The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-24
HISTORY MAKING TALK
Administration Wheelhorse
Revolts Against Presi-
dents Actions

Confronted with flaming revolt
in Congress, President Roosevelt
tonight pleaded with Alben w.
Barley not to go through with his
resignation as majority leader Of
the Senate.
In history-making speech ear.
lier in the day, Barley, longtime
administration wheelhorse, had
broken with the President and an.
nounced his resignation as leader
in a bitter protest against the veto
of the $2,315, 100000 tax bill.
Tonight, the President, out OF
the city at an undisclosed place,
sent telegram which was deliv.
cred to Barkley's home by Presi-
dental Secretary Stephen Early.
May REFLECT Him
1t began 'Dear Alben" and said
Il sincerely hope that you will not
persist in your announced intention
to resign 1t added that if Barley
did resign, the President hoped his
colleagues would either refuse to
accept the resignation or else unan-
imously re-elect him. The latter
course is what some of the Sena.
tors are planning to follow.
The President told Barley he
was wrong in believing that the
veto message attacked the integri-
ty of members of Congress.
''Such you must know was not
my Intention" Mr.. Roosevelt de-
clared.
Many Serious Problems
with the many serious prob
lens daily confronting us, it is
inevitable that at times you should
differ with your colleagues and diff
fer with me- the President con-
tinued.
Il am sure that your differing
with your colleagues does not less
en- their confidence in you as lead
err. Certainly your differing with
me does not affect my confidence
in your leadership nor in any de-
gree lessen my respect and affec-
ton for you personally"
Barley was in seclusion and his
reaction to the Presidents plea
was unavailable.
Spreading Rebellion
Barkley's speech was a symptom
of spreading rebellion in the Sem
ate over the veto message in which
the President called the tax bill
much too small and said it was
relief bill for the greedy"
In the House, Rep. Doughton
D-N. c. 80 year old chairman
of the tax-writing Ways and Means
Committee, declared in effect that
the President was asking Congress
to accept dictation. That is where
I part company with the President
of the United States" said Dough-
ton.
Many other members joined
Barley and Doughton in their
stand, and administration men
freely predicted that the veto would
be OV6r-r1QQeH.
Fearening Applause
Deafening applause role d
through the staid Senate chamber
as Barley, who had supported
Roosevelt through thick and thin
for Il years, shouted that the Pres
ident was guilty of making mac
curate statements and of a de
liberate and calculated a S ault
upon the int gritty" of Congress.
For years, he said, he had car
ried the flag of Franklin D. Roose-
welt" - sometimes with little help
from the Viii. House - but he
could not take this unjustifiable
assault lying down.
Democratic colleagues inmedi-
ately laid plans to re-elect Bark
ley as leader tomorrow-an action
which would emphasize the Presi.
dents loss of control of a legis1a-
ture where his word once was law.
Politicians tonight were trying to
gauge the tremendous political po-
charlottesville effect upon the
1914 campaign - of the stunning
split between the President and the
Continued on Page Two; Col. 81