Evening Star Newspaper, March 5, 1933, Page 66

THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, MARCH 5, -JOHN NANCE GARNER—“SUPERB DEMOCRAT"” “His Patron Saint Is Andrew Jackson—and He Is a Man of the People and for the People and by the People Made Vice President.” OW enters a vitally different type ot Vide President, John Nance Gar- ner of Uvalde, Tex. He personifies 64 years of develop- ment under the laws of Nature, and 35 years of devotion to politics— public service. g He is of the people and for the peopls, and by the people made Vice Prcsident. He thinks with the people, speaks the ccmmon language of the people, and has no inclination to grow away from them. Social activity with him is an unpleasant duty, avoided as much as possi- ble. He prefers to cut his own wood, haul his own water, do his own cooking—and his own thinking. His patron political saint is Andrew Jackson. who worked in a saddler’s shop, defeated the British at New Orleans and captured Florida two years later. He is the first Vice Presidcnt from the South since Andrew Johnson, who hadn't a day’s schooling, was a tailor and succeeded the Martyred Lincoln in the White House. Vice President Garner had scant education in his youth but has a heap of common sense, knowledge of life, and human sympathies. His political philosophy is “take th: people into your confidence” about the people’s af- fairs. He religiously considers himself their agent in self-government. His attitude toward his fellow man is to meet him with a smile and reassure him that we live in a mighty good world, with mighty fine people. He brings to his new job the world’s largest collection of the most varied kinds of gavels— presented by admirers—but he controls by his smile and sincerity. He establishes a precedent by being on one day both Speaker and Vice President—presiding over both houses of Congress—and with far- flung vision over the self-governing people in 48 States of the greatest N2tion the world ever knew. HO is this man—Ga:.. .} He is a sturdy and stout-hearted, clear- headed American. He is a superb Democrat, a militant leader, a man of the people. But more than all else—he is a great human peing. Of pioneer stock stretching bick to the American Revolution, he has spent his life among people of his own country. To be able to say of any man in national political life that he is all-American is tribute superb. With John Garner, America always comes first. It has been said of him that he is “a thorough American, race of the soil—the robust sort that has lived with the common people and does not have to put his ear to the ground to learn what people think. He knows by instinct because bhe is of the people. He has never risen from them. He never will. Fair play is part of his philosophy of life. He believes in the people and has confidence in their ultimate judgment if they are put in possession of the facts.” He accepted the Democratic leadership ot the House of Representatives as a sacred re- sponsibility, not as a “distinguished service decoration.” He will carry the honors and re- sponsibilities of the Vice Presidency with the same air of simple, rugged integrity. -Asked once what was his secret of handling men, he replied somewhat tersely: “Being hon- est with them. Telling them the truth. Using common sense in discussing every subject.” This “common sense” is his most character- istic endowment as well as a superior sort of sagacity, both of which enable him to make dicisions swiftly and wisely and he has the God-given power to choose the right word to arive his point home and convince the skep- cal. The statistics of John Nance Garner, from the Biographical Directory of American Con- gress, read as follows: “John Nance Garner, a Representative from Texas; born near Detroit, Red River County, Texas, November 22, 1868; received a limited education; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1890 and commenced practice in Uvalde, Uvalde County, Texas. Member of the State House of Represzntatives 1898-1902; delegate to the Democratic 17a.ional Convention at Kansas City in 1900 and at St. Louis in 1904 and 1916; elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-eighth Congress; served from the Pifty-eighth through the Seventy-first Con- gresses. Democratic floor leader and ranking Democratic member of the Ways and Means Committee when elected Speaker, December 7, 1931; nominated by the Democratic party for Vice President, July 2, 1932.” . For almost 30 years he has sat under the dome of the Capitol. His grasp of tariffs and taxations, of Federal powers and their limita- tions, of the proper functions of Government activity and of sound public policies, both do- mestic and foreign, is not surpassed by that of any man in public life. S Both theory and reality were his teachers. Political philosophy is one thing. Its actual application is another. For almost a genera- tion American traditions and Government have been his life—he knows every stone in the foundation, every beam and girder in the vast eomplex and intricate structure of American Government. Men of lasting fibre do not become great fig- ures in a day. Back of wisdom lies a hinter- land of experience and service. Far beneath the applause and acclaim of public place le toll and achievement upon which is builded the structure of greatness. From a humble place on an obscure com- mittee in the House of Representatives he has John N. Garner, jrom a recent portrait by Boris B. Gordon. By Senator T'om Connally of Texas Who Nominated Garner for President at Chicago wor his way by candor, friendliness and wis- dom to “the seats of the mighty.” This is chiefly because be has never lost the common touch. He has never been nor has he desireqd to be other than one of the host of plain cit- zens of America. Neither by inheritance nor by the patronage of powerful personages was his rise aided or promoted. By his own industry, his own char- acter and his own ability he made his way from obscurity to eminence. When the Seventy-second Congress convened he became Speaker of the House. He was the first to note the imperative need of a balanced budget. The duty to raise revenue rests in the House. He boldly assumed the responsibility that goes with leadership. Revenues had shrunk to unheard-of proportions. Business and indus- try and agriculture were at the lowest ebb. New sources of revenue were hard to find. Earnings had shriveled. Demands upon the Treasury were greater than ever before in time of peace. Such was the challenge. Undaunted, Jobn Garner faced the issue. In one of the most dramatic demonstrations in the political his- . tory of the country, the Speaker, taking the floor, stirred both sides of the aisle to a frenzy of enthusiasm and secured a pledge that par- tisanship would be submerged and the national credit preserved. In face of national danger he served nhis country before his party. With the Speaker’s triumph in the House public confidence re- turned. It is often said of eminent men that they sprang from the plain people. John Garner did not spring from the plain people. He 1s still of the plain people. Though he played a highly confidential and- important part as an adviser of Woodrow Wilson during the World War, he maintained the same quiet strength and individualistic poise from first to last. As secretary to0 President Wilson, Joseph P. Tumulty has said so aptly, “He is one man who, though having risen to the highest distinction, has grown, not swelled.” AVING lived amidst those who toil in the field, and on the ranch and in busy vil- Iages; having been' in contact at the Nation’s Capital with public characters from every sec- tion of the Union, financial leaders and great masters of commerce, he knows America as no other public figure among men now living. His home is in the Soutbwest, but his statesman- ship is bigger than his geography. He owes al- legiance to no political organization save the Democratic party; he has no constituency save his countrymen! Among notable press comments on “plain Jack Garner,” here is one with a pungent tang to it worthy of the piquant quality of His own delighttul brand of humor: “Garner is a genu- ine man-of-the-people. His speech crackles. ‘When he says his say neithegr Cape Cod fisher- men, nor New Mexican sheep-herders have to have it explained. He sounds like folks—and folks understand.” The following comments gleaned from the press throughout the country, the radio "and, last but not least, his “neighbors” in Uyalde, build up a picture of the man that in perfec- mofi&hflmkuthemmof;m&&epor- “John N. Garner, commonly called ‘Jack’ because he is that kind of a human being, 1s a two-fisted fighting man, who harbors no per- sonal ‘grudges and fights a clean, sportsman- like battle. * * * There is nothing of the stuffed-shirt about him. * * * He is just a plain, blunt man who speaks right out what- ever is in his mind or heart. “Cactus Jack, as he is sometimes called, likes to boast of the important part his wife has played in his rise to political power.***She tries to minimize it. Yet she can't very well. This combination of husband and wife is prob- ably the greatest in official Washington.” And yet it was not always thus—they first became interested in each other when Miss Mariette Rheiner, of fighting stock, mistress of a 30,000-acre ranch, vigorously opposed young “Jack” Garner for his first political job—judge of the Uvalde County Court—because she had heard that he had the reputation of being the best poker player in the State, which she thought incompatible with the dignity of tne bench. A short time after it had been shown that Garner’s rising political star could not be thus blighted, they met on a train enroute to San Antonio. A mutual friend said: “Miss Rheiner, may I have the pleasure of introduc- ing Judge Garner, you know, the onz you tried to defeat.” A few months later the 26-year- old poker-playing jurist had so successtully pressed his suit that his erstwhile adversary be- came his most devoted ally for life. “Politics with Garner is a passion. For the social whirl he has an indifference amoynting to unconcealed contempt. When he has to dip into it his only recourse is to treat stepping out in full-dress regalia as a joke on himself, but laughs with the obvious air of a man who wishes some one else was the victim.” “Pishing is one of his keenest delignts. Friends who have been with him on fishing trips say he is a good cook and ‘no shirker around the camp.’ Walt Whittington, a carpzn- ter-friend of his, says that he has no equal cooking fish and squirrels. Fetching wood and water is fun for this thorough sportsman and not beneath his dignity.” “Fair Oaks, his home, is a heavily wooded tract of seven acres in the heart of Uvalde. ‘There he reads much and studies the details of important legislation. Afiough not a member of any church, he is toferant of the religious affiliations of others. In a political race, he is calm and of the opinion, ‘let the best man win.’"”_ “Some have classed him as a rough and ready politician. This is not accurate. He is ready but not rough. Ruggedness there is i his speech and manner but with it the unmistaka= ble kindliness of inner culture.” “John Garner is not a captain of industry; a giant of finance; but a statesman and also a man of the people, with grasp and grain o deal with any great crisis.” “Garner is one of the most popular men 1 Washington, a witty debater and a man with a knack of handling men. “His friendship with Nicholas Longworth has become one of the traditions of Washinzton's political life. The man he loved most in Con- gress was his most vigorous political opponent, Longworth, wealthy, traveled, imnoraculately groomed, was the very aritithesis of the rugged, homespun, genial Texan. It was a deep and abiding friendship and understanding.” Mrs. Garner says, “He never prepares his speeches beforehand. Just gets a bit quiet and thinks.” * MONG his own notable sayings are these: “I appreciate the support of my friends and am willing to serve my country and my party to the limit of my capacity.” “It is as true now as in Jefferson’s day that ‘the best-governed people is the least-gov= erned.’” He answered when asked what he got out of fishing: “The pleasure of association with one man. Isolation from legislative shop talk.” When offered the chairmanship of foreign affairs, his reply proved him the honest, whole- hearted, everyday American upon whom a Na- tion can rely, “I don't want the chairmanship of foreign affairs—I am going to a place where I can make a chairmanship for myself! I want to deal with domestic affairs affecting the American people, and not with foreign af- fairs.” He has made those words come true. Addressing Congress, he said on one occa- sion these almost historic words, “We may have differences among ourselves, but in our hearts we are patriotic. We want to serve this Republic.” When congratulations were celuging him from all over the country upon his nomination as Speaker of the House, he gave the press of the Nation “only one of these messages.” It was from his mother and read. “Am lis- tening in with love and pride. You have made your mother’s heart glad.” Her comment, regarding his honor, to the home folks, was. “It won’t hurt John any— he’s a good boy.” " When his mother was interviewed after her son’s nomination as Vice President on the Democratic ticket, she said, smiling, “It won't make him a bit better and it won’t change him one bit—he is still John.” Mr. Garner’s life in the National Capital is as simple and plain as when he is at home. Less comfortable, if anything. The Garners do everything with moderation.. Their apartment is small and unpretentious. They have never owned & car in Washington and see no reason why they should. They enjoy walking and 1t is one of their greatest diversions. They like movies and attend the best shows. Mrs. Garner is a retiring, gentle-voiceq, sweet-natured woman and her husband never hesitates to say that he would be lost without her. Behind Mrs. Garner’s serenity of man- ner lies an astute and brilliant mind. She is & prolific reader and has a deep appreciation ot the really fine in literature. Mr. Garner In that fleld of culture has three great favorites, Scott, Dickens and Macauley.