The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-18

Rightly or wrongly he has been the social and political worm of Washington.
 That worm has now begun to turn.
 The metamorphosis is not yet complete; but gradually a new type of southern congressman is emerging. For years, the old type has sat at the head of com- mittees simply because his election district has sent him back to Congress, year after year. No par ticular brains or StatesmanShip were involved.
 Today times are changing. To- day, out of the ranks of south- ern congressman has emerged a new type of legislator. He is young, alert, studious, intelligent, sincere.
 They still have long way to go, but the time appears not far distant when the joke about southern congressman will be as out of date as the tallyho at a football game.
 FOUR OF A KIND
 Take, for instance, the state of Arkansas. Suddenly out of the political blue, four young con- gressmen have emerged in Wash ington from that state and be- came its leaders. They are Clyde Ellis of Bentonville, Arkansas; Took" Gathings of West Mem phis; Wilbur D. Mills of Kensett, and William F. Norrell of Mon- ticello.
 The oldest AZ and the youngest 30, they represent new type of southern congressman who is making the capital sit up and take notice. Because of this, 1t may be worth calling the roll and talk ing a look at these Arkansas first termers.
 CLYDE ELLIS, most dynamic of the group, is only 30 years old and has a storybook background. The oldest of nine children, Ellis was born on a small farm, walked eight miles to school, finished high school in two years while sup porting himself by washing dishes and doing other chores.
 He won his college and law de- grees by the same hard road teaching, selling Bibles in the summer and doing odd jobs. From boyhood an ardent debater, Ellis produced four successive state champion debating teams while principal of the Garfield, Ark, high school. Population of the town: 280.
 After hanging up his shingle, Ellis lost no time in getting into politics. At "A he had trimmed the local machine and won seat in the Legislature. Two years later he repeated the feat and went to the State Senate. In the Legislature he quickly rose to fighting leadership.
 A group of hard-boiled old timers attempted to take charge of the session and run it to suit themselves as they had for years. Ellis organized a counter attack, and served mo- tice that his group would vote against everything" unless the Old Guarders permitted the consideration of progressive measures. After several days of bitetr deadlock the veetrans capitulated and came to terms.
 One of Ellis spectacular legisla- tive battles was to sterilize ha- bitual criminals and the incurably insane.
 Ellis campaign against Rep. f Claude Fuller, -tongued five termer, was one of the most ac- rimonious in the history of the state. Fuller had built up a po- tent machine and there were few tricks the boys didn't use against their young rival. But Ellis gave as good as he took. One of his stunts that scored heavily was a moving picture showing federal projects which congressman in the adjoining districts had obtained. plus a blank slide for the pro- jects obtained by Fuller.
 Fuller ragged and illuminated, but in the end Ellis licked him by Q close margin. During the cam paign, Ellis made 163 speeches and says he had one of the best times of his life.
 E. c. cTOOK"J GATHINGS + uas h0rN in MississfY,s1i and vuas