Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-11
Bloody-but Unbowed


Senator Barley of Kentucky, vet
eran OF many a sharp fight in the
Upper House, emerged from the
recent Democratic senatorial caucus
with an unbowed, if slightly bloody,
mead. He retained his leadership of
the senate Democrats. Indeed, the
vote for his reelection was unani-
nous. At that point, however. the
unanlmity OF the Democrats van
lshed. A group of Democratic Sena-
TORS, particularly aroused over the
manner in which Senator Barley
had personally given the right of way
IN the Senate to the anti-poll tax
Dill during the last session of Con-
gress, had something up the sleeve.
1t turned out to be motion to elect
two Senators to fill vacancies in the
Democratic Steering Committee.
In itself, the motion appeared in
nocent enough, without any particu-
lar significance. 1t has been the
practlce, or the custom, to have ap-
polntments to the Steering Commit
tee made by the party leader. The
proposal, therefore, to elect to fill
these vacancies was Immediately
construed by Senator Barley and
his more ardent supporters as q slap
at his leadership, as, indeed, it was.
AT the bottom OF the row was the
bitter feeling on the part of Demo-
Gratis from the Southern States
growing out of the anti-poll tax fight.
They had insisted the bill was un-
constitutional, and that it was
matter which should be left entirely
to the States-in this case States of
the South-to handle.
The plan had been to place, by
election, Senators Bailey of North
Caroline and Overton of Louisiana
on the Steering Committee. The
proposal to elect members of the
Steering Committee was rejected by
vote Of thirty-four to twenty, only
after Senator Barley had threat
ened to resign from his Office Of
leader if the resolution should be
adopted.
Just where this fracas has left the
Democratic leader, and the party as
whole in the Senate, has not yet been
determined. There is an unpleas-
ant suspicion that the Democratic
leader might have the carpet pulled
from under his feet at any time, or
at time when it might be par
ticularly important to keep a ma
jority of the Senate in line for an
administration measure. Mr.. Bark
ley has still to appoint the Senators
to fill the two vacancies in the Steer
ing Committee. He could, II he
wished, smooth troubled waters by
appointing the two Senators whom
the insurgents had selected to elect"
to the committee. To do so, how
ever, would be to increase the anti
New Deal strength in the Steering
Committee, which already is con-
siderable.
The caucus, having continued
Senator Barkley's power to appoint
members of the Steering Committee,
adopted resolution calling for more
frequent meetings of that committee
to pass upon the legislative program.
In this resolution, Senator Barley
concurred. AS matter of fact he
had called the Steering Committee
together couple Of times in the
closing weeks of the last session.
after the filibuster of the Senators
from the Democratic South had
killed the anti-poll tax bill. How
ever. it eased the feelings of some of
the Barley opponents, who had been
bitter because he did not have Steer
ing Committee action on the poll tax
measure.
The Steering Committee also acts
as committee on committees, ar
ranging the assignment of Senators
to the standing committees. For
that reason, too, it may have been
important to keep the selection of
its members within the hands of the
Democratic leader-who also is re-
garded as the administration leader
in the Senate
The path of Senator Barley, as
leader, has not always been easy.
Nevertheless he has shown himself
leader of f1rmness and, when occa-
sion demanded, of tact. 1t looks as
though, in the. session OF Congress
now getting under way, it will be
especially necessary for him to exer-
else the latter quality.