Evening star., 1948-12-31
By J. A. O'LeoY

79-year-old dean of the Senate,
defeated Senator Tydings of
Maryland by two votes for the
Office of president pro tenn of the
Senate today as the Democratic
Senators organized for the
Eighty-first Congress. The vote
was q to Is.
The House Democrats will hold a
similar party huddle tomorrow to
complete organization for the new
Congress which meets at noon Mon
day
The close race for president pro
tenn was the only major contest in
Senate Democratic ranks, as they
picked the following slate for other
high officers:
Senator Barkley of Kentucky, to
continue as Democratic floor leader
until he takes the oath as Vice
President January 20.
Senator Lucas of Illinois. to be
majority floor leader after January
20.
Senator Myers Of Pennsylvania,
to be Democratic whip.
Bif1e to Resume Old Job.
Leslie L. Biff1e, director of the
Democratic Policy Committee. to
resume his old job of Senate sec
retary.
The Rev. DR.. Peter Marshall.
pastor of the New York Avenue
Presbyterian Church, to continue as
Senate chaplain.
Joseph c. Duke Of Arizona, who
has been a clerk of the Senate for
more than Is years, to be sergeant
alarms, succeeding Edward F, Nc
Ginnis, of Chicago. who held the
jog during the two years of Republi-
can control.
FELTON, M. johnson, now secretary
to the minority, to continue his
present duties on the Senate floor,
with the new title of Secretary to
the Majority.
There had been reports recently
that the Democrats might change
chaplains because the Republicans
did so two years ago.
Meeting Goes As Scheduled.
In announcing the decision to re-
tain DR.. Marshall, Senator Lucas
told reporters:
I'VE were not going to set any
precedent by mixing politics and
religion as the Republicans did two
years ago."
DR.. Marshall succeeded the Rev.
DR.. Frederick Brown Harris of
Foundry Methodist Church. and
Senator Lucas paid high tribute to
the service DR.. Harris mad rendered
prior to the change in the Eightieth
Congress.
The Democratic organization
meeting went according to schedule,
with the race for President Pro Tenn
the only one that remained in doubt
until the last moment. The 27-to-25
vote accounted for all but two of
the 81 votes the Democrats will have
in the Senate in the new Congress.
The President Pro Tempore pre-
sides over the Senate when the Vice
President is absent. The Office is
chiefly an honorary one, but the
Senate provides a limousine and
chauffeur for the Senator who holds
it.
Taylor Back With Party.
Senator Mcclellan held the Office
when the Democrats last controlled
the Senate During the last two
years of Republican control, the
President Pro Tempore was Sena-
tor vandenberg, Republican, Of
Michigan.
Newly elected Democrats took part
in the party organization meeting,
even though most Of them will not
be sworn in as Senators until
Monday.
Senator Taylor, Democrat. Of
Idaho, who bolted his party in the
recent election to be the running
mate of Henry Wallace on the Pro-
gressive ticket, was back with his
Democrat colleagues in the party
conference today.
Senator Lucas presided because
Senator Barley was in bed at home
with cold.
Senator Barkley will continue as
chairman of the Democratic Caucus
and Steering Committee until jan
uary 20, when Senator Lucas also
will e1,cread him