Evening star., 1936-07-11
POLITICAL FOES
OFTEN FRIENDS
Garner and LongWorth Ex.
ample of "FriendIy Enc
mics" on Hill.
BY HERBERT PLUMMER.


The friendly enemies Of Capitol Hill
offer a paradox to confound the un-
initiated and to provide anecdotes for
insiders
Friendships between the higher-ups
in politics often transcend party and
factional lines. Frequently those who
assail each other most bitterly in cam
paign statements and speeches are, in
private life. the closest of friends.
Vice President Garner and the late
Nick Longworth, Republican Speaker
of the House, are famed examples.
There have been few friendships in
politics of recent years comparable
to that of the "homespun" Texan and
the Ohio patrician. They were init
mates from the time they entered the
House together until Longworth s
death, although in politics they fought
each other necessarily.
Garner and L0ngwOrth.
ut was darned peculiar" says Gar
ner now. that silver spoon aristo-
crat like Nick and one of the COM
mon people like me should hit it off
but We tried to outsmart each other
for 80 years"
Since the advent of the New Deal
probably the two most bitter antag-
onists on the floor of the Senate have
been Robinson of Arkansas, admins
tration wheel horse. and Hastings of
Delaware, stanch Republican. They
have stormed and thundered at each
other on the slightest provocation.
Yet they are two of the most re-
nowned fishing cronies in the Senate
Doughton of North Carolina and
Treadway of Massachusetts, are. re-
spectively, chairman OF the powerful
House Ways and Means Committee
and ranking Republican member
When revenue regislation is before the
committee and the House. they glare
at each other and scrap as if they
we're lifelong enemies. Actually, each
counts the other as a close personal
friend.
Harrison and Watson.
Nothing delights Pat Harrison of
Mississippi, Democratic chairman of
the Senate Finance Committee, more
than to lock horns with Charlie Nc
Nary. Republican leader of the Sem
ate, and they do frequently. Yet
whenever opportunity permits, the
two may be found on the golf links at
an exclusive country club in the Cap
ital probably with Couzens of Mich
igan and Hale Of Maine, Republicans.
The same was true with Harrison
and former Senator Jim" Watson,
Indiana, Republican, when they sat
together in the Senate on opposite
sides of the chamber Rarely a day
passed these two didn't clash on the
floor in give-and-take encounter.
Invariably. however, after the smoke
had cleared away, the two could be
found in the cloak room or Senate
corridors chuckling over the incident.
The history of American politics
abounds also with instances of close
friendships turned to personal hatreds
which have profoundly affected the
political currents of the Nation.
Most conspicuous of these at present
of course, is the break between Al
Smith and President Roosevelt.
At Madison Square Garden in 1924
Franklin D. Roosevelt, lately recov-
cred from his illness, achieved new
heights as speaker in his Happy
Warrior" address nominating Smith
for the presidency.
Again at Houston in 1928. Friend
Franklin nominated Friend AL and
then acquiescing in Smiths impor-
tunings that he run for Governor of
New York.
The status of that once famous
friendship is now history.