The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-05
WASHINGTON Daybook
BY JACK STINNETT

BY JACK
WASHINGTON, Feb. A. Whenever a fresh.
man congressman makes the least little bit
of a splurge, attracts even a paragraph OF
attention from his senior colleagues, it's worth
recording.
No "frosh" in a college fraternity is more
beneath the consideration of upper.clasmen
than a first-term representative beneath the
man who outrank him in years OF service.
It's Congress trial by fire and water and any,
one who survives it without encouragement
is entitled to beat his breast and give the old
Tarzan cry in the political jungle.
This fact makes even more unusual the I'm
usual story of William Townsend Pheiffer,
BILLY" Pheiffer, as the boys back home re-
member him, was born out in the Oaky coun.
try when his native Purcell was still in the
Indian Territory. He went to the University
Of Oklahoma, got his law degree and started
practice in Sayre, Okla, later moving to ANA
riIlo, Tex.
PLUNGED INTO POLITICS
Two years ago he moved to New York,
where just another lawyer is about as out
standing as a bubble in the surf. In less time
than it takes to cross the Queensborough
bridge in Sunday traffic, Mr.. Pheiffer was in
New York politics. He couldn't have been far
in, though, because he was a Republican in
that Tammany tigers den. His Sixteenth con-
gressional district is so far over on the East
River that it includes Welfare Island, in mid
stream. Along First, Second and Third ave-
nues there are 291 Irish saloons where the
bartenders' brogues are as thick as the shil-
lalahs they use to bounce off the noggins Of
customers whose political arguments get out
of hand and into fists.
Somehow, this 42-year-old tyro got his hands
on the tigers tail and when he quit twisting,
the Tammany Wigwam was a mess and Mr..
Pheiffer was in Congress.
You would think a fellow like that would
be willing to take a breathing spell, especially
when his assignment as a freshman congress
man is: "First-term children should be seen
-rarely-and not heard at ALL"
LETTERS FOR ALL
But not Mr.. William Townsend Pheiffer.
Having been sworn in with the rest Of the
newcomers, he found that the first problem
in hand was the Administrators "Aid-to-Brit-
ain Bill" So what does Mr.. Pheiffer do? He
sits down and writes letters to all his con-
~stituents asking them: what do you think Of
this?"
I say "all Of his constituents but it was
not quite all. Let Mr.. Pheiffer tell it his own
way:
Dear Constituent-During the campaign I
u " w ANSR q 4AASS1 ol uS pl1SS
Of our congressional district, in order that I
might be informed of the viewpoints of my
constituents on vital issues. The so-called
lease-lend bill, sponsored by the President,
presents a national issue of the utmost i'm
portance. I would like to have YOUR views
on that issue.'
After explaining the terms of the bill, Mr..
Pheiffer says: II cannot afford to send this
letter to each of the $1,000 voters whose names
appear on the 1910 registration lists for our
district. It is being sent to each seventh per-
son on the lists" (At Mr.. Pheiffer's own ex-
pense, he points out.) Hence, after you have
digested the contents of this letter, and taken
such action as you see fit, I will be grateful
if you will pass it on to your neighbors with
the request that they give it the same con
sideration as if they had received it directly
from me-"
CONGRESS TOOK NOTE
Within 10 days or so, Mr.. Pheiffer had re-
ceived, he said, about 5000 replies and his
summary at that point was that his district
favored the bill with definite restrictions"
He said also hat 1.-The radical ones on ootn
sides were in a minority"
But that's not important. What is, IS uaat d
| Congress freshman has established a prece-
dent which the House has taken cognizatlce
| of. even to the extent OF discussing IL.
One old-timer, with a grin and a WINK, pus
it this way: II don't like it. WHAT'S ponies .Cs
| coming to when a man has TO go ~ ..a4
out what his constituents think before ne casS
his Vote?"
The war department, We read, mas oiueieu
$50, 900 worth of rubber bands: Don e. a a.
IL -L~rG frnhnC 2 WIN