Evening star., 1941-04-09
Sheppard Death May
Reopen Craftsmanship
OF D. T.. Committee
Reynolds Likely TO Take
Over Military Affairs Post
Under Seniority Rule
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

The death OF senator Sheppard,
Democrat, of Texas may again
throw open the craftsmanship Of
the District committee, which was
only recently assigned 70 Senator
Reynolds, Democrat, of North Caro-
lima.
The death of Senator Sheppard
leaves vacant the chairmanship of
the Military Affairs Committee and.
under the seniority rule, Senator
Reynolds is in line for that i'm
portant post if he sees fit to take 1t.
Serate leaders, of course. will
give no thought to filling Senator
Sheppard's assignments for several
days and probably longer, but top
place on the Military Affairs Com
mittee is a position no Senator
would be likely to turn down, ex-
cept for one Of equal Importance,
especially at this time when nearly
all congressional activity revolves
around national defense.
Seniority Lineup.
If Senator Reynolds takes over
military affairs the seniority lineup
on the District Committee would re-
main as follows: Senators Glass Of
Virginia, Tydings of Maryland
Bankhead of Alabama, McCarran of
Nevada. Bilbo of Mississippi. Over
ton of Louisiana, Hughes of Della
ware and Clark of Idaho.
Reynolds Pays Tribute.
Senator Reynolds declined to
comment this morning on the chair
manship situation, out of respect
for his deceased colleague. He said
upon arrival at his Office he had
only just heard of Senator Shep-
pards death, and did not indicate
what his decision would be on ac-
ceptance of the Military Affairs
Committee post. He paid high trib-
ute, however, to Senator Sheppard's
career.
Il don't think I have ever known
finer or more conscientious repre-
sentative of the people than Nor
ris Sheppard" said Senator Rey-
nolds. He was indeed typical of
the great State of Texas in his sim
cerity and love for the Nation. The
cause of temperance. in my opin-
ion. has lost its greatest leader.
for he was truly representative of
temperance. He not only preached
it, but practiced it, and his annual
address to, the Senate on the sub
ject was appreciated by those not
in accordance with his views as well
as those who agreed with him be-
cause he was the emblem of sim
cerity."
Senators Glass. Tydings and
Bankhead already have other chair
and were not regarded as
possible appointees when the Dis
trict post was open three months
ago.
Senator McCarran was in line for
the Craftsmanship in January and
was offered it by the Democratic
Steering Committee, but declined,
before Senator Reynolds was chosen.
There were no indications today
Senator McCarran would change his
mind.
Since January Senator McCarran
has become head of special
Judiciary Subcommittee on District
Suffrage and is preparing to start
hearings soon on that subject. He
has taken an active part in the con-
sideration of all major local prob
lens for the past seven years.
Sympathetic Attitude.
Senator Reynolds entered whole
heartedly into his work as District
chairman and has shown sympa-
thetic attitude toward the solution
of major problems confronting
Washington. He made Senator
Overton head of subcommittee
on the important question of fiscal
relations with the Federal Govern
ment and the Louisiana Senator
already has obtained Senate passage
of his land-acreage formula for
equitable adjustment of the annual
Federal payment toward District ex-
penseS.
The traffic situation, made more
acute by national defense expan-
sion, also commanded early atten-
ton of Chairman Reynolds, and he
has been giving serious thought