The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-04

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 The other was the formation by diehard anti-New Deal Senate Democrats of secret parliament tary organization of their own, with all the trappings of the regu- lar Democratci party machinery floor leader, whips and general staff.
 In Acting Floor Leader Austin the COP has sturdy conserva- tive and loyal party supporter, but a man who also believes that prin- ciples come before partisan inter- est. Illustrating his attitude were his votes to confirm Justice Felix Frankfurter and Attorney Gen. eral Frank Murphy and his vig- orous defense of the sale of war planes to the French.
 Other Republicans ragged against the two appointments and rushed to make political capital out of the plane deal. But Austin, who would never have named Frank furter and Murphy himself, read- fly conceded their ability and in- tegrity. And regarding the sale of planes to France he said, T will not allow partisanship to in- fluence me in a stand that might be construeed as deterimental to my country"
 Sixty-two, stocky and we'll dressed, Austin is a hard fighter but always fair one. This quail ity has won him host of warm friends in all quarters.
 One of his intimates was the late Senate Democratic Floor Leader Joe Robinson of Arkan- sas. Another is Postmaster General Jim Farley, whom he vigorously assailed for cancel ing the airmail contracts but who later sent him a photograph with this inscription: "TO a real fellow whose friendship prize."
 NOTE-Austin's closest friend is his 9l-year old mother, to whom he writes every day he is away from his Vermont home.
 ANTI-CRATS
 The anti-Administration Demo- crats informally organized during the 1887 Supreme Court battle, but made no effort to set up 8 formal organization until tn New Deal purge" attacks. This attempt to drive them out of off, flee both infuriated and scared them, and since the start of this session they have worked together as unified, though secret. fac- ton.
 Master mind of the bloc is tall, slouchily dressed Senator Peter Goelet Gerry, wealthy socialite from Rhode Island. who was de- feated for reelection in 1928 and staged a comeback six years later by riding into office on the Roose- welt tidal wave. Gerry never makes a speech and is content to retain his back row seat, whence he can slip out quietly and un- noticed into the nearby cloakroom But he is the smoothest and most effective White House opponent in the Senate-next to Vice Presi- dent Garner, who does not be- long ot the organization but keeps in close touch with 1t.
 Through his adroit social lobby he has personally converted at least three one-time redhot New Dealers.
 Whips of the faction are Mis- souri's bulky Senator Bennett Clark, who nurses presidential ambitions, and amiable, baldish Senator Edward Burke of Me- braska. It Is an interesting and significant fact that the wives of both of these men are violent Roosevelt-haters.
 The general staff of the bloc consists of Byrd of Virginia. Van Nuys of Indiana, Holt of West Virginia, and George of Georgia.
 It was this secret organization, working behind the scenes with Republican Senators Bob Taft and Vandenberg, that up-ended the President on his lending bill and cut the program to half of what he recommended