Evening star., 1939-08-08

To Representative Joseph w. Mar
tin of Massachusetts, the minority
leader, goes the credit OF keeping
the Republican membership united
SO that on every important occa-
sion the Republicans cast their votes
solidly on one side or the other
OF pending questions.
Mr.. Martins effectiveness was the
envy of the Democratic leadership
Although Majority Leader Rayburn
of Texas was struggling to keep his
party membership intact, he was
frustrated again and again, first by
desertion and second by absenteeS.
When the country increased the
Republican membership in the
House at the polls last November
from 80 to 1863, it was an open
question whether this tide OF pro-
test would be rendered effective. 1t
could easily have been dissipated
had the Republicans split apart
into groups and factions. But Rep
resentative Martin had simple idea
to sell his colleagues. 1t was that
united they could at least accom-
plish an effective check and pro-
test, but divided they would play
into the hands OF the Democrats.
Garner an Authority.
Again and again in the last 80
years the effectiveness of the minor
ity strategy has determined the
destiny of many important pieces of
legislation. Different minority lead
ers have had varying success with
their following Vice President Gar
ner, who served as minority leader
in the House before he became
Speaker, is probably the best living
authority on the subject of what
can be done by minority. He used
to taunt Representative Bert Smell,
Republican minority leader, who off
the floor was his most intimate
friend, about the ineffectiveness of
the Republicans. He would talk
reminiscently to Mr.. Smell of the
days when he had fewer Democrats
as minority than anybody else had
had and how he forced a tax bill
onto the statute books by outma-
neuvering the Republican majority,
which was then under the leader
ship Of Speaker Longworth.
Mr.. Martin was assistant leader
under Bert Smell He saw that not
even a capable manager such as the
New York Representative really was
in many ways, could keep his fol-
lowers intact if the minority mem
bers did not see eye to eye with him
on strategy. Mr.. Martin was per-
suasive. He spent more time culti-
waiting the individual Republicans
and personally knowing their likes
and dlsllkes, their ambitions and
hopes, than any man in recent wears.
He watched his minority like a hawk
and was able to mobilize them and
marshall them as a unit.
When 1t is considered that Mr..
Martin put into the voting on roll
calls again and again as high as
166 out of his 1859 Republicans and,
as for the rest, took good care that
II they had to be away they were at
least paired" with Democrats who
were voting the other way, it will
be seen that he made maximum
use of his minority strength.
Back-Stage Operations.
Such solidarity is not accom-
plished without a good deal of back
stage operations. Here the Re-
publican National Committee, under
the able management of Chairman
John Hamilton and his clever pub
hclty aide, Frank Waltman, did a
job of support which recalls the
way Chairman John j. Raskob and
his publicity expert, Charles Michel
son, functioned for the Democratic
party against the Hoover admins
tration. A well-organized and we'll
financed national headquarters can
provide research data for members
OF Congress, can help them draft
speeches on technical subjects, can
see to it that they introduce the
proper amendments at the right
time to make a political record or
to break down the objective of the
majority party
Looking at the other side of the
picture during the last session. it
cannot be denied that factionalism
disturbed the harmony and morale
of the Democratic party. Jealousies
over leadership problems, differ
ences of opinion on the merits of
issues affecting the South adversely
and the North beneficially, or vice
versa, i'll feeling resulting from the
so-called purge" strategy in the
1888 congressional campaign-for
Senators and members of their
State delegations often work closely
together-and a number of con-
f1icts over patronage matters served
to break the big Democratic ma
jority into pieces. To this should
be added a certain arbitrariness
of view exhibited by the administra-
ton leaders in dealing with the
conservatives.
1t is still a mystery also why so
many Democrats were permitted to
absent themselves from roll calls
without being called to book. But
1t is likewise true that the effects
of the tactics of the earlier days
of the administration, when orders
were taken to Capitol Hill by tact
less aides of the administration,
were hard to overcome and could
not be replaced by different STRAIT
egy without the minute and pains
taking help of the President and
his cabinet. A majority party in
Congress has to be nursed along
by the Executive and his leaders
just as is a minority. The feeling
sometimes that the majority is so
big that it can ride easily over its
opposition is like the overconfidence
which winning athletic teams dis
play only to be caught unawares by
an alert, hard-playing opposition.
Ihat's the story of the last Congress
and explains many of the contra
elections and paradoxes in the voting
records.
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