On Garner:
I think it's a little dishonest not to mention that Garner's congressional record was pre-New Deal. There were a number of Democrats who were once labeled "progressive" during the Wilson era who became "conservatives" during FDR's first two terms. Of note, Garner was a known supporter of the Federal Income Tax, rural investments, and an opponent of most tariffs (except those that he believed benefitted his Texas base), positions that at the time he was in Congress (March 4th, 1903-March 4th, 1933) were considered quite liberal. He was also one of the most anti-Prohibition Congressmen in the country, holding secret alcohol drinking sessions with fellow congressmen in the middle of Prohibition that he called a "board of education", which he considered "striking a blow for liberty".
Considering that his
Congressional record went up to 1932, before FDR was elected President, it's probably not that insane to consider his record would be considered quite liberal. As wikipedia itself notes:
It wasn't until the second term or so of FDR's presidency that Garner and others (including the likes of David Walsh and Thomas Gore) were thought of as "conservative Democrats".
