Salt Lake Telegram | 1932-04-05 | Page 4 | A Washington Daybook

tt I t j A Washington Daybook L By Dy RODNEY WASHINGTON April 5 5 Old Old Joe Byrns of Tennessee who is a kindly old southern gentleman when he isn't riled up a arid and d a brew of purest poison polson when he gets mad and goes coes a after ter someone on the floor of the house howe was the hero of that memorable day when the sales tax tat went down to crushing de defeat eat A long gaunt bushy product prod of the Red Clay hills Old Joe filled that heroic role fit it to worm the heart Hes He's es e's a big honest simple but shrewd able and energetic con congressman congress congress- man man who always seems to lack the stuff stull by which heroes are so often unmade in politics Hes He's one of oC just a afew few cw whom everyone around here both likes Ikes and respects On sales Ies tax day there was need for Old Joe Having thrown of off the tile leadership of Speaker Garner Leader RaIney Raincy and Ways and Means Chairman Chairman Chairman Chair Chair- man Crisp the big Democratic rent ent majority members were restive They could hardly answer jibes that they hey were led by LaGuardia of or New NewYork NewYork York a Republican who was once a Socialist Dou Doughton the bald bulkIng bulk bulk- Ing ng picturesque farmer from North Carolina whom nobody knew before and a group of minor ues The situation begged for lor a Democrat Democrat Democrat Demo Demo- crat who would strengthen that leadership A taunting Republican lad had demanded among other things Where is Joe Byrns Well Joe Byrns who ranks as a Democratic general with Garner Rainey and Crisp and now hC heads both the he great appropriations committee and the special economy committee after many years of pruning federal expenses had been of off plotting economics economies mies r with his committee day after day Old Joe h had d always opposed d sales taxes preferring high bracket income stiLt stiff estate and luxury taxes Garner Gar nero ncr Rainey Rahney and Crisp had been that way too only to switch to the sales Eales ta tax recently as the best way to raise revenue Byrns presumably had bad gone along with them Nobody expected ex ex- him to split the beleaguered leadership with that spectacular speech of oC his l He hadn't said a word 4 a But suddenly from a rear ro row Old Joe arose said ald he had just broken up upa a R committee meeting and demanded to be heard He was heard too He strode down the aisle and with chin jutting utting out farther than ever told the he house that those other leaders had lad walked out on the traditions and principles of ot the Democratic party Inferentially he hurled scorn at Raincy who had said the government was bankrupt in a sensational speech ch and at Gamer Garner who had said he was willing to abandon on ones ana of my economic principles principles' in order to balance a budget Mah party has has- always stood fo for tor taxing those who best kin pay cay shouted Old Joe spectacles in one hand a gnarled fist flailing the air from Crom a long long arm and bright tan shoes poking out from rom under a dark suit suil It was see tee Old J Joe part paz ly Jy because every member knew that he was talking from belief and principle prin not ciple not not because he was reared or because he wanted to make mako a speech Byrns is a n progressive because ht lie likes common people so much Some suggested later that Old Jo JOt Joe had turned the tide against the salts sales tax I think it was beaten before he spoke although there was some doubt about it But a large section of th thi 70 majority was undoubted swayed by Old Joe who wouldn stand for that tax l And among Democratic party leaders lead ers here he established himself tJ the most progressive of ot the lot