The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-03
55cS

BY mail and sent his accept
ance to the committee my mail.
During his career there have
been various estimates Of the
New Deal vice president on
one side he was credited with
great skill in handling men and
having great legislative knowl-
edge. one writer went so far
as To predict early in his vice
presidential career that ne
would make great presi-
dent" This appeared in Col
lier's magazine.
Entirely different vas the
estimate in Hsrper's magazine
in which this appeared:
Not once in his entire ca
reer has he risen above level Of
smart county seat politician.
Not a single piece Of import
ance legislation graees his
lifetime record in congress.
throughout his long years in
congress he has kept one of
his hands dipping into the
pork barrel. and he has kept
his other hand busy scratch
ing backs"
The New York Times, then
an ardent New Deal supporter,
looked at Cactus Jack" from
another angle, saw him as "a
statesman in homespun," than
whom there had been mo more
astute practical politician in
Washington"
Other writer's point out cer-
tain inconsistencies in Mr.. Gar
ner's acceptance speech and his
policies while in the speakers
chair in the latter part Of the
Hoover administration. As pre-
siding officer Of the house he
supported some of the executive
legislation; outside he condemn
ed administration policies in the
forceful vernacular of Jeffer-
sonic simplicity and directness.
One one hand he blamed the
country's social ills on the
federal governments depar-
ture from its legitimate func-
tons. On the other hand he
blamed the government for
not doing something to stop
the speculation merry go
round In 1920; for inadequate
legislation TO turn the tide of
the on-coming panic, and for
its blindness in not recogniz-
ing that "the evolutionary
processes Of government must
20 forward to meet ever
changing human needs"
fundamental prescription of
the New Deal.
Several times during his
career as vice president, close
observers discovered certain
flaws which had no place in the
characted of statesman in
homespun. Evidently tn e re
were defects in the weave"
In the last campaign. deeper
ate because they had not been
able 10 find an issue which
seemed likely 10 defeat the
nomination and reelection of
President Roosevelt. those who
exercised the American right to
differ with the New Deal, among
others, took Vice President Gar
ner up into high mountain and
showed him all the kingdoms Of
the world.
II was too much for
Cactus Jack. He became a
candidate for the presidential
nomination, and when he was
defeated ne went back TO his
tent and has been sulking ever
since.
SO much for one of the vice
presidents who may or NAV not
be forgotten man. II he is
not forgotten. it will be due 10
the fact that he was an associate
in the New Deal administrator
more than TO his own record
in the office of vice president.
Wednesday: What is a vice
president good for, anyway?
The answer is that office can
be made something besides an
easy chair in which politicians
may prepare for place in the
Smithsonian Institute. The vice
president is an interesting char
acter, like, for instance, Rufus
Henry King, who took his oath
Of office in a foreign country.
and for whom King county was
named.