The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-01-04
THEY APPLAUD
At MENTION
OF BUDGET
Contrasted, GIitterine
Scene Played In
House Chamber
BY EDWARD s. LOCKETT
International News Service

"a OH dAASC oAA0 SAOUS1AAo H~oSSsAAS
was recorded on the screen Of
American history today.
It was the picture of an Amer
lean President calling Congress
together in extraordinary night
session for the first time in the
life Of the nation to deliver his
opening address.
In this picture was the silver.
tongued orator, Franklin Delano
Roosevelt, speaking under the
cruel white blaze of a single
giant Kleig light to an assembled
Congress which heard him with
q sharply contrasting mixture of
riotous applause and glum silence.
Clapped, Whistled
Both sides of the packed House
chamber rose and applauded for
three full minutes when the Presi-
dent entered on the arm of his
eldest son, James. When he left,
the Democratic side stood, roared
approval, clapped and whistled.
The Republicans strolled silently
from the chamber.
Once, Republicans laughed out
loud at their President. That was
when he referred to the state Of
the union" as the subject Of his
message.
Mr.. Roosevelt paid little heed.
But his hand on the roStrum
frightened, and the famous RooSe-
welt smile disappeared from his
face. Otherwise, he gave no i'm
mediate recognition to the laugh
ter. But when he left the cham
Der, the smile had not come back.
He silently shook hands with Vice
President Garner and Speaker
Byrns, and left, paying scant at
tention to wildly applauding
Democrats.
Byrd Joins Applause
Only once did the Republicans
cheer during the address. That
was when the President. the prec-
edent-breaker who was again
breaking precedent. expressed the
hope that the work of balancing
the budget would continue to go
forward.
Senator Byrd CD of Virginia,
known as conservative, Joined in
this applause. and this marked
the only time the Virginian took
the trouble to cheer his Chief Elk
ecQtive during the speech.
All the while, fashionable Wash
ington looked down on the scene
from the packed galleries. They
could see the President, but he
could hardly see them. The
Kleig light must have almost
blinded him. There was no read
ing light to throw CLEAN on the
pages Of his speech.
There were the furs and smooth
silk of the diplomatic galleries
and the informal dress Of the
everyday spectator. There were
two black ties in the diplomatic
gallery, but in the presidential gal
lery there was no formaity.
Relatives at Side
Mrs. Roosevelt wore midnight
blue, thanked on her left by Mrs.
Anna Roosevelt Boettiger, daugh-
ter Of the President, and her huS-
band, the former newspaper man,
John Boettiger, in business clothes.
Mr.. Boettiger wore the simplest
of dark blue frocks, and was the
only bareheaded member Of the
Roosevelt family present. Mrs.
James Roosevelt, wife of the PreSi
dents son, was one row behind,
In q black coat, which she did
not remove. She, as did Mrs.
Roosevelt, wore a hat.
The Cabinet wives were there,
too-Mrs. Hull with gardenias
on her shoulder, Mrs. Morgen-
thau in apple green, Mrs. Swan
son in white furS, and the others
In varying informal afternoon
dress.
AS for the Cabinet itself, all
wore frock coats except Postmas-
ter General James A. Farley. He
wore his usual double-breasted
business blue, with a blue shirt.
Three Keep Silent
Three of the most prominently
mentioned Republican Senatorial
candidates for the Presidential
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Borah, of
Idaho; Vandenberg, Of Michigan,
and Dickinson, of Iowa, sat one
behind the other in the chamber
without applauding the President
O single time.
AL three gave their possible op-
ponent in next years race for the
presidency their rapt attention
Borah with his chin resting in his
left hand, Vandenberg and Dick
inson with hands folded over their
belts.
Not once-even when the Presi.
dent drew the applause of other
Republicans, did this important
trio express either approval or dis
approval. They sat silent, perhaps
measuring carefully the man they
may have to go up against on the
hastings next summer.