The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-12-22
Sees TOUGH JOB
FOR WHOEVER May
WIN LEADERSHIP
MANY ACTIVITIES EXPECTED
IN NEXT CONGRESS ARE
DISCUSSED FROM VARIOUS
ANGLES
By BYRON PRICE
(Chief OF Bureau. The Associated
Press Washington

(Chief OF Bureau. The Associated
Press Washington
Democrats inclined to view fac
tional strife with alarm are Won
dering about the house of repre-
sentatives leadership skirmishes
between supporters of Sam Ray
burn and John ]. O'Connor. Ira
ditional house resentment at sena-
torial "meddling" in its affairs
further complexities the situation
for all concerned.
Among others, Vice President
Garner (presiding officer of the
senate) is in Washington work.
ing openly for Rayburn. 1t is not
a matter of taeit support. Mr..
Garner has said bluntly that he
was here to see that his fellow
Texan got the job.
Some Rayburn men intimated
this meant support of the admin
istration itself. O'Connor denials
were quick and hot. Then spokes-
men for the New Yorker bounced
on Mr.. Garner-he must have ex-
pected that-and Senator Guffey,
acknowledged boss of things
Democratic in Pennsylvania.
The O'Connor adherents thought
Guffey had a good deal to do with
the pledge of Democratic house
members from his state to back
Rayburn. He blandly denied re-
sponsibility. Those who took the
trouble to look up the 1884
speakership fight found that
Pennsylvania declaration Of sup
port for the late Joe Byrns was
instrumental in his victory.
Buchanan Seeks G Compromise
Rayburn campaigners contend
0'Connor himself has been cast
ing about in the senate for sup
port, and cite a letter in which
ne asked Senator Clark of Mis-
bouri for aid. They predict that
in the end their candidate will
win by reclamation.
But there was growing appre-
hension as rival factions charted
their offensives toward the open
ing of congress, with Chairman
Buchanan of the house appropria-
tons committee first to speak
up. He skirted the edge of the
Rayburn O'Connor controversy,
eontenting himself with calling
for "wise leadership" to pre-
vent the majority from splitting
into warning blOcs.
That would be inevitable, he
thought, if a brutal and domi-
neering course was pursued. No
one, however, is sanguine enough
TO think that Democratic lines
will remain unbroken. Speaker
Bankhead himself admits eve
can't expect unanimity," but har'
mony-minded representatives hope
salt won't be rubbed into wounds
already painful.
Representative Rankin was Sc
concerned over the tenseness that
he proposed withdrawal of all can
didates, himself included, in favor
of Representative Doughton. He
thought that a practical compro.
mise.
Contrasting Types
"A word about Rayburn and
o'Connor would not be amiss
for they give a pat illustration OF
just how different men bearing
the same political tag may be
The bald, stocky Rayburn is 9
small-town attorney from Texas
diligent and persistent. He speak.
quietly and precisely, and is con
sidered a mirror of the district he
represents.
O'Connor, on the other hand
is a red-headed Irishman, brisl
and positive in his manner. Those
who remember his spectacular till
with Father Coughlin win have &
good idea of how easily his tenn
per flares. His New York Cit
district includes the Tammany