Evening star., 1954-12-22
New Foees in Congress
New Fcces in Congress
BorkIey S Return Adds Zest
ToHM Career Begunin 1913
By Robert K. WoIsh

Alben w. Barkley would
chuckle heartily at the paradox
ical idea Of being looked upon as
o new face on Congress.
Coming back to the 84th Con-
eress as Junior" Senator from
Kentucky. the former Vice Presi-
dent will be thoroughly at home.
His two-year absence may have
caused slip In some seniority.
It has not withered his oratory,
yarn-spinning and adroit politi-
cal strategy. Nor has it stalled
his reputation and standing in
Capitol surroundings where he
served from 1913 to 1858.
This is a return engagement,
by an impressive popular re-
quest and an insistent Demo-
cratic demand in his State. for
a perennially zestful public Of
fetal.
The role he resumes at the
age of ~ is not that Of an elder
statesman. His party colleagues
count on him for active aid in
political and parliamentary pur-
suits. And his friendly foes well
come him as a valuable veteran
who thoroughly knows his way
around the Senate CLUB"
Sketching the career and
characteristics of Senator Bark
ley after all these years Is what
the theologians. if not politicians.
would term a work of super
erogation. Any man who can
personify such an enduring and
affectionate word as Weep and
can produce such an engaging
autobiography as THAT Reminds
Me" needs neither a Boswell nor
q note In the Congressional Di-
rectory.
To Senate In 1927.
Mr.. Barkley seems to relish the
experience of staying in public
life, where his first elective job
was that of prosecuting attorney
in Paducah so years ago. He
apparently is happy to sit again
In the Senate, where he first ar
rived in 1927 after being in the
House since 1918. OF all present
members Of Congress. only Sem
ator Hayden, Democrat, OF Ari-
Eona, and Speaker Sam Rayburn
were there in 1918.
Senator Barkley probably is
content to step down from the
Senate rostrum where he pre-
sided as Vice President during
the last four years Of the Tru-
man administration. Not that he
disliked the position of Vice
President or failed to popularize
1t. But it obviously cramped his
style when he could not vote,
speak or directly make laws.
Served in Several Crises.
In dealing with whatever is
sues and problems lie ahead OF
him in the Senate, he can re-.
fleet on a legislative career
that covered two world wars.
the Nations worst economic de-
preston, the New Deal drive,
and the menace of cold war.
From a strictly political and
Loyalty partisan standpoint, he
has been attending and often
guiding Democratic conventions
more than 80 years.
AS a Senate or House member
he saw Presidents Wilson, Hard
ing, Coolidge, Hoover, Roosevelt
and Truman come and go.
Presidential nominations flirted
with him as frequently and
so seriously on occasion that
he stood somewhat in the
often bridesmaid never
bride classification politically.
His closest chance and bitterest
setback occurred at the 1852
Democratic National Convention
In Chicago.
Personally. however, Mr.. Bark
lev became the Nations most
celebrated bridegroom. He wooed
and won Mrs. Carleton s. Had
ley of st. Louis when he was
70 and she was 38. They were
married in November, 1949.
Home in Kentucky.
Kentucky, of course, Is their
home, however great and deep is
their fondness for Washington