The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1943-01-28
FDR,S SURPRISE

FDR'S SURPRISE
One thing that didn't get out about
the surprise" party at the White
House for Speaker Sam Rayburn, on
Sans 61st birthday, was a little
frill added by the President.
Rayburn was called to the White
House with other congressional lead
ers ostensibly to discuss the legis-
lative program for the new session.
But when the group arrived, all but
Rayburn were uShered into the pri-
vate Office of Economic Stabilizer
Jimmy Byrnes.
The speaker was told that the
President wished to see him alone
for few minutes.
The two men discussed legisla-
tive problems for a few minutes.
Meantime, the President was keep
ing sharp eye on the clock. Sud-
denly he broke out:
Sam, the reason I asked you to
come in here alone was to discuss
a personal matter that has been
worrying me-"
Rayburn eyed him curiously, said
nothing.
''It's about you, SAM" continued
the President without batting an
eyelash. Were old friends and
feel can talk to you frankly. I've
got reports from Capitol Hill that
the Democrats are dissatisfied with
your leadership. They think you're
getting too old to be speaker"
At that precise moment, Demo-
cratic Congressman Cliff Woodrum
of Virginia, Bob Ramspeck of Geor-
gia, Republican Leader Joe Martin
of Massachusetts, Rep. Jim Wads-
worth of New York and other house
members burst into the Presidents
office, led by Jimmy Byrnes.
Together they began singing
Happy Birthday to YOU at the top
of their voices.
THAT was perfect timing, fell
lows" beamed the President. He
had planned it all very carefully
himself.
JOE MARTIN VS.. SAM RAYBURN
Privately Republican Leader Joe
Martin never had any intention Of
letting the Republicans organize
congress and elect him as speaker.
Until 1914, this responsibility is the
last thing he wants.
However, the canny Republican
leader took keen delight in keep
ing the opposition guessing and car
ried on his little joke until the very
last.
When he marched into Speaker
Rayburn's Office with the commit
tee that was to escort Rayburn to
the floor, following his reelection,
Martin was grinning from ear to
ear.
"Sam," he said, I've got some
bad news for you. hope you can
hold up under the shock. You've
been reelected speaker"
MERRY-GO-ROUND
q Jeeps which have been delivered
to Mexico from the United States
have earned the nickname 'las Gu
carachas" (the cockroaches).
G Undersecretary of War Patterson
is so busy he has to send messen-
ger out to buy his shoe laces.
q Under current military rule in
Hawaii, the army takes about 81 800
monthly from The civilian govern
ment's budget and uses it for prop
uganda and publicity to keep itself
IN power.
q Soldiers and marines on Guadal-
canal may not be aware Of it, but
one thing they are fighting for is rub
Der. As soon as our position In the
Solomons is stabilized it viii be pos
sibIe to start gathering wild rubber.
The amounts will be small, but a
symbol of what we can get when
we begin the reconquest of the great
network of Pacific islands.
q Even Secretary Stimson struggles
over place names on the Russian
front. He has a hard time with
Rzhev and Voronezh.
@ Raymond Massey, who starred In
ABE Lincoln IN Illinois, is the envy
of all Hollywood. He is the only
actor to anyone's knowledge VINO
has already paid his 1912 income
taxes, not due until March Is. He
had to pay them before the U. S.
government would let him out OF
the country to join the Canadian
army. As a Canadian colonel, he
now gets 81, coo year-less than he
raid his servants IN Hollywood.