Where Are the Leaders?

The Christmas visits back home had not changed the mood and temper of Congress: it was still angrily anti-Administration, still without any constructive program of its own.

Response to the President's State-of-the-Union message was apathetic. Ignoring Mr. Roosevelt's repeated request for higher taxes, the Senate breezed along, readying its low-return tax bill for final passage.

On one point all Congressmen seemed agreed: they must provide generous benefits for returning and disabled servicemen. In this resolve they were strengthened by a vigorous new veterans' lobby (see p. 16).

But the issue of soldiers' votes--vastly more important than mustering-out pay to servicemen now in the field--was still hopelessly snarled. The House Elections Committee reported out a bill as futile as the unworkable compromise passed by the Senate last session. Predicted House Democratic Leader John W. McCormack: "only a political miracle" will enable U.S. soldiers and sailors to vote in November.

The standout fact about Congress last week was that it was virtually leaderless, and hence thoroughly confused. In the Senate, bumbling Democratic Leader Alben Barkley, worried over almost certain defeat in Kentucky next November, was completely incapable of holding rebellious Southern Democrats in line. On the Republican side, there was an active behind-the-scenes struggle for the powers of Minority Leader Charles McNary, still ill in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

In the House, Minority Leader Joseph W. Martin called a caucus of his party members to discuss the President's message. It was a fizzle. Only concrete proposal to come out of the meeting: a resolution for a simplified income-tax return.

For the first time since 1932, House Democrats no longer had a numerical majority. With the resignation of New York's Joseph Gavagan, House Democratic strength had sunk to 217. (Because of vacancies and minor party members, Democrats still have a 217-to-208 plurality over Republicans.) But Speaker Sam Rayburn had few illusions about his ability to control his decimated flock. It is an election year, he said, and there will be a lot of talk in Congress. The best he could hope for was that it will be good talk.

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