Evening star., 1938-12-31
bark|ey Chosen
Senate Leader
ByDen1o(rats
His Reelection Is
Unanimous as
Good Will Prevails
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
With Republican minorities
dppreciably larger in both
House and Senate, speculation
has been widespread as to pros
poets OF administration leader
ship maintaining sufficient har-
m,ony 1Dithin majority to exercise
Legislative control. Legislative
recommendations of President, to
be outlined nert Ueek, are er-
pected to proDtde KEY to this
puzzle. i.
By the Associated Press.
Senate Democrats unanimously
reelected Senator Barkley, Ken
lucky, as majority leader at har-
monious meeting today.
The caucus lasted only 20 minutes.
There were general expressions Of
friendship and good will among Sen
ators who have differed widely on
legislative issues in the past.
Senator Barkley was reelected on
the motion of Senator Pitman of
Nevada. Senator Harrison of Missis-
sippi served as temporary chairman
of the caucus. Senator Harrison had
lost the leadership by a single vote
last year.
The caucus unanimously reelected
Senator Lewis of Illinois as party
whip and Senator Minton of Indiana
as assistant whip. Senator Lee of
Oklahoma was designated secretary
of the Democratic Conference, a
post which has been vacant since
Hugo Black resigned from the Sem
ate to become an associate justice
of the Supreme Court.
After the conference Senator
Barkley said the meeting "augurs
we'll for harmonious session.
Senate Republicans will caucus
Tuesday and House Democrats and
Republicans will hold their meetings
Monday.
Garner Is Courted.
| There were numerous signs, mean.
while, that the administration is
counting Vice President Garner's CO.
operation during the coming con-
gressional session.
The jovial Vice President, who has
been credited with using his in
f1uence against some past New Deal
| legislative proposals.; has held an
endless series of conferences with
administration officials and Con-
gress members since his return from
his Uyalde fTex) home
Two of the callers at his office
yesterday were Secretary of Agri-
culture Wallace and Harry Hopkins,
newly appointed Secretary of COM
merce. Others included Mayor La
Guardia of New York and Repre-
sentative Rayburn of Texas, the
House majority leader.
Secretary Wallace, it was learned,
sought the meeting with the Vice
President.
There have been other indications
that administration officials want
Mr.. Garner to have a full under
standing-and sympathetic one
OF their legislative views. 1t was
recalled that the Vice President at
President Roosevelt's request re-
turned to Washington earlier than
he usually does for a Congress ses-
sion. On the day of his arrival he
conferred with Mr.. Roosevelt.
Believed to Have Asked Aid.
These advances to the Vice Presi-
dent stirred speculation about how
far the administration might be
willing to go to satisfy him and
those Democratic Congress members
Of similar views. Mr.. Garner is
known as middle of -the-roader."
who constantly has advised against
anything destructive of party har-
mony.
While none of yesterdays callers
would discuss his conversation with
the Vice President, Capital specu-
lation was along this line:
Secretary Outlined ad-
mlnlstration's forthcoming farm
recommendations and asked Mr..
Garner to support them.
Mr. Hopkins-Detailed his admini-
| (See CONGRESS. Page A-3l