The Wilmington morning star., 1946-05-07

WILMINGTON MORNIN
to thousands in the District to say.
My efforts in Congress itself have
not been without some success. I
have been a member of the Rules
Committee on which I rank fourth
for more than twelve years. In
Congressional circles this is con-
sidered important. I have served
on special committees OF impor-
lance and am now serving on the
Special Committee investigating
the attack on Pearl Harbor. The
report of this committee is in
progress of preparation and it
would not be proper for me to go
further than to express the belief
that it will completely vindicate
the name of the late President
Roosevelt and the Honorable Cor
dell Hull against wild and unbound
ed tales persistently spread as
to the conduct of our foreign at
fairs prior to that event
I was a member of the Special
Committee that investigated the
seizure of Montgomery Ward &
Company and wrote a report that
was adopted by the Democratic
members without the change Of a
single word. 1t sustained the power
of the President to do what might
be necessary to keep the home
front moving at a time when we
already had more than three mil
lion American boys overseas.
Though later challenged in the
Courts the position in the report
was sustained.
Closed Markets
Since our section is predomi-
nately agricultural it is not hard
to realize that the prosperity OF
all and of every city and town
must depend at least upon the
prosperity of the farm. Realizing
this and knowing all of my life
by actual experience the hardships
of those who produce the necessl-
ties of life, my major effort as a
member Of Congress has been to
help in putting agriculture on a
sounder and more prosperous
basis. If time permitted reference
might be made to my own actlvi-
ties in 1888 when we closed the
tobacco markets until better prices
could be had. Later I helped to pre-
pare and pass control laws anc
spoke in every county in ou1
District explaining and urging
adoption of them by the growers
When later after a decision O.
the United States Supreme court il
became necessary to change thf
program from a poundage to ar
acreage basis, a suggestion o.
mine to a large group puzzled by
, that problem resulted in my
designation to put the idea in lega
form. 1t was thus that I came tt
draw some of the sections OF the
present law that are most Difficult
from a legal standpoint. I am no
now engaged in farming. I have
never enjoyed the allotment OF
single acre Of cotton or tobacco
under the control program. But
am familiar with it from its brit
and feel that I am in a position
to help keep safe a law that means
so much to us all.
Wide Experience
These matters are certainly no
referred to in any boastful spiri
but only for the purpose of suggest
ing that through these seventeen
difficult years / have had wide
experience in governmental activi
ty of all kinds and have acquired
seniority in Congress. At the close
of the present session only thirty
seven Of the four hundred ane
thirty-five members will stand
ahead of me. This results from be-
ing kept continuously in Congress
and ought to be worth something
to the district now. 1t seems clear
that l am in a better position to-
day to render worthwhile service
than at any previous time.
1 claim no perfect record. Be
ing only human I have made mis-
takes. Frequently what I do pleases
one group and displeases another
I have learned that it is seldom
possible to meet completely the
views of all the people. For the
future I can pledge no more thar
that, upon full consideration Of
every question, I would continue
to do that which seemed wisest
and best for the common good Of
us all.
In Peoples Hands
With confidence 1 leave my cam
paign in the hands of those whose
privilege and whose responsibility
it is to make the decision.