Evening star., 1935-01-04

Gallery visitors at the opening ses-
sion got a graphic idea of the colos-
sal Democratic preponderance in the
Seventy fourth Congress. The G. o.
p. vacuum is particularly noticeable IN
the Senate, where the Republicans oc-
cupy a bare two and half rows OF
seats, while the Democrats fill four
rows and part of fifth. If there were
separate hooks for Bob La Toilette,
Progressive, and Henrik Shipstead,
Farmer Labor. who retain their places
on the Republican side, that wing Of
the chamber would reveal even more
yawning emptiness. In the House,
Democratic strength overf1ows into
dozens of seats that used to be Re
publican territory. Seldom in modern
times has any one party so dominated
the situation beneath the dome as the
omnipotent Democrats now do. How
to keep the unwieldly mass in line for
New Deal purposes will be the ardu-
GUS task of administration leadership
until further notice.
There's always the jolly atmosphere
of a homecoming week when Con-
gress convenes. Politics is adjourned,
and handshaking, backslapping and
elbow-greasing proceed in spirit of
non-partisan good fellowship. AS of
yore, greater informality prevails in
the House than in the more sedate
Senate. Following his election,
Speaker Byrns was the object Of an
ovation that left no doubt Of the
cordial esteem in which he is held,
regardless of party. Majority Leader
Bankhead and Minority Leader Smell
had receptions rejecting the regard
which they also enjoy. Altogether,
the session is of to q regulation
honeymoon start, though everybody Is
aware that strife Is Just around the
corner.
For Roosevelt leadership in Con-
gress the drive for the bonus presents
an immediate and formidable test.
That the House will override the
Presidents veto, If necessary, is more
than possibility, but the Senate may
sustain it. Scores Of members are
sorely torn between the conflicting
emotions Of loyalty to Mr.. Roosevelt,
to whose popularity they owe their
election, and their pledges to the vet
Grams. Members in both houses prob
ably feel that F. D. r., practical poll
ticial that he is, understands the fix
they're in and will not hold it against
them too much or too long, If on the
single occasion of the bonus they
seem to be deserting him.
X X y X
Two former members who hob
nobbed with colleagues of other days
just before Jack Garner opened pro-
ceedings in the Senate were Messrs
Dill of Washington and Brookhart of
Iowa. Particularly warm greetings
were exchanged between Senators
Borah of Idaho and johnson of Cali
fornia, perhaps in anticipation Of re-
newed comradeship-in-arms against
efforts to smuggle the United States
into the League Of Nations. Senator
Barbour, Republican of New Jersey,
was graciously non-partisan in chap
eroning his new colleague. Senator
Moore, Democrat, and introducing
him to Republicans and Democrats
alike. Those two Senatorial young
sters, Gerald Nye, Republican of
North Dakota, and Bob La Toilette,
Progressive of Wisconsin. fraternized
like long-lost schoolmates. Shep-
herding the whole scene from a van
tage point on the Democratic side was
"Big Jim" Farley, manifestly enjoying
a closeup of the results Of the victory
he organized for the New Deal in the
1894 elections.
X n \ X
Perhaps 1t is in tribute to the fact
that women, especially college women,
have come so conspicuously into their
own during the New Deal that the
Smith Oollege Al1muAe Association d