Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-25
Return Of Garner,
Not Mad at Any One,
Puzzles Capitol Hill
Nobody Seems to Know
Why Vice President
Is Coming Back
By JAMES E. CHM.

Vice President Garner is on his
way back to Washington from his
home in Texas, after a puzzline
three month absence, to preside
over the Senate in the closing days
OF the present session of Con-
gress, and many members are won
dering why.
When Mr.. Garner suddenly
packed his grip and left in June
after an unsuccessful bid for the
presidential nomination no one
really expected him to return.
Rumors were whispered around
the Capitol and in the Senate and
House cloakrooms at the time that
he was "mad"-angry over the turn
Of events that may have kept him
out of the White House.
But the Vice President, just be-
fore he stepped onto Washing
ton-bound train yesterday in hi,
home town of Uvalde, told news
papermen he was not mad" at any
body.
Rayburn May Know Answer.
1t is true, of course. that when
Mr.. Garner left Washington he
did not say he would not return
There was, however, a rather strong
surmise on the part of the poll
ticians that he was through with
politics forever-that he wanted tc
spend the remaining days Of his life
quietly in Texas. raising goats
chickens and pecans. fishing and
hunting. in season, on his two re-
Gently acquired ranches.
So the big question in Washing
tons political circles now Is why Mr.
Garner Is returning.
The only man outside the Vice
President himself who should know
the answer is Speaker Rayburn, q
Texan and q longtime friend OF Mr.
Garner.
Representative Rayburn, who was
elected Speaker a little more than a
week ago, following the death OF
Speaker Bankhead. admits he has
been In correspondence with the
Vice President ever since he left
Washington. And he admits, too
that Mr.. Garner confded in him re-
Gently that he planned to return tc
Washington.
But when asked why the Vice
President is returning at this par
ticular time, Speaker Rayburr
politely, but abruptly, replied: He
did not tell me; 1 assume he wanted
to be back here for the adjournment
Of Congress
Criticized for "LOafing."
Vice President Gamers long pc.
litical career probably will end with
the adjournment of Congress. 1t i.
natural he would like TO bang the
gavel in the Senate for the las
House and Senate members sin.
cerely believe motives other than g
desire to be on hand for the finale
Of the Seventy-sixth Congress caused
him to decide TO come back.
In the first place, it is said thai
members Of both the Senate anc
House wrote him in the last two
months. appealing to him to return
and advise and counsel with them
on the emergency national defense
legislation.
Secondly. is the criticism that
has appeared in the press of the
Nation recently about the Vict
President "loafing" in Texas during
a national emergency and drawing
$4,000 a year from the Govern
ment.
In the past, criticism has not irri.
tated Vice President Gamers cal
lous Texas skin, but this time. &C.
cording to the men in Washington
who know him best, it seems u
have hurt.
Anyhow. Vice President Garner
will again be presiding over the
Senate tomorrow. And his subSti.
tute. during the long absence. the
President pro tempore of the Sen.
ate-Sepator Key Pitman of Ne
vada-plans to take a needed rest
I'm Deaf, Soys Garner