses-
ison faces a dificult legislative pro-
gram.
Representative Rankin, Democrat, Of
Mississippi, who is both prominent
candidate for the floor leadership, if
and when Rclkhead is eliminated, and
is chairman of the World War Veterans
Committee which will be active in the
fight for payment Of the soldiers
bonus, declared last night no effort
should be made to elect a successor
to Bankhead. especially in view Of the
fact that he has announced his in
tention to be actively the leader in
the next session.
Rankin openly declared Representa-
tive O'Connor Of New York, chairman
Of the Rules Committee, who wes run.
ner-up in the Speaker and leadership
fight at the opening of the present
Congress, is the one interested person
endeavoring to supplant Bankhead.
"Of course, If there is an election
| for floor leader, I will be an active
candidate" Rankin said, but ! now
see absolutely no reason for an cleo
ton at this time. Will Bankhead has
| improved in health and will be back to
take charge when Congress convenes.
AS floor leader, he has the right to
! select and appoint his assistants, and
there is no reason whatever for GER
tain members Of the House attempting
to undermine him and usurp his pre-
negatives.
Secret Caucus Held
This movement has been going on
for some time and the O'Connor
crowd held a secret caucus last year
SO am reliably informed-to lay
plans TO ouSt Bankhead and put
O'Connor in his place Some Of them
have been trying to push this move
ment forward ever since, and / think
that is where the agitation is coming
from now. am opposed to it and
shall do everything can to stop it."
/ Acting Leader Taylor protested that
he has every assurance that Bank
head will take over the job. He him
self is in no sense a candidate for the
post, never wanted it, but served at
the request of party leaders to relieve
strife and controversy following the
tense contest at the opening of the
present Congress. He carried on dur
ing one of the hardest periods in
legislative history and gives full credit
to Representative Boland, party whip,
and others who co-operated. He is
desirous of being relieved in the COM
ing session.
There are some nine other names
mentioned for leader in the event
Bankhead retires or is superseded.
Most prominent among these is o.
Connor, who is logically in line for
the floor leadership and who made a
favorable impression by the way in
which he handled certain admins
tration must" program measures in
the first session. However, there are
some veteran members of the House
who still protest that O'Connor does
not come within the seniority group
and should wait his turn.
O'ConnoF is now serving his seventh
consecutive term while Bankhead is
serving his tenth consecutive term. II
O'Connor should become leader it
would leave open the Craftsmanship Of
the Rules Committee to be filled by
Representative SABBATH, dean Of the
House, who is serving his 18th con-
secutive term. Speaker Byrns and
Acting Leader Taylor are both serv.
ing their 18th consecutive terms.
Candidates. Renewed.
All Of those who were candidates
either fer Speaker or floor leader at
the opening Of the Seventy-fourth
Congress are mentioned among those
who will again be candidates II an
election Is held in the coming ses-
sion, including Representative Ran.
kin, now in his eighth term; Chair-
man Buchanan of the Appropriations
Committee, in his twelfth term; Rep
| reSentatiVe WoodrlIm of Vireinia~ in
his seventh term; Representative
Rayburn Of Texas, chairman Of the
Interstate and Foreign Commerce
Committee, in his twelfth term;
Representative Mccormack of MaSsa-
chusetts, member of the Ways and
Means Committee, In his NTH term,
and Representative Mead Of New
York, chairman Of. the Post once
Committee, in his ninth term.
A newcomer in the list Of candi-
dates is Representative Bolsnd. who
| fe credited hv 1vrnSf and other lead.