The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-07-08
BRUCE CATIONS WASHINGTON COLUMN
Losing Battle Marks Allen As Congress "Comer"
Shanley Also
 Gains Favor In Neutrality Tilt
BY BRUCE CATION Waterbury Democrat Washington
 COrreHD0ndent

Washington, July 8.-Some of the most intensive politicking of the ses- sion occurred during the fight in the house of representatives over the proposal to repeal all neutrality leg islation and let the country get along on the 1914 basis.
 The effort lost by a big ma jority, but 1t threw life-sized scare into the leadership Of both parties while 1t lasted-and 1t briefly focused the limelight on a talented young congressman, Rob- ert c. Allen of Pennsylvania.
 Allen was the man who intro- duced the resolution which would have repealed all neutrality legis- lation. A member of the foreign affairs committee, which present. cd the Bloom bill to the house, he was accused on the floor of spring ing a huge surprise-which hap pens to be untrue.
 His proposal had been discussed frequently before the committee. At one stage even Acting Chair man Sol Bloom himself was in- clined to support 1t. In the end he shied away from It.; whereupon Allen called together group Of sympathizers and laid plans for an independent fight on the matter. Tn the group were such men as Congressmen James Wadsworth and Bruce Barton of New York and James A. Shanley of Connecti- cut.
 HANDSOME AND
 YOUTHFUL
 And although the Democratic leadership in the house worked 10 beat the resolution, 1t is learned that the state department was by no means averse to it; felt, fin fact, that repeal Of everything would be i fine stuff, but doubted that the time was ripe to spring 1t. As a matter of fact, at least g. part Of the Democratic high command in the house was at one stage of the game prepared to let the resolu- ton go through.
 The fight marked an interesting stage in the developmenft of Al- len as congressman.
 He is now in his second term 6 handsome, youthful, stocky chap from Greensburg, Pa, who started his career here as an ultra left winger of the Maury Maverick group and who has since been shifting over toward the middle of the road. Correctly or other wise his colleagues credit this shift partly to the influence of Congressman Hatton Summers of Texas.
 Summers last winter organized a unique series of informal evening caucuSes, debates, gab-fests or whatever you want to cali them. A group of IS or 20 congressman would meet by invitation in his office. All kinds of things would be discussed. Two prominent congressman might be invited in to debate some pending bill; parlia- mentary procedure might be mashed over; group talks on cur- rent issues might take place.
 EARNEST PRESENTATION
 WINS COLLEAGUES
 In any case. Allen was one of this group. Whether that had anything to do with 1t or not, the fact Is that he is a different man than he was last session.
 Certain of the New Dealers be- wall the change, but it has in. creased his influence in congress; and the impression he made in the neutrality fight has heightened his colleagues opinion of him-not so much because they were enamored of the proposition he presented as because they liked the sober, ear. nest and able way he presented 1t. Allen, in short, emerges from the whole business as a "comer." Another congressman who got increased prestige out of the fight was this Shanley Of Connecticut. He revealed himself as an excep- tionally forceful and able debater and as a rather remarkable au- thority on constitutional law He comes from New Haven, but he is not--aS his familiarity with con- stitutional law made some of the boys Suspect--a Yale professor; just likes the subject and spends all his spare time boning up on 1t.