, 1935-02-12
WASHINGTON
By GeOrge Dunno

ny oCuakC OoAhe
Phlebitis - Most informally and
privately house democrats are de-
batting the necessity for electing q
new majority floor leader TO act in
place ~ Representative William B..
Bankhead Of Ala.
Bankhead vent to a hospital on
the day the democratic caucus
agreed to his election nearly q month
and a half ago. Official reports Of
his progress back to health have
been encouraging but IL Is now I'M
derstood he is suffering from phle-
bits and may not be able 10 with
stand the rigors OF leading the un-
wieldy democratic majority through
the hot fights still IN progress.
All OF the Alabaman's colleagues
are pulling for him to get back on
the floor. They recognize his ability
and they need him. But If his con-
valescence is going to be prolonged
over q period Of weeks many mem
bers think an acting leader should
be determined by party caucus.
Honest - A tour around the sem
ate office building develops that con-
stituents apparently don't think as
hardly Of Secretary Of Interior Ickes
as do many members Of congress.
Senatorial secretaries say they have
received q substantial lot Of mail
defending Ickes as an upright, hon.
est citizen since the house made 1t
q condition he was no longer to ad-
minister putlic works.
Inversely. the critical guns In
many Of these letters r being turn
ed on Relief Administrator Harry
Hopkins. There wasn't an undue
amount Of sharpshooting at Hopkins
while direct relief money was rolling
out. Now that the pinch Is in sight
the senators are receiving many
complaints about waste and extrav-
agance-and even graft-in state
and county organizations.
One senator, Efter looking over a
batch Of mail. predicted Ickes would
come out right side up in the end
regardless Of how hard he is being
hammered now.
Lacking - Newspaper men who
have covered the house for some
years say Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia
Of New York could have a field day
If he were back in congress this ses-
sion as leader Of his old progress
sive bloc.
These reporters say they find a
definite undercurrent OF restless
ness and resentment among the
congressman over iron-handed ad-
ministration rule. But no n has
emerged who is able 10 crystalline
and lead a rebellion.
The news men pick LaGuardia as
the ideal type but they don't find
anyone who Is apt TO step into his
old shoes and really put or a show.
Therefore they conclude the house
will continue to function with a fair
degree Of New Deal regularity.
Choosing 49, There should be no.
thing surprising in President Roose-
velts decision TO retain Postmaster
General Jim Farley as his campaign
manager for reelection In 1886. For
several reasons.
Despite all the hullaballoo about a
year ago TO force members Of nation
al and StsAe political organizations,
who also either held a government
job or were practicing law here. TO
give up one or the other, 1t never
was in the cards that the white
house edict applied to Big Jim.
Or for that matter, to certain
others Of the elect.
Tricks - AS President Roosevelt's
unofficial order worked out the ex-
ceptionS have been interesting.
Those who have watched the weed
ing-out process saw plainly 1t was
designed to divorce picked men
from the democratic committee.
Democratic committeeman storm
ed into Washington after the 1888
inauguration with their law shin
giles under their arms. One or two
who weren't lawyers set up stands
selling straight influence of more "
less value. 1t became a stock Joke
around town that this coterie Of
gold miners had agreed on a min
imum fee Of $4,000. Much larger
ones actually have been paid.
SO FDR suggested II might be
well for Washington lawyers not
10 be committeeman. That automati-
cally neceSsitated asking govern
ment ce-holders to give up any
such political affiliations also-the
assumption being that they we're in
q position 10 do tricks from the in
side, whether they took advantage
or not.
Rider-As for Farley's retention
Of the national Craftsmanship, the
presidents intimates deem IL quite
imperative-despite the growing an
tagonism Big jim has been find
ing on Capitol Hill.
Farley has been building more