Evening star., 1937-01-03
RANKIN AbAND0NS
LEADERSHIP FIGHT
Contest Up to Rayburn and
O'Connor in Caucus
Tomorrow.
RY WILL p. KENNEDY.

With the bitterest fight In 40 years
over the House leadership to be de-
cided in the Democratic caucus called
for tomorrow at 3 pm, the laSt-min-
ute withdrawal of Representative
Rankin of Mississippi has reduced the
field of candidates to the two out
standing ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
O'Connor of New York, chairman of
the Rules Committee, and Representa-
tive Rayburn of Texas. chairman OF
the Interstate and Foreign Commerce
Committee.
TWO other prospective candidates
had withdrawn earlier.
Representative Nichols of Okla
homa, one of the O'Connor managers.
claimed last night that O'Connor has
positively 200 pledged votes" Sup
porters of Rayburn claim "he has at
least 1872 pledged votes"
In personally announcing his with
drawal Yesterday, Rankin said he
found himself handicapped because
his friends in Northern and Western
States complained that the South
now has such a large proportion OF
the House chairmanships" and that
many members have expressed the
feeling that the leader and the
Speaker should not come from the
same locality" He said he would be
glad to support some other liberal
for the leadership.
Mead Racks O'C0nnOr
Representative Mead of New York.
who earlier had announced withdrawal
of his name, has pledged his active
support to O'Connor.
Representative Crosser of Ohio,
member of the Committee on Inter-
state and Foreign Commerce, declared
for his committee chairman, Rayburn.
Representative Mccormack OF Mas
sachusetts, for whom New England
members were holding back their
pledges, also has declared his support
for Rayburn. The Rayburnites claim
at least four votes from New Eng
land, while the O'Connor forces say
he will get only those of Mccormack
and Citron of Connecticut.
While Speaker Bankhead has an
nounced he intends to maintain strict
neutrality in the leadership contest,
1t is believed he himself will vote for
O'Connor. A number of his most
loyal friends in the House also intend
to support O'Connor for taking the
initiative to make Bankhead Speaker
on the death of Speaker Byrns. The
Rayburn following includes four Ala
bama votes in their total of 1872, and
claim they will receive more.
In announcing his withdrawal.
following statement:
Il shall not ask that my name be
presented to the caucus" said Rankin.
"but shall be glad to support some
other liberal as dark horse'-some
one who has gone along with me on
the power question.
Handicapped by Location.
IT realize that 1 have been handi-
capped from the beginning because of
my geographical location. My friends
from Northern and Western States
have complained that the South now
has such a large proportion of the
House chairmanships. OF course, that
is due to the system of seniority which
has prevailed in the House from time
immemorial.
Then, too, my district joins that
OF speaker Bankhead, and many men,
bers have expressed the feeling that
the leader and the Speaker ought not
to come from the same locality. I
am extremely anxious to see Mr.. Bank
head reelected Speaker without oppo-
sition, and. of course, do not want
to in any way injure his chances"
Representative Crosser, dean of the
Ohio delegation, had been a tentative
candidate for the office, but announced
his decision not to have his name
presented to the caucus tomorrow.