The daily independent., 1937-07-23

Joe Robinson; He Recommend
ed BarkIey; Hopkins Protected
From WPA Sit-DOwners BY
Secretary And Armed Guards.
Washington-The, real inspirer
and behind -the-scene manager OF
Senator Pat Harrison'S candidacy
for floor leader was Rhode Is
lands anti-New Dealer Senatoa'
Peter Goelet Gerry.
Pat, who suffers from high
blood pressure and is fond OF tax
ing the afternoon off to go to the
ball park, or to play a round OF
golf for fancy stakes with wealthy
cronieS at the exclusive Burning
Tree Club, had no desire for the
arduous post. But Gerry talked
him into throwing his hat in the
ring on the plea that Senator
Jimmy Byrnes couldn't make the
grade and only Harrison could
keep the office from going tv
Senator Alben Barkley, the Ad-
miniStration'S choice.
Adding powerful preSsue to
Gerry'S urging was Barney Baruch
multi millionaire New York I'M
ancier, who Cancelled a sailing re-
servation and rushed to the Capt.
tai when he learned of Senator
RobinSon'S death. Keeping Warlly
out of sight, Baruch put in some
Just licks both for Pat and 1ol
the movement to SnelVe the court
bill and adjourn the session.
Baruch, Gerry and Harrison are
intimate friends. The financlel
contributed heavily to Pats re-
election campaign last year, and
Pat, although openly supporting
the President on the court issue
attended some of the sWanky
parties that Gerry gave last WIN
ter and spring to WOO Senate votes
against the measure.
Social Lobby
The SOcialite husband of Edit,
StuyveSant Vanderbilt is little
known outside the Senate and eX-
elusive social circles. But through
out the current session he has
been one of the most active anC
bitter behind-the foes OF
the White House.
Gerry has devoted himself par
ticularly to conducting the SOCia
lobby against the court measure
staging a number of fashionable
parties for lukeWarm Democrat
and their ambitious wives anc
daughters. On close terms will
Republican Senators. he also ha:
acted as the liaiSon between then
and the anti Administration
Democrats, who feared to negoti-
ate directly.
In this activity he particularly
cultivated Senator Burt Wheeler
once a fire eating left-Winger
with the result that they now are
close friends, comforting Severa
times day on strategy to outWit
and defeat the President.
Although Gerry is so violently
anti-New Deal, he owes his pre-
sent Senate seat entirely tC
Roosevelt. Defeated for re-eleC-
ton in 1928. he tied onto the Pre-
sident's coat-tailS in 1884 and got
a return ticket.
Too Busy
Harrison's grab for the flool
leadership was complete reVer-
sal of form. Last winter, when the
Senate Democrats authorized Joe
Robinson to appoint an assistant
floor leader. he offered the job tc
Harrison. his closest friend. Pat
answer was: Thanks, Joe, but
I'm 100 DuSy.
What do you mean, too busy'?'
We'll, I've got the chairman
ship of the Finance Committee
and a lot Of other things that
keep me occupied. And further
as you know, my health is none
too good"
"Who would you suggeSt?"
"Barkley," Harrison replied
He is a hard worker and it would
please the White House"
So Robinson appointed Barkley
and as Harrison had predicted
the Administration was very much
pleased, indeed.
Sit-DOwn Precautions
With the reduction of relief
rolls, Harry Hopkins is taking
special measures to protect him
se.f against invasionS of sit
doWners.
The reception clerk at the WPA
Building in washington has been
moved to desk in the entrance
hall and given special instructions
to stop and question all strangers
If she needs any assistance
there. are, two armed guards
standing besiG.2 her.
Cotton Increase
Looking beyond the present cot
ton crop, .AAA officials. are be-
ginning to wonder if they have
any effective control in then
hands. If present trends continue
cotton production may get com
pletely out of bounds, and bring
disastrous price crop. Wallace
is definitely worried.
Control was tight under the
Bankhead Act, but the Supreme