Imperial Valley press., 1942-05-25
CAPITAL TALKS
by
Peter
Edison

the singing of Deep in the Heart
of Texas" but every Wednesday
noon the congressional delegation
from the Lone Star State has
lunch together in the private din
ing room of the speaker of the
House.
They can do that, of course, be-
cause Speaker Sam Rayburn is
from Texas and he invites the del
egation in to use the accommoda-
tionS of his office as meeting place
The speaker is host. but the affair
is strictly dutch treat and not at
government expense.
Every member of the dele
CATION can invite guests, and
every important Texas politi-
clan, banker, oil man, plains
man or cattleman who comes
to Washington OH a WedneS-
day manages to drop i'm on his
congressman and get invited.
All guests are introduced and
so. for the mid-week lunch hour
at least. the heart of Texas is
deep i'm Washington. The Hon.
Wright Patman presides. There
are no set speeches, but about
the only subject of conversation
heard or listened to is Texas
and folks back home.
The talk is all as flat "a, silent
"g" and braSsy "r" as you'll hear
at any Panhandle or brandin' bar
becuel They even eat barbecued
steer meat. If they didn't, the del
egation would hear about it from
every rancher in the state.
This Texas delegation in Con-
gress is somethin. One or both of
the senators, Tom Connally, the
blushing bridegroom, and Pappy
CDaniel, usually stroll over from
the other side of the capitol to
break Biscuits with the 81 repre-
sentativeS. The number is reduced
to 20 now by Lyndon Johnson S
| absence on leave to serve as a
commander in the Navy, though his
wife, Lady Bird Johnson, who has
stayed in Washington to run the
office for him without pay, some
times is invited, for the affair is
stag except on SPECIAL occasions like
honoring the new WAAC Major
Hobby
The delegation doesn't have
to worry about or be embar-
raised by Republicans, who just
don't get elected in Texas. The
Democrats down there fight
among themselves like wildcats
in the primaries, New Dealers
lining up against conservatives,
and machines going all out for
some candidate. Victory in
primary is as good as election
in Texas, however, so when the
run-Offs are over, it's all just
one big happy family again.
To see the delegation chewing
Wednesday beef, it's picture of
beautiful brotherly love and af-
fection in the wholesome, herman
Texas way Behind the scenes there
may be jealousies. Speaker Ray
burn and Senator Connally aren't
believed to be any too co-opera-
tive, Pappy O'Daniel is respected
largely for his ability as guitar
player. Lyndon Johnson was con-
sidered too New Dealish for some,
Martin Dies is, Well-Martin Dies.
But by and large, this is a
| Texas gang and it sticks together
to pack a terrific punch in the
conduct of the affairs of the lower
House. All of its members have
lived most of their lives in Texas,
BeckWorth of Gi,mer, who is 30
from baby Congressman Lindley
to wise old Judge Hatton w Sum
ners of Dallas. Only five were born
outside the state - ODaniel, who
originated in Ohio; Rayburn and
Robert E Thomason, who were
born in Tennessee, and Ed GosSett
and working young George
H. Mahon, who came across the
border from Louisiana.
In the House of Representatives
this Texas delegation is so assigned
to committees that their finger is
in every important pie. OF the so
standing committees which steer
the affairs of the House, you will
find Texans on all but eight, and
those eight aren't any too import
ant, being largely concerned with
readin', writin' and such literary
matterS-committeeS on educations,
library, printing memprials, and
so on. But how they ever over
looked even those eight is a myst-
cry.
OF the score of Texas con-
gressmen, five hold chairman
ships of important committees
Judge Summers of Judiciary,
Fritz Lanham of Public Build
ings and Grounds, Joseph J.
Mansfield of Rivers and Har-
bOrs, Wright Patman of Small
Business, and Martin Dies of
the Select Committee on I'm
American Activities. And in ad-
dition they have Speaker Ray
burn, boss of the whole works,
Other states have larger delega-
tions than Texas, but because of
it's solidity, its lack of opposition,
the strategical placement Of its
members on committees and their
willingness to work together as a
unit, 40 state delegation Wie.ds
more influence, and none has more
color when you consider such per-
sonalities as Connally, ODaniel,
Joseph jefferson Mansfield in his
wheeled chair, Summers, Dies and
Richard M. Kleberg of the fabulous
King ranch, who, with his pet rifle,
will shoot a hole in half-do.lar
if you throw it up in the air for
him.
Armaments for sale to the gov
ernment are exempt from price
cnilinoe An ELECTRIC tricycle. nnerat-