Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-07
Nine Young Men
In Senate Emerge as
Powerful New Group
Freshmen Republicans
Meet, Eat, Study and
Vote Together
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
A powerful new group-"The Nine
Young Men'-emerged yesterday as
factor IN the Senate.
The nine new Republican Sena-
tors say their election over eXpe-
rlenced incumbents indicates deer
dissatisfaction of the voters over the
way the Nations business is being
run, and they intend to do some
thing about it.
So they arc working together
studying together, gathering at least
once a week for lunch and, signifi-
cantly. they already have voted as
a unit more than once.
They are to attend a dinner to-
night at which former President
Hoover will be the guest of honor
The dinner, to be given by William
r, Castle, Assistant Secretary of
State in Mr.. Hoover's administra-
ton, will be informal The former
President is here to testify tomor-
row before Senate committee in
vestigating manpower.
The nine disclaim any intention
Of usurping leadership from the
man who held the line for their
party when its Senate representa-
ton was far more slender than the
present 38. They look to Minority
Leader MCNarY for counsel and had
him as guest of honor at one Of
their Wednesday luncheons which
are becoming a weekly feature on
Capitol Hill
Vandenberg Is Godfather"
Oddly. the strategy luncheons
grew out Of a treat by Vice Presi-
dent Wallace. Early in the session
that ranking Democrat invited all
freshman Senators to noon get
together" The nine new Repub-
1icans and two new Democratic
members were on hand After the
ice cream the Democrats drifted
off. but the Republicans stayed to
talk.
Since then the nine have met
regularly They have a standing
Wednesday noon reservation in a
private Capitol dining room known
as the Vandenberg room.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican.
OF Michigan, for whom the room is
named, might qualify as sort of
godfather for the nine. They con-
suit him frequently, have invited
him to two Of their sessions and re-
call that he once was the spark
plug of similar group of out
spoken Senate newcomers - the
young Turks of more than a decade
ago whom former Senator Moses of
New Hampshire called sons of the
wild jackass."
"Inquisitive Bunch"
The nine young men-some really
aren't so young. but they laughingly
acknowledge the name-have no
formal organiza ton and say they
want none. They are Senators
Buck of Delaware, Bushf1eld of
South Dakota. Ferguson of Mich
igan, Hawkes. of New Jersey, Moore
of Oklahoma. Revercomb of West
Virginia, Robertson of Wyoming,
VllCi y VI lNSUl df>hc diIQ W4iSOIl VI
Iowa. All but one displaced Dem
ocrat Senator Wherry succeeds the
veteran George Norris, Nebraska
Independent.
Were not organizing to upset
anything Senator Ferguson de-
clared in an interview. We're not
organizing as group; we're just
discussing things together.
You know, we're an inouisitive
bunch of fellows who want to know
the why of things. We're not here
as politicians, and I don't believe
there is one among us who cares a
rap whether he comes back. We Just
want to get at the truth-and truth
is the hardest thing in the world
to find"
They have adopted a simple way
to make sure they miss nothing Of
Importance when the Senate is in
session They stay in their seats in
stead Of wandering to the cloak
room for a smoke.