Evening star., 1940-04-21
Capital Side|iehts
By Will P. Kennedy.

Political sagacity and experience from
way back preside in the Office of
Speaker William B. Bankhead That Is
why his home State people are prepared
to present him as candidate for Presi-
dent to the Democratic National Con-
vention, just as they historically fought
to the last ditch for another illustrious
Alabama salon-Oscar w. Underwood.
THE Bankheads of Alabama" have writ
ten State and national political history.
John H. Bankhead, the Speakers father,
after service in the Confederate Army,
was in the State House and Senate from
1865 to 1877. He served 10 terms in the
national House, from 1887 to 1907, and
in the United States Senate from 1907
until his death in 1920 His son, Senator
John H. Bankhead, I'd, has served in the
United States Senate nine years. The
Speaker has served IL terms consecu-
lively in the House, having previously
served in the State Legislature.
And Speaker Bankhead has fortified
his political position by inducing Carter
Manasco to quit the State Legislature
and be his private secretary and political
adviser and campaigner. Mr. Manasco
is personable and genial young man
Of 38, single, lawyer and fellow towns
man Of the Speaker. He took two years
Of premedical work in Howard College,
Birmingham, where he was a member of
the glee club and baseball team. He also
nlayed semi -profee c;op al ho1I ~, p;~,.;.r
ham City League and the Walker Coun-
ty League. He worked his way through
school and was employed during summer
vacations in coal mine in Illinois.
Mr.. Manasco has the blood Of poll
ticians in his veins. His grandfather had
served IA terms in the State Legislature
and was a member of the Legislature
that voted secession. "Grandad" Ma
nasco voted against secession, but later
had three sons in the Confederate Army,
one of whom was killed In action. Carter
Manasco was elected to the Alabama
Legislature in 1881, at the age of %. from
Walker County. He came to Washing
ton as Mr.. Bankhead's secretary in the
Seventy-third Congress, and was clerk
to the Rules Committee after Mr.. Bank
head was elected chairman. He was leg
islative clerk to Mr.. Bankhead after he
was elected majority leader in the first
session of the Seventy fourth Congress-.
He has been secretary to the Speaker
since June 4, 1936-and is one of the most
obliging, helpful and best-liked of all the
Capitol employees.
The Oldest member Of Congress-Rep-
resentative Edward T. Taylor of Colo.
RADIO, chairman Of the House Appropria-
tions Committee will be 81 In
June, is making his last run for re-elec-
ton, after having been in public service
Sc years. His friends say that the voters
OF his district are>going to hand him the
election ION gold platter" in apprecia-
ton of his long and able services. Mr..
Taylor is an outstanding illustration of
what the late Speaker Champ Clark had
in mind when he advised the voters to
select a good man as their Representa-
tive in Congress and then keep him
there.
MI. Taylor came up from a farm in
Illinois and cattle ranch In Kansas. At
the age of 23 he was the first principal
OF his local high school. He is credited
with having done more for his section
OF the country than any living man. He
was acting majority leader in 1885, He
has achieved five official distinctions
never duplicated by any one else during
the $50 years of our congressional his
tory. First, he was successfully elected
to the State Senate II years and to
Congress 80 years Q897 to 1e41); second.
besides holding many appointive offices
he has run for ONCE in q general elec-
tions and has never been defeated;
third, all Of his congressional service
has been after he was so years of age,
and last year, out Of 8,124 members Of
the House since the First Congress, only
SIX others had been elected l6 consecu.
tive times-Bingham and Butler, Penn
sylvania; Gillett, Massachusetts; Hau.
gen, Iowa, and SABBATH, Illinois, and he
outranked all Of these in previous serv-
Ice In the State Legislature; fourth, he
has been the author of more State laws,
constitutional amendments and Federal
laws combined than any other man who
has ever served in Congress, and, fifth,
ne Is dean Of the House in age and
chairman Of the Appropriations Com
mittee IN the last two Congresses, . 4
position not heretofore attained By any
one from IL Western states.