The Irish standard., 1913-12-20
from the National Capitol
By Stanton Lawton

BY Stant
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tey Our Special correspondent.)
More Honors for Catholic Senator.
The popularity and ability of the
Honorable Joseph E. Ransdell, United
States senator from Louisiana, was
evidenced at Washington during the
recent National Rivers and Harbors
Congress, when he was again unani-
mously elected president, which office
he has filled since 1905.
The National Rivers and Harbors
Congress is made up of some of the
most able men of the country, and to
be at its head is great honor, and a
sign of the recognition of ones ability.
Senator Ransdell is a native of the
state which he represents, and is the
eighth child of his parents. He is a
lawyer by profession, but on his cleo
ton to congress, gave up the practice
of law, and has devoted himself ex-
clusively to his congressional duties
and cotton planting interests.
Senator Ransdell is a very devout
Catholic and also prominent as a
knight of Columbus, and he recently
stated in lecture at the Catholic uni.
versity that in all his experience as q
lawyer, he has never taken a divorce
case, and moreover that he never in
tends to.
First Lieutenant James A. o'connor
Assigned to Duty in Washington.
One of the youngest officers of the
select Corps of Engineers, First Lieu
tenant James Alexander O'Connor,
who recently completed a course at
the Washington barracks engineering
school, has been assigned to duty in
connection with work in the national
capital, under the direction of Colonel
VIM. w. Harris, superintendent Of pub
lie buildings and grounds.
Lieutenant O'Connor was born on
July 10, 1885, in Michigan, and entered
the military academy at West Point
on June Is, 1908, and on June IA, 1907,
he graduated, standing number 4, in
big class of Ill members. He was
then commissioned second lieuten-
ant, and selected the corps of engin-
GERS for assignment.
On February ~, 1911, he was pro-
noted to a first lieutenancy, and is
now number eight for promotion to
captain in his corps. Lieutenant
O'Connor is an expert in surveying,
and a French and Spanish linguist.
He has been highly commended for a
survey he made of the Island of Oahu,
Hawaii Territory.
In addition to other accomplish
ments, Lieutenant O'Connor is one of
the best riflemen in the army, and in
1908, he was awarded gold medal in
the army rifle competitions.
Cardinal for Free Church.
Cardinal Gibbons, in sermon de-
livered recently at the Cathedral
said: II do not wish to see the day
when the church will invoke and re-
ceive government aid to build our
churches or substitute our clergy.
"May the happy conditions now ex.
listing among us always continue;
when the relations between the clergy
and the people will be direct and i'm.
mediate; when bishops and priests
will bestow on their spiritual children
their voluntary labors, and when they
will receive in return the free.will
offerings, the devotion and the graft
tude of their beloved focks."
The Cardinal said that whenever
any encroachment on the sacred
rights of civil and religious liberty
have been made by protesting mem
bers of the church, these wrongs, fal
from being perpetuated with her sane
ton, were committed in palpable VIC
lation of her authority"
Rev. J. E. Rockford, Eligible for Ap
H. pointment 40 Chaplain
Rev. J. E. Rockford of Buffalo, N
Y, who has been at the Apostolic Mis-
sion House, Washington, the pas
month, has passed the examination
for Chaplain in the United States
AMY most creditably,, and has re
I turned to Buffalo to await his appoint
ment, which will be signed by tn.
president and approved by congress.
When he has been commissioned
he will probably go to Fort Washing
ton, Maryland, where he will make hi
/ novitiate with Chaplain Arnold of tina
post.
Catholic Chaplain Resigns.
The secretary of navy has receives
4 the tender of resignation of Chaplai
IL Louis Paul Rennolds, one of the 81
u Of the Catholic Chaplains of the Unite
NJ States navy.
Father Rennolds was born in Mar,
q land on December 26. 1867, and wa