Show l W ASI u tin Af Aftin LETTER Rump Democrats Divide Party in Congress Worry President V A II V J BY Ely SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT WASHINGTON The Demo Demo- Democratic Democratic cratic cratic party In Congress is isdio dio dh against Itself A rump group of ot leaders has demonstrated ed its ability to take over o the wheel when the conservative Democratic leadership cannot steer the Presidents President's program These rump leaders are arc re- re revolting revolting re revolting against the efforts of the battalion death of ot group croup and anda anda a strong southern contingent which hopes to bring the President's President's President's dents dent's plans to a dead halt this session and prevent him from dictating the Democratic nomI- nomI nomInation nomination nomi nomination nation in 1940 1040 The unofficial call to arms tor for this group is the I question Who won the th last I The most conspicuous rump leaders are Senators Hugo Black ot of Alabama Alben of Kentucky Lew ot of Washington Sherman Minton ot of Indiana and Bob La Follette of Wisconsin They are for tor the most part young men and they differ in one important I lIar lar particular from their opponents In n that generally they have been more recently elected to office The liberals in the House group which includes Progressives Progressives Progressives and Laborites Farmer-Laborites from Wisconsin and Minnesota re- re respectively re rc respectively Is led by Congressman Congress Congress- Congressman Congressman man Maury Maverick of Texas But Speaker Bankhead who formally is the leader of or the House and Majority Leader Sam Rayburn and Rules Chair Chair- Chairman Chairman Chairman man John 0 Connor have been operating co-operating more with Roosevelt Roose Roose- Roosevelt Roosevelt velt than with the Senate L Lead ead- ead ad- ad CJ shIp whose members are ac- ac accused ac accused by Roosevelt partisans of everything from tac- tac tactics tactics tac tactics tics to actual revolt THE Tn regular leaders are be- be bewildered and resentful over the rise of the rump leaders Re- Re Referring Referring Re Referring ferring to the regular leadership one must include the chairmen of the chief House and Senate committees Committee chair chair- chairmanships are e passed out on a basis of ot seniority That means that most committee e chairmen are conservative southern mem- mem members mem members bers who have been in Congress many years Some of or these chairmen and other leaders are confused be- be because be because cause those men upon whom they have hate been accustomed to rely for financial support in campaigns have demanded that they stop White House orders There is anger especially over Roosevelt s encouragement of h- h 11 li-bor li bor organization the Con Black Con Black nery wage and hour bill and the expenditures for tor relief This opposition sometimes allied with the battalion of death group I has made an effort to humble the President and that effort has I been reflected in Congress espe- espe especially espe especially in the Senate 1 Majority Leader Ledder Robinson of Arkansas can hardly be said to tobe tobe tobe be in an re revolt olt against preside policy His loyalty to Roosevelt I I Is almost incredible But he plainly showed his concern over I federal spending and debt And his relief bill amendment re- re rei requiring re requiring i quiring localities to contribute 25 per cent to PA projects costs when hen able was a harmony mote mo |