Evening star., 1938-05-08
Senator Pepper Has Acquired
Success in Life the Hard Wav
Fired Boiler During Alabama University Davs
and Was Waiter at Harvard
Cafeteria

some day Claude Pepper will be United
States Senator 1t was in 1914 that
young Pepper wrote this and his determi-
nation to make it come true In 1884 was
doomed to failure. Running against the
late Senator Park Trammel Pepper ap-
peared to have beaten the veteran until
the crucial count of Hillsborough County.
When the shooting and shouting was over,
Senator Trammell had margin OF 1000
votes for the entire State, although he had
won only of 81 counties.
Peppers friends show no hesitation
about claiming the Hilsborough count was
stacked against their candidate, but the
young politician made no protest. His con-
duct in this instance is credited with earn
ing him substantial support in subsequent
political ventures.
In 1886, for instance, he ran without
opposition for the seat of the late Senator
Fletcher for the term expiring next Janu-
ary g. And despite the caliber of his op-
position this spring, he has again dis
played his political popularity and power.
Is Vigorous Campaigner.
@Ao q NohiPoi6l1CI, 0C1AaVOI 1cppCI SAGE-
cises the vigor which might be expected
from man young in years and sturdy ir
build. Every day in recent weeks he aver
aged half dozen speeches in the small
Florida villages, climaxed each night by
longer appearance in some city. SOUND
truck accompanied him with another pre-
ceding him in each town to ballyhoo his
appearance in advance.
For this third Statewide campaign ir
five years. the Senator intrusted the i'm
portant task of public relations to a Tampa
newspaper columnist, Russell Kay, who
is not only wise in his profession, but per-
sonally acquainted with most of his col.
leagues throughout the State Altogether
it was an efficiently conducted campaign.
Always pro-labor in his sympathies, the
Senator carried the Endorsement of organ
lied labor as we'll as that of the admins
tration, bestowed personally by James
Roosevelt. Helpful, in other directions.
was the Senator's record of active interest
in Southern industrial development and ir
public education. poll at the University
OF Florida gave him l,475 votes out OF
1900, with the remainder being split among
all his opponents
In keeping with his pro-administratior
tendencies, Senator Pepper is in favor OF
Federal wage-hour legislation and voted for
the bill passed last summer by the Senate
AS member Of the Senate Committee on
Education and Labor the Floridian worked
with former Chairman Black in drafting
the Senate version. Such legislation, Pep
per contends, is essential if PURCHASING
power Of the South is to be raised to
prosperity level
Favors Educational Grants.
Mindful of his own financial difficulties
in acquiring an education, and in financing
those Of his younger brothers and sister
the Senator is an active supporter of pend
ing legislation for increased Federal edu-
cational grants. In addition, he has a bill
OF his own which would extend the scope
OF the social security program with regard
to educational aid for handicapped children.
In addition to his post on the Labor
Committee, Senator Pepper is a member
of the important Foreign Relations and
Commerce Committees and the minor Com
mittees on Printing and Interoceanic
Canals
Although speaking infrequently in the
Senate, the freshman" made a deep i'm
preston in an effective speech opposing a
local matching requirement suggested as
an amendment to one of the major relief
appropriations.
Reminded it was "one of the Federal
Governments business to go into the oc-
cupation Of Hfesaving," Senator Pepper re-
marked that is not one of the States
rights for which desire to put myself on
record"
Outside the Senate the Floridian leads
a mildly active life. prolific reader, he
depends upon this and occasional golf and
tennis for his relaxation. He and Mrs
Pepper, the former Irene Mildred Webster
of ST. Petersburg. live at the Wardman
Park Hotel while here and limit their social
activities principally to the less pretentious
and more enjoyable affairs.