The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-11
However, Interesting Facts Are Found in New Con-
 gressional Directory
LAWYERS IN LEAD
 IN BOTH HOUSES
Strange to Say, Newspaper Men Rank Second in Number Both
 in the Senate and in the House
By HUGH w. ROBERTS

Washington. December 10-(Special0 The new congressional record, just issued, contains the autobiographies of the members of Congress. In olden days, each member wrote at length concerning his own virtues. By this tone, however everyone is apprised of the fact that Tn the histories newspaper men are wont to revel As a result, most of the senators and representatives are nearly as modest as Senator Underwood. The Alabaman tells his own story in six lines. made up chiefly of references to the several con- crosses to which he has been elected.
 Nevertheless new members generally write in such manner rnat tunnlgraph- ers' can give vent to the.r talent each succeeding session. This session, natural lv. is no exception. But the new members from Alabama were especially careful, and as a result they, as a rule, have es- capped.
 SOME ALABAMA REFERENCES
 It is true that Congressman Oliver of inc Sixth very modestly refers to the fact that as prosecuting attorney he se- cured a larger percentage of convictions -s5 per cent in fact-than has ever been  dleston of the Ninth refers to the fact that he served as a private soldier in the First Alabama infantry during the span ish-American war, but he does not go Into details to such an extent that a casual reader may be able to learn of his chlV- alrous conduct in that momentous strug- gle. He adds too, that at present he is grand master of the Odd Fellows.
 Congressman Steagall of the Third writes of himself very briefly However, he does refer to the fact that in win ming his congressional spurs he was com- pelled to defeat Judge A. A. Evans and T. S. Fraser by 2000 votes Congressman Almon of the Eighth speaks of his ser vice in the Alabama legislature, refers to the fact that he was speaker of that body and the author of the bill under the provisions of which the state highway commission was created.
 Congressman Gray, the other new mem Der, is exceptionally modest. And the old members, having well learned the les son, write of themselves in fashion most perfunctory.
 LAWYERS AND JOURNALISTS
 The record is an interesting document however. It shows tha, in Congress, as in the Alabama legislature. lawyers conn pose the majority of members. Seventy three senators are members of the pro- fession and of the representatives, 2S6 are members. Newspaper men, it may seem strange, rank second in number. Seven senators are publishers of news papers. Thirty-five representatives are actively engaged in the profession, and the autobiographies prove that many others in the early days of their careers served chiefly in presenting facts to the public.
 There are two doctors in the Senate, Senator Gallinger of New Hampshire and Senator Lane of Oregon. Four senators and 20 members of the House declare that they are farmers. Four senators are man. ufacturers and three bankers. Twen- ty-four representatives admit that they are manufacturers and nine that they are bankers.
 OF RUSSIAN BIRTH
 One of the interesting stories is that of Never London, member of the New York delegation, the only socialist member of Congress, He was bora in Russia in 1871. He came to America at the age of 20 and was admitted to the bar in 1898. For 70 years he has given his energy and talent to socialistic and labor problems. Last year he defeated for Congress the veteran representative, Henry M. Godfogle, dem Ocrat
 Representative James Harvey C'Cy- cone'') Davis of Texas tells that he ac- quired his nickname as result of his debates regarding the money question in Frankfort, Ky, in 1892. Another inter esting story is told in the autobiography