Evening star., 1936-06-04

and deliver his mandate in biting
words, telling them where they got of,
driving them, holding the whip over
them. That could not be done in the
present House, it just wouldn't work.
and so Joe" ByrnS' different style was
welcome, auspicious, and at least as
effective.
He would call in the objectorS, ex-
plain his position, listen to the reasons
that impelled them, and the matter
would be reasoned out in giVe-and-
take fashion. OF course. Byrns would
have his way because he was party lead
er, and always had the ma jority with
him to carry out the administration
program in advance of another presi-
dental campaign. They all knew that,
but his taking them into his con-
fidence, explaining matters to them,
and listening to their side softened de-
feat. There never were any lasting
bitternesses. They knew he was just
doing his duty and was at heart their
friend.
Once Speaker Leader.
vi tlllC III lIlC 1llSJ OcSolOIl VI
the present Congress, Byrns was both
House leader and Speaker, in effect;
but in this he had the earnest assist
ance of Chairman O'Connor of the
Rules Committee, in charge of party
policy and program. They put their
heads together with an amazing result
Of team work. There was difficulty in
getting some of the most important
legislation out of committee, notably
the social security bill. but once it
reached the floor. the committee
worked unitedly and beat down all
opposition, defeating all amendments
without serious trouble
Byrns' first and biggest achievement
in making his Office recognized for
real leadership was in amending the
discharge rule by increasing the re-
quired number Of signers on a petit
ton to discharge a committee from
consideration OF some particular meas
ure so that 1t might be forced to a
vote sooner in the House and not
sidetracked in a committee pigeon
hole. The number was changed from
las to 218, majority of the House.
This was done at the very beginning
Of the session, with the result that it
shut off a great deal of trouble
Another impressive illustration Of
the Byrns rule in leadership has been
the policy of not resorting to gag"
rules. This has removed the occasion
for fierce and prolonged party con-
tests. on principle, and in this way
has expedited the legislative process.
Stuck Closely to Duty.
While ByrnS liked to fish, see base
ball and foot ball games, play a So
cial game of cards. read detective
stories and biographies, and generally
visit with his special friends, he never
would allow any of these interests to
interfere with duty, the special duty
of holding the House in session to
pass important legislation.
His Office was his caStle-and in his
office, as one of the best woman cor
respondents wrote of him several years
ago-"you found exactly the sort of
man any one would expect to see
where the invitation is come right
on in
One Of Mr. Byrns' most distinguish
ing marks was his shaggy eyebrows,
which have been a big aid to cartoon
lists. They were the result Of prac-
tical joke played on Joe" Byrns in his
youth. He went to sleep in BARRIERS
chair after ordering clean shave"
The barber was feeling particularly
facetious, and didn't realize that his
customer was destined to be known the
length and breadth Of the land, so he
shaved off the eyebrows as well as the
chin whiSkers. The result was that
the eyebrows grew out bushy and. as
his son said, marked him for life"
Joe" was rather proud of his buShy
eyebrows in later years.
Few knew it-"Joe" never boasted
about it-but his middle name was
Wellington. In a confidential mood
one day he told the writer that perhaps
he was named for the Iron Duke who
stood four square to all the winds that
blew, which might indicate that after
all there is something in a name, be-
cause Joe" admits he always had to
work hard for whatever he got out of
life.
He was proud Of having been q bare
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