Evening star., 1941-04-10
Senate Adjourns
In Sorrow al Death
OF Morris Sheppard
Il Members Numed to
Attend Funeral Services
At Texorkunu Saturday
BY j. A. OLEARY.


ris Sheppard, Democrat, of Texas
and adjourned Immediately as a
further mark of respect to the dean
of Congress.
In an atmosphere of hushed si-
lence, Acting Majority Leader Con-
nally of Texas announced officially
the death of his colleague and
offered the resolution under which
81 Senators were appointed to at
tend the funeral in TeXarkana, Tex,
Saturday.
AS the Senate convened, White
House messenger was at the door
with President Rooseve1t's message
on taking over of foreign vessels in
American ports. InaSmuch as the
Senate was due to adjourn until
Monday, the message was received
without reading.
~As a matter of national defense,
and the chair is sure, in conformity
with what would be the wish OF our
friend, we shall receive a message
from the President" said Vice Presl-
dent Wallace.
Tribute in Opening Prayer.
The opening prayer of the session
bv the Senate chaplain, the Rev. DR..
Ze Barney T. Phillips, also con-
sisted of a tribute to the late chair
man of the Military Affairs Com
mittee.
The Senate committee appointed
TO attend the funeral consists OF
Senators Connally of Texas, Barkley
of Kentucky, McNary OF Oregon,
McKellar of Tennessee. Harrison OF
Mississippi, Thomas OF Oklahoma.
Bankhead of Alabama, White OF
Maine. Austin of Vermont, CaraWay
of Arkansas, Reynolds OF North
Carolina. CLARK of Missouri, Thomas
of Utah. Hatch of New Mexico, Blloo
of Mississippi, Guffey OF PennSyl-
vania, Radcliffe of Maryland, An
dreWs of Florida, Ellender of Loulsl-
ana, Chandler of Kentucky, Aiken OF
Vermont and Spencer OF Arkansas.
A formal state funeral will not
be held, but the body OF the vet
Gran legislator will lie in state for
three hours this afternoon In the
well of the chamber in which ne
served continuously for more than
a Quarter of a century.
Flood of Messages.
News of the Senator's deatn, alIer
less than a week of illness, brought
a food of condolences from official
Washington, led by President Roose-
welt; from prominent Texans, and,
particularly from leaders of the pro-
hibition cause, to which Senator
Sheppard was devoted.
Meanwhile, it appeared a virtual
certainty today that Senator Rey-
nolds. Democrat, of North Carolina.
would succeed to the Craftsmanship
of the Senate Military Affairs Com
mittee; under the seniority rule, al
though the North Carolinian re-
Trained from comment out of re-
spect to his deceased colleague. To
accept the vacancy. Senator Rey-
nolds would have to resign chair
manship of the District Committee.
The funeral train will leave Union
Station at $40 o'clock tonight Tor
Texarkana, Tex. where funeral
services will be held Saturday after
noon.
The chief topic of political interest
here will be speculation over his
successor.
Under Texas law, the Governor
mus issue a call within 10 days 1or
a special election to be held within
go to 90 days, and among the flrst
names mentioned as possible cand1-
dates was that of the Governor, w.
Lee ODaniel. There are those who
believe Representative Martin Dies,
who has become a national figure
through leadership of the House IN
vestigation into un-American actlvl-
ties, will be a contender for the
Senate seat.
May Appoint Senator.
Pending the election, Gov. ODan-
lei may appoint a Senator, and the
first question that occurred to the
politically minded was whether this
temporary honor might go to the
veteran John N Garner, who went
home to fish and hunt in January
after relinquishing the vice presl-
dency to Henry Wallace.
When Senator Sheppard's body is
brought to the Capitol at 3 o'clock
this afternoon, the f1oWer-covered
casket will be surrounded by mill
tary guard of honor-the Armys
tribute to a man who labored hard
oh nf
Military Affairs Committee.
Tribute From President.
The loyalty Senator Sheppard
gave to the administration in the
key position he occupied in the
launching the defense program was
reflected in the comment of PreSi-
dent Roosevelt, who said of Senator
Sheppard:
"Unspairing of himself, he refused
to heed all warnings of friends that
he was overtaxing his physical re-
sources and he has gone to his &C
count with every obligation to duty
fulfilled.
"He was my firm friend through
many years. His passing brings sim
cere sorrow and a great personal
aoSs."
The "kindliness" and hard work
of the Texan was stressed in the
comment of Vice President Wallace,
and words of praise came also from
prominent citizens of Texas and
other States.
Rayburn Names Delegation.
From Bonham, Tex, came the an
nouncement that Speaker Rayburn
had named the entire Texas delega-
ton in the House to attend the fu-
neral. Expressing his own regret,
the Speaker said:
His passing is national loss,
great casualty of the present emer-
gency. No State had a finer Sena-
tor than Texas in Morris Sheppard.
I grieve for a personal friend and a
great American.
Former Vice President Garner
paid this tribute:
Having served at Washington 80
years with Morris Sheppard, l knew