Evening star., 1936-03-14
DREsIDENT HOOVER and secre-

DRESIDENT HOOVER and Secre-
tary of the Treasury Ogden Mills
appealed to Congress to halt the mad
dash toward fiscal oblivion. But the
House Of Representatives gave the
stalwartS of the Republican admin
istration little hope. The membership
was split into a dozen groups bicker-
Democrats, holding a majority of one,
were hopelesSly divided on what sort
of revenue levy would avert financial
chaos. Some of them even went so
far afield from their tradition as to
sponsor embargo tariffs. Furious,
Charles Crisp, free-trading Geor-
gian, accused these Democratic pro-
tectionists of destroying the party" "
The House was more untamed than
at any time since the early 90s.
After defeat of the sales tax left
the administration quaking, up step
ped Texas Jack Garner. -Four months
earlier the ruddy-faced "chapparral
cock" from the Rio Grande had been
chosen the first Democratic Speaker
since Champ Clark left the chair in
1919. Now he was to be put to the
most severe test of his right to the
top post in the House. Packed gall
leries breathlessly awaited the drama
of Gamers speech.
Grim-gaced, Texas Jack arose to
knock the props from under the high
riding rebels who threatened to send
the country to the doghouse by their
sales tax kayo. Quietly and seriously
the winner of a hundred debates told
the House:
"I want to impress upon the coun-
trv the necessity of maintaining the
financial integrity of the country.
IT belive now the paramount duty
of the House of Representatives Is to
levy sufficient taxes of some kind that
will sustain the credit of the country
in the eyes of the world as well as
our own people"
He rammed each word home with
trip-hammer force. The red-faced,
hook -nosed Speaker, with bushy white
eyebrows hanging over blazing eyes,
was the picture of a game rooster
as he rallied Congressman to meet
the issue.
II think more of my country than
any theory of taxation that I may
ever have" he whipped out after
declaring he opposed the sales tax
in theory but would levy any tax to
balance the budget and restore the
confidence of our people in our Gov
eminent" He warned the insurgents
who had erased the heart of the bill:
Unless the budget is balanced, there
will be a financial panic unequaled
since the organization Of the Re
public"
THE vigorous appeal to good faith
and Americanism won. The rebel
hon collapsed. The faction-riddleo
House was united. Within four days
it rejuvenated the emanciated revenue
bill with a series of walloping amend
ments. The measure carried $1,032,-
SOC, 900 worth of taxes when it passed
with. only "a adverse votes.
Herbert Hoover and Ogden Mills
breathed more easily, and Garner
stepped ahead of Al Smith in the
betting on the Democratic choice for
presidential nominee. Gov. Roosevelt
remained favorite at z to S.
Although John Nance Garner today
is worth million dollars, he started
life without cent on the hard
baked plains around Red River County
Texas, where he rassled a tough
living from muscle making work.
The biggest thrill Joseph wellington
Byrns has had in his 27 years ir
Congress was the feverish oratorical
battle that ragged for 18 hours before
hysteria- -wracked House voted te
plunge the United States into the
World War.
"The drama of the stormy wran.
Cling leading UP to that vote Is un-
forgettable," he remembers. "The
furious discussion brought a perfect
volley of speeches from the high
strung members. The nightmare ques-
ton raised the most harrpwing prob
lem ever faced by Conafess. ] wa.