The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-05-04
Michigan in
Washington
Esther Van Wagner Tufty


publicans in Congress these days
is TO figure out what the setup
will be, when and il they gain con
troll OF the Senate and House.
So many OF the Michigan dele
cation are veterans that such an
upset would put several into top
notch posts, with the traditional
seniority rules making II possible
TO predict the lineup right now.
In the Senate. Arthur II. Van
denberg who was one OF the small
band OF 16 Republicans left in
the early New Deal days, will be
caught in a delightful choice be
tween several major posts.
At once. he will realize his long
time ambition 10 be President pro
tempore OF the Senate. In 1882,
1886, and 1871, he was his Repub-
lican colleagues choice, but, OF
course. the Democratic nominee
was chosen by the out-numbering
party in power. 1.-TWO other Mich
igan senators, Lewis Case, in 1854,
and Thomas W. Terry, in 1875,
have had this honor.
Just as certain is his advance
to the craftsmanship OF some ma
ior Senate committee. In fact, he
will probably get a headache de-
Gliding which one to choose.....he
is the ranking member on three
ami ~ q ~ y a
Rules. and Territories and Insular
Affairs. 1t isn't customary.
the Senate doesn't like to depart
from the customary" be chair
man Of more than one committee.
Anyway, lot Of extra work is in
volyed as well as prestige. OF
those three, the Michigan senator
would prefer the major committee,
Finance, where he has distinguish
ed himself many times. most no
tably. perhaps, on social security
legislation.
But his choice isn't that simple.
He's near the top on two other
major Foreign Rela-
tons and Commerce. In his heart,
] suspect he would rather be chair
man OF the Foreign Relations Com
mittee than any other. Hes the
third ranking Republican. Sena-
tor Hiram W. Johnson, in failing
health, is the ranking member.
Ahead OF Vandenberg, too, is Ar
thur Capper but Capper might pre-
fer to be chairman of Agriculture
since he's from the farm state of
Kansas. On Commerce. Nanden-
berg's the second Republican, again
topped by Senator Johnson OF Cal
ifornia. (Of course, he can hope
that Johnson would prefer Com
merce to Foreign Relations. Also.
it's possible that some Republicans
might urge Johnson not TO take
Foreign Relations since his opin-
ions do not reflect the interna-
tional attitude OF the Republicans
OF todayD
One thing is certain. No Repub-
lican, and few Democrats in the
Senate. will begrudge the Michi-
gan senator any new honor a Re-
publican victory at election would
bring He was the leader during
the party's lean years in the Sen
ate. AS one reporter puts 1.-THE
only one who could hit page one
of the New York Times in the first
days of the New Deal"
The junior senator from Michi-
gan, Homer Ferguson, would not
be much affected by an election
swing-oyer. As a first termer, he's
not piled up much seniority. Most
~. It would be just an added pres
.tige ....and sponsibility.-..-to be
member Of the party running the
show.
over on the House side. Mich
igan veterans would advance to
key posts. Although : OF the IL
have served 10 years or more, the
chances for any of them to be
Speaker Of the House are slim.
That will go. without a doubt TO
the present minority Leader Jo-
seph Martin. OF Massachusetts,
when and if the House goes Repub-
lican.
But the man who Is likely to
step into Joseph Martins present
job is Congressman Earl Michener
already assistant minority leader.
This is the Adrian Republicans
2ith year in the House. Known as
an excellent parliamentarian, he's
considered an authority on the
Rules committee. The man with
the most years OF service to his
credit is Roy Woodruff, OF Bay
city, who has been honored as
chairman Of the Republican con
ference and again by the Michi-