National Affairs: Rainey for Speaker

Tennessee, Tammany and Texas combined last week to name the new Speaker of the House—Henry Thomas Rainey of Illinois. Out of the deal Tennessee got the floor leadership. Tammany the assistant floor leadership, Texas the chairmanship of the potent Committee on Appropriations.

Before 301 Democratic members of the 73rd Congress marched into the House chamber, bolted the doors and settled down on the black leather seats for a party caucus, there were three outstanding candidates for the Speakership vacated by John Nance Garner. Big, white-mopped Representative Rainey, 72, considered himself "in line" for...