Evening star., 1936-06-05

for O'Connor, who was candidate for
Speaker against the late Joseph w.
Byrns and the present Speaker, Will
liam B. Bankhead. There were other
candidates, Representative James E.
Rankin Of Mississippi, Representative
James M. Mead of New York and Rep
resentative John W. Mccormack of
Massachusetts,. The others now seem
entirely out of the picture-and they
are all the best of friends.
The big triumvirate of the House
has been Byrns, Speaker; Bankhead
leader, and O'Connor, chairman of the
Rules Committee. They put their
heads together and worked together
and co-operated in putting through
the administration program. Now
Byrns has gone. and Bankhead and
O'Connor, who have been close friends
and co-operatoTs for IA years, are car
rying on. They were rival candidates
for the leadership at the beginning of
the present session Of Congress, when
Bankhead won through his alliance
with "Joe" Byrns. Since then Bank
head and OConnor have been in al
most daily conference and the closest
cooperation. There has been perfect
understanding.
Steps Aside Promptly.
When the sudden death of Speaker
Byrns came as great shock to his COL
leagues and it Was realized that there
1oI fn ha aIorfnd
it was O'Connor who promptly told the
veterans Of the party organization that
he was ready to offer the resolution to
elect Bankhead as Speaker. He did
make the motion and Bankhead was
elected, with unprecedented prompt
ness.
This was one Of the most dignified
and impressive ceremonies in the
House in a quarter of a century. The
members, irrespective of party, were
sobered and startled by the sudden
death of one as dear to them as
Speaker Byrns.
There was no exultation, as usual,
over the election Of Speaker-there
was hush and silence and impressive
ness. 1t was duty to the American
people to keep the legislative process
and program in operation. A very dear
friend and political leader was dead,
but the work Of the Congress must pro-
ceed.
It was O'Connor who, with obvious
dignity and personal sadness, made the
proposal. Seldom has there been q
more impressive scene in the House
the membership was moved, conscious
of personal loss Of a friend, apprecia-
tive of the necessity for carrying
through in an extraordinary situation.
A legislative holiday was decreed until
after the Republican National Conven-
ton and the intervening time given
over to respect for a dear personal
friend and Stanch party leader.
Shift Taken for Granted.
1t is all taken for granted" that
O'Connor will succeed and carry on
as leader. There has been no sugges-
ton of any one else for the task.
Usually the offices Of Speaker, leader
and rules chairman are distributed
geographically. It is generally under
stood among the membership that it
is propitious combination to have
Bankhead of Alabama as Speaker and
O'Connor of New York as floor leader.
It is unfortunate for such men as
Representative James M. Mead of New
York, chairman of the Post ONCE and
Post Roads Committee, and Repre-
sentative John W. Mccormack of
Massachusetts, chairman of the special
committee investigating American
activities and a stalwart on the Ways
and Means Committee, that conditions
developed as they have. They were
prominent last year as candidates for
Speaker or floor leader, but in the
intervening time O'Connor's duties,
well performed, brought him to the
fore, to general attention, so that he
is the logical man to succeed to the
leadership. No better working COM
bination could be found, for they are
''of one mind" and will work earnestly
together for the best legislative pro-
gram during the few remaining days
Of this most vexatious session.
A