Evening star., 1938-04-24

BY JOHN c. HENRY.
- TRANCE mail do be coming these
days to the desk Of one OF the
\ most thoroughgoing Democrats who
ever invoked the spirit OF Thomas
Jefferson.
Flowing into his senatorial Office from
all quarters Of the political globe, it bears
the signatures Of men OF business, men Of
finance, and the men Of Main Street united
in their hope Of an end to New Deal
PHILOSOPHERS Of taxation. Somewhat to
their surprise and to his they have found
q leader for this cause in the person of
Mississippi's Senator, Pat Harrison.
Il want to see business activity resumed,
men put back to work and the country
brought back to the path OF economic re-
covery," he said as he exercised unques-
toned leadership in rewriting the House.
approved Revenue Act of 1888 during its
sojourn In the hands Of the Senate Finance
Committee. X believe this bill will help"
Grim Fight Follows.
As this is written = To-day conference
deadlock between the House and Senate
has just been broken in q way to give the
patiently stubborn Harrison and his fellow
Senate conferees bill that should alleviate
much Of the two-year chorus of criticism
The strangeness Of the situation lies in
the fact that only yesterday in his political
lifetime. Mississippi's Harrison, with keen
est delight. was pricking the inflated shirt
fronts Of these same letter writer's who now
hail him with extravagant commendation
as he fights for what has become his own
conviction
Pat Harrison was born Byron Patton
Harrison. third son Of merchant in little
Crystal Springs Miss. In his blood is the
strain of William Henry and Benjamin Har-
rison, each President of the United States
in his day.
1t was August 20, 1881, when Byron
Patton began his worldly career, and be-
fore he had grown as tall as a cotton plant
his father had died and left Mrs. Harrison
with four children and fair amount OF
money. The money went the way Of all
such and young Pat joined his two older
brothers in supplementing the family
finances
Meanwhile, Pat was pursuing an educa-
tion in the public schools and pitching
baseball In the so-called Tomato League.
Although he was good scholar. it was his
proficiency with a baseball that won him
q chance to attend Louisiana State Uni
versity where he earned his way by waiting
on table and playing ball. After two years
at L. s. u. Pat laid aside his baseball career
but not his interest In the sport to take
a school-teaching Job in Green County,
Miss.
It was while he was teaching that Har-
rison met Mary Edwina McInnis, the pres
ent Mrs. Pat Harrison.
Pat was studying law while he taught
school and his political and legal careers
were launched almost simultaneously in
1905 as he won the post of district at
torney. In 1910, he resigned this ONCE to
run for the House Of Representatives. From
that time on, he has been part of WASH
ington's legislative landscape and power
in the Democratic party.
Relied On by Wilson.
The young Mississippian served with dis
tinction in the House, as attested by let
ter hanging in his senatorial ONCE today
and bearing the signature OF President
Woodrow Wilson. In 1918, Pat moved up
to the Senate.
A close personal friend Of Ohio's Gov.
Cox, Senator Harrison was one Of the
powers in arranging for the Ohioan's presi-.
Dental nomination in 1920 on a ticket that
listed Franklin D. Roosevelt as vice presi-
Dental nominee. Although his ticket failed
at the polls in November, Pat Harrison by
that time had assumed the stature Of a
nationally known figure In the Senate and
one Of the king makers" Of his own party.
With the iI-fated Warren Harding in the
White House and the Republicans ruling
the congressional roost, Pat became their
Number One Nuisance on Capital Hill
Almost daily. he plagued and tormented
the Republican leaders in the Senate and
at the White House. Serving on the FL
nance Committee which he now heads, he
jabbed and jibed at their taxes and tariffs,
exasperating and harassing them but never
quite making them dislike him for more
than . day.
That the gently sarcastic Mississippian
was motivated principally by q loyalty to
party, 70 constituents and to tradition Of
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