Evening star., 1944-01-26
Death Of Van Nuys
MAY Make BiIbo Head
OF District Committee

The death of Senator Van Nuys,
Democrat, of Indiana will not
change party strength in the Senate
pending the next election. since the
Hoosier State has a Democratic
Governor. No indication of who
will be appointed to finish his term
is expected, however, until after the
funeral
Senate officials today were await
ing the return of Mrs. Van Nuys
from the West before announcing
funeral arrangements for their COL
league. whose death yesterday at his
home in Vienna, Va, will necessitate
changes in the chairmanships of
several committees.
Senator McCarran. Democrat, of
Nevada, now head Of the District
Committee, Is slated to succeed the
Indianan as chairman of the i'm
portant Judiciary Committee.
Senator Bilbo, Democrat of Mis-
sissippi, now chairman of the Pen
sions Committee, may take over the
helm Of the District Committee,
although he has refrained from
discussing the question.
McCarran Would Shift.
Senator McCarran said that If it
was necessary for him to relinquish
the Craftsmanship of the District
Committee to accept the judiciary
Craftsmanship he would do so.
Senator Van Nuys' seat would
have been at issue In the Novem-
Der elections this year had he lived.
He was elected the last time in
1888.
In 1898, there was movement in
the State Democratic organization to
deny Senator Van Nuys renomina-
ton, but he threatened to run as an
independents move which would
have split the party vote and assured
election of a Republican-and the
Indiana Democratic convention
yielded. The opposition was based
principally on his refusal to support
President Roosevelt's Supreme Court
reorganization plan in 1887.
Foe Of Prohibition.
A bitter foe Of prohibition, Senator
Van Nuys was elected originally in
1882 on a repeal platform, unseating
the veteran Republican James E.
Watson, and at the time of his
death was conducting an investiga-
ton Of the liquor shortage and
monopoles he contended had sprung
up in the industry. His current
legislative efforts also included
sponsorship of an antilynching bill
which is pending before the Judi
ciary Committee.
Although opposing the administra-
ton on some domestic issues, Sem
ator Van Nuys was firm supporter
OF President Roosevelt's foreign
policies. His vote broke a commit
tee tie and gave favorable commit
tee report In 1889 to the Presidents
proposal to repeal the arms embargo
which had prevented large-scale
American aid to Britain.
Senator and Mrs. Van Nuys, the
former Marie Krug. had one son,
William, a lieutenant in the Naval
Air Corps, who is serving overseas.
Died Of Hemorrhage.
With Senator Van Nuys' death, the
Democrats hold 81 Senate seats, the
Republicans 81 and the Progressive
party /. However, Democratic
successor to Senator Van Nuys Is
expected to be appointed by Demo-
cratic Gov. Henry F. Schricker.
Because of a slight cold, Senator
Van Nuys had stayed away from the
Senate for several days. but called
no physician and remained at his
home in Virginia.
DR.. Thomas M. Peery, Washington
physician, who performed an autopsy
on Senator Van Nuys' body, reported
to Fairfax County Coroner T. B
McCord that the Senator died from
a hemorrhage.