Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-15
Speaker Bankhead
Dies After Illness
OF Only 5 Days
Ruptured Artery Brought
On FutuI Attack Of
Sciutico in Baltimore

Sciuticu in Baltimore
Continued From First Page)
tween the States. Out of the sham
bles he and his sons built careers
which were climaxed with the cleo
ton of Will to the Speakers chair
and almost brought his nomina-
ton for the vice presidency.
He was born in 1874-during the
Reconstruction yearS-and lived to
see the day when his election as
leader of the Democratic party in
the House was hailed as the blow
which killed the last suspicion Of
sectionalism.
The early years of his life were
hard, because life in the South was
hard in those days. But as he grew
older the family fortunes began to
flourish. He was born In Moscow.
Lamar County. Ala. and when he
finished school in that section he
went to the University Of Alabama
being graduated as bachelor of arts
in 1893 and as master of arts in
1896.
Studied Law at Georgetown.
He came to Washington. where his
father was serving in Congress. to
study law at Georgetown University
and gained his first experience at
the Capitol as clerk to committee.
When he graduated in law, he went
to New York to seek fortune as a
lawyer. He had long been inter-
ested in dramatics and got an offer
to go on the stage. He was pre-
pared to chuck his law career and
be an actor when his family
stepped in.
It was said that this caused him
to vow that should any child of his
ever have ambitions toward the
stage. he would encourage them.
That is what he did when his daugh-
ter Tallulah decided she wanted to
be an actress.
He played Romeo to my Juliet"
the famous star said once. He was
my first dramatic teacher"
Life in the Northern metropolis
was disagreeable to young Will
Bankhead, however, and he returned
to his native soil to practice law
with his brother John. He dabbled
in politics and during his early years
served in the State Legislature and
held municipal Office. In New York
he belonged to Tammany Hall and
campaigned for William Jennings
Bryan
Nominated Oscar W. Underwood.
In 1912 he was the boy orator"
chosen to nominate Oscar w. Un-
derwood for the presidency at the
Democratic convention in Baltimore
where Woodrow Wilson was named
He made his first run for Con-
sress in 1914, but was beaten by w.
B. Oliver. The district was divided
in 1916 and Mr.. Bankhead was sent
to Congress for the first time. Years
later it was Representative Oliver
who presented Representative Bank
heads name to the Democratic eau
Gus which named him floor leader.
During the early years in Wash
ington Mr.. Bankhead feared that
his colleagues might withdraw their
support and he therefore invested
his savings in land.
They always kick you out" he
explained, "and in that event, I
want to be kicked into COW pas
ture"
But they returned him year after
year. The Representative followed
his fathers advice and made study
of the floor rules. He became an
able parliamentarian and it was not
unusual for the elder Bankhead to
be presiding over the Senate while
his son banged the gavel in the
House.
Chairman Of Rules Committee.
After almost 10 years of service
Mr.. Bankhead became chairman Of
the Rules Committee. While In
that place he campaigned for the
speakership in 1884 but withdrew in
favor of Joseph w. Byrns and be-
came candidate for floor leader in
stead.
Mr.. Byrns was elected Speaker
and the caucus named Mr. Bank
head leader-the first time since
1861 that two Southerners had been
named to the ranking congressional
posts. This was called the blow
that killed sectionalism forever.
When Speaker Byrns died during
the closing days of the session in
1886, the Democrats found them
selves confronted with a situation
for which there was no precedent
1t was the first time that Speaker
had died while Congress was in SEES
sion. Party leaders called on the
popular floor leader to take the post
and he was elected without opposi-
ton as the 45th Speaker Of the
House during hushed, three min
ute congressional session. He was
twice reelected.
He had supported the New Deal
consistently and with his brother
had sponsored the Bankhead Cot
ton Control Act. an integral part Of
the Roosevelt farm program
His Fairness Praised.
The House paid tribute to him
on the occasion of his 65th birth
day. April II. 1899. At that time
House Minority Leader Joseph w
Martin rose to praise-on behalf of
the entire Republican membership
the Speakers fairness in presiding.
In the days before the last Demo-
cratic convention Speaker Bankhead
was mentioned for the presidential
nomination. He said, however, that
he would not be candidate in op-
position to Mr.. Roosevelt.
He was chosen as the keynote
speaker at this convention. deliver
ing a defense of the New Deal and
Of the Roosevelt foreign policies.
His name was placed before the
convention when nominations were
opened for the second place on the
ticket.
Speaker Bankhead gave the ad-
ministration floor leaders some anx-