Evening star., 1944-02-26

STATE Funeral Rites
For Senator MeNary
Ruled Out by Wife
The death Of Charles L. Nc
Nary. SO, veteran Oregon Sena-
tor and Republican leader In the
upper chamber for the last dec
ade, brought expressions OF grief
from scores of prominent Amer
leans today and, in the political
realm, threatened further dis
cord In the relations between
Congress and the White House.
The lanky. sandy -haired Senator,
whose personal friendship with Pres
ident Roosevelt and suave diplomacy
on the Senate floor often has oiled
the machinery OF Government in
these critical days, died at 3 pm.
yesterday at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
He went there last December to
recuperate from an operation for the
removal of brain tumor, performed
at the Naval Medical Center at
Bethesda.
Death came Unexpectedly to the
Senator, who recently had been able
to take short walks and appeared to
be regaining his strength. With him
when he died were Mrs. McNary,
their adopted daughter, Charlotte. 3,
and the Senator's sister -in-law, Miss
Mary Louise Morton of Washington.
Mrs. McNary has advised Senate
leaders that she does not desire a
state funeral. The Senator's BODY
accompanied by Mrs. McNary, Char
lotte and Miss Morton, will leave
Fort Lauderdale tonight BY train.
arriving in Portland, Greg, at GAS
am. next Thursday, according to the
Associated Press. Funeral services
are scheduled for the following day
Meanwhile. 1t Is expected that
memorial services for the late Sem
ator would be held In the Senate
chamber here and that a committee
OF Senators will be appointed to
attend the ceremonies in OREGON
The President, who is recuperatinp
from an illness, probably will not be
able to attend.
Was Reelected Thursday.
Only Thursday Senate Repub-
means reelected the Oregonian As
their leader, expecting him to return
70 MS seat soon. At the same meet
Ing Senator Vandenberg of Mich
1gan was chosen vice chairman of
the Republican Senate conference
while Senator White of Maine was
named assistant floor leader in SEN
ator McNary's absence.
The sudden death of Senator Nc
Nary now throws wide open the
question of Republican leadership
IN the Senate, and raises the possi-
oility Of new difnculties for the ad-
ministration.
For the Oregonian, while an ar
cent party man, was regarded as a
liberal and saw eye to eye with the
President on much OF the New Deals
social legislation. More, he was q
personal friend of Mr.. Roosevelt.
maintained cordial relations with
Stephen T. Early. White House Sec
retary. and often played golf with
Vice Admiral Ross T. McIntire. the
Presidents personal physician.
While q vigorous party leader,
Senator McNary sought to Coop
crate with the Democratic ma jority
when points Of political difference
were not TO clearly cut. He fire.
quently was consulted by the White
House or by Majority Leader Bark
ley on proposed legislation, and
whether the Oregonian raised the
red or green signal often determined
whether legislation should be intro
,duced.
vandenberg May Get Post.
Political observers pointed out
that II the Republicans now replace
him with 4 less cooperative leader.
relations between the White House
and Senate. already strained by
Senator Barkley's recent rebellion
over the tax bill veto, may be crit
ically impaired.
Mentioned rs likely successors to
Senator McNary are Senators VAN
denberg, White. Taft OF Ohio and
Bridges Of New Hampshire. Lead
ers forecast that no choice would
be made for at least 4 fortnight.
The Senator's death reduces the
Republican strength in the Senate
to 36, but as Gov. Earl Smell Of Ore
gon Is a Republican. he is expected
to name Senator McNary's successor
from his own party. Gov. Smell him.
self Is reported to have senatorial
aspirations. and 1t may be that he
Will select some one willing to serve
only until the elections this fall.
Had Humble Start.
Senator McNary's career followed
rather closely the typical American
pattern with which every schoolboy
Is familiar-a slow rise from obscur-
ity by virtue of faithfully performed
public duty, 4 pleasant personality,
native political shrewdness and an
admixture of luck.
His beginnings were humble
enough. Born on an Oregon farm
near Salem, now included in his
pretentious estate, Fircone, the fu-
ture Senator was the youngest Of
10 children. His mother died when
he was 4, and he was reared by an
elder sister.
The youthful McNary managed
by work and saving to study for
three years at Stanford University,
but did not graduate. In 1898 he
successfully passed the Oregon bar
examination. After several years rs
an obscure young lawyer, he became
assistant to his brother John, district