Speakership Settled

The practical politicians who nest in the U. S. Capitol feel beyond their depth in the economic theories of the New Deal, but the ancient game of trading votes is something near & dear to their hearts. Last week the unofficial but altogether real business of choosing a new Speaker of the House to succeed the late Henry T. Rainey gave them a chance fairly to wallow in their favorite pastime.

All the players were Democratic Representatives who saw a chance of advancement. First there was long, lanky Joseph Wellington Byrns of Nashville. As Majority Floor Leader in the 73rd Congress he claimed precedent, tradition, seniority and everything but divine right for his elevation to the Speakership of the 74th. To that good start he added the still stronger claim of gratitude. As chairman of the Democratic National Congressional Committee bushy-browed "Joe" Byrns wrote letters to dozens of Democrats in the last Congress who wanted to be reelected, authorizing them to tell their constituents that "Joe" Byrns said they were indispensable to the New Deal.

The biggest thing against Representative Byrns was that New Dealers did not really want him for Speaker. They wanted a hard-headed parliamentarian who could say "No" convincingly and whip an unwieldy Democratic majority into obedience. "Joe" Byrns, who was raised on a Tennessee farm and has spent 26 years as a Democratic wheelhorse in the House, did not fill those specifications. Texas' Representative Sam Rayburn became, in effect, the New Deal's candidate. Louis Howe was anxious to see him get the job and Vice President Garner sent a letter to the Texas delegation in the House urging them to vote for their colleague and his political protege. In addition two other serious contenders for the Speakership were still in the running: loud, rambunctious John Elliott Rankin of Tupelo, Miss., and William B. Bankhead (father of Tallulah and the Cotton Control Act) of Jasper, Ala.

Such was the Washington situation fortnight ago when Mr. Roosevelt returned from Warm Springs and Mr. Garner returned from Uvalde, with a new tan sombrero, terming himself "just a country boy trying to get along with the city slickers." Promptly they put their heads together, decided it was politically too dangerous to try to spike Mr. Byrns's ambitions. So Mr. Garner emerged from the White House and slyly told reporters in answer to questions:

''There are three divisions of the Government, the Executive, Legislative and Judicial, according to our Constitution. I think this Administration is a Constitutional one. I have not seen any interference with that policy since 'his nibs' has been here."

His words signaled a free track ahead for the Speakership race. Boss Joseph F (for nothing) Guffey of Pennsylvania presently turned up in Washington and called on Vice President Garner for the unconventional purpose of presenting his own credentials as Senator-elect from Pennsylvania. But Mr. Guffey did not go to Washington alone. He took with him his political manager, David L. Lawrence, and the whole House delegation of 23 Democrats elected from Pennsylvania last month.

At the Capitol Boss Guffey herded them all together for a lesson in practical politics. As newcomers to Congress most of them could not expect much immediate preferment but Mr. Guffey pointed out that for them to get their due and perhaps a little more their best course was to stand and deliver their votes in a body. Twenty-three votes from Pennsylvania would put Representative Byrns into the Speakership when Congress meets Jan. 3 and for that each member of the delegation would undoubtedly get his reward in terms of good committee assignments.

Senator-elect Guffey's men took one vote which pledged their 23 votes to Candidate Byrns. Beaming, "Joe" Byrns went into their caucus to thank them. "This," he asserted, "absolutely assures my election."

He was not speaking in terms of political hyperbole. Two days later Representative Rankin renounced his aspirations for the Speakership. Later in the day Representative Rayburn did the same: "There are no alibis. Under the circumstances, I cannot be elected." And next morning Representative Bankhead dropped out of the contest. Assured of election to the highest House post on the first ballot next month, Democrat Byrns began to expand, to think of himself as already belonging to the immortal company of great Speakers. To an old acquaintance who called him "Mr. Byrns," he said, "Call me Joe-- or Uncle Joe. I don't like that 'Mister'." Washington chuckled, seeing only the remotest similarity between him and that other "Uncle Joe" Cannon, the late great Speaker (TIME, March 3, 1923). Wags suggested that to distinguish the two it would be best to call Speaker-Apparent Byrns. "Old White Joe."

With the Speakership out of the way the contest for majority Floor Leader to succeed "Uncle Joe" Byrns waxed hot and heavy. All the defeated would-be Speakers were potential candidates for this No. 2 House job, and in addition several others. The Southern Democrats, being perpetually in office, possess by seniority most of the best committee posts: Buchanan of Texas heads Appropriations; Steagall of Alabama, Banking & Currency; Rayburn of Texas, Interstate & Foreign Commerce; Vinson of Georgia, Naval Affairs; McSwain of South Carolina, Military Affairs; Mansfield of Texas. Rivers & Harbors; Rankin of Mississippi, Veterans; Bankhead of Alabama, Rules. In the next House, however, some two-thirds of the 322 Democrats will come from the North and West and they, too, would like some plums. Shrewd Mr. Guffey, who always likes to play a winner, announced that he would keep his 23 Pennsylvania votes in his pocket until the leadership contest "clarifies."

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