Evening star., 1941-06-23
Roosevelt Voices
Sorrow Over Death
Of Senator Harrison
Choirmonship Shukeup
May Put Connolly at
Head of Finance Group

AS friends, led by PRESIDENT
Roosevelt, expressed sadness at the
death OF Senator Pat Harrison of
Mississippi and paid tribute to his
service, political circles speculated
on a successor
A shake-up of Senate committee
chairmanships, caused by the death
of Senator Harrison may make Sen
ator Connally. Democrat, of Texas
head of the powerful Finance Com
mlttee.
Senator Harrison was chairman
of the committee. Ranking below
him. in order of seniority, were Sem
ators George, Democrat, of Georgia,
Walsh, Democrat. of Massachusetts,,
Barkley. Democrat, of Kentucky and
Mr.. Connally. Both Senators
George and Walsh already are chair
men of important committees.
Senator Barkley is ma jority leader
and is expected to retain that post.
Senator George holds the current
" vital Craftsmanship of the Foreign
Relations Committee. However, over
a long period of years, the Finance
Committee would be considered the
more important and Senator George
might prefer to give up his present
Craftsmanship to head the tax body,
Walsh May Be Offered Post.
Should Senator George remain,
! the finance Craftsmanship would be
/ offered to Senator Walsh. He is
chairman of the Naval Affairs Com
mittee, to which he is considered
closely attached because of the
naval establishments in and near
his State.
Senator Connolly now is third
ranking member of the Foreign Re-
lation's Committee. Senator Har-
rison's death elevated Senator Wag-
ner. Democrat, of New York to second
ranking position, just under Senator
George. Should Senator George
take the Finance Committee. Sena-
tor Wagner would succeed him as
leader of the foreign relations group.
In that case, Senator Connally
probably would become the active
head of foreign relations because
of Senator Wagners health. The
New Yorker has been absent from
the Senate several months because
of illness.
In Jackson, Miss. according to
the Associated Press, political OBJ
servers listed three possible interim
appointees to succeed Senator Har-
rison, and believed that four others
might be candidates for the re-
mainder of the term which expires
in January. 1943.
Gov. Paul B. johnson said he
would make no announcement of
the 9o-day interim appointment
until after the funeral. One group
expressed belief the Governor might
resign his Office and be appointed
by Lieut.. Gov. Murphee. The other
two possibilities were the Senator S
widow, and T. M. Hederman, Jack
son editor.
Prospective Candidates.
The four men talked of as candi-
dates were Representative Collins,
Mike Conner and Hugh White,
former Governors. and Attorney
General Greek L. Rice.
The election of a President pro-
tempore was expected in Senate
circles to be postponed for some
time. When Senator Harrison be-
came i'll, he appointed Senator
Glass, Democrat, Virginia, as act
ing President pro tempore. Senator
Connolly, Democrat, of Texas, 1t
was believed, will head the Finance
Committee.
In his tribute to Senator Harrison,
President Roosevelt said that pat
Harrison's friendship was a privilege
to me personally for 30 years. He
will be sadly missed in this hour
of grave emergency"
Vice President Wallace said ut
Margate, N. j.:
mo man commanded more 10y
atty. respect and affection from his
colleagues in the Senate than did
Pat Harrison. His loss will be felt
not only by his Senate colleagues,
but by all people in the Nation"
Secretary Of State Hull said he