The Washington times., 1917-03-03
IF HOUSE DOES sing,
TWILL Be A TRIBUTE
Mike Conry, GeniaIs, Sweet
Voised Congressman, Dies as
Session Ends.
LED IN "G0oD-BY" SONGS
Members Recess in Midst of
Tasks When News of
Death Is Told.
LED IN "G0oD-BY" SONGS
BY THEODORE TILLER.


the lower body there IL generally a
let-down of business just before the
gavel falls. and. somehow. the fellows
begin to hum an oId-fashioned tune,
the chorus swells, and soon half the
membership is singing.
1t is the melIowing influence OF the
time for bood-bys, the relief from
overwork. an outcropping OF the sen
timental among men who are soon to
break pleasant associations, and who,
at heart. are still just boys.
But II they sing tonight there will
be a missing voice-and that is why
this story is written. mike" Conry-
genial. whole-souled, Iovable mike"
Conry-is dead, or has crossed over"
as Uncle Joe Cannon, who dislikes
the word death, would say II he were
writing a story about the passing OF
a colleague.
Voice Clear. Heart Tender.
In former years Congressman Con-
ry has been there to sing as the last
hours of a Congress slipped by. He
had a voice as clear as a bell and
a heart as tender as a childs. He
was lame-vas Mike" Conry-but
he'd limp toward the well of the
House and soon you'd hear him above
the rest as his tenor would blend in
harmony with other members who had
good voices and sang with feeling
under the thrill of goodbye scenes.
Aud Lang Syne." "Tenting To-
night" "old Black joe" "suwanee
River"-the old favorites. with some
time a verse Of Home. Sweet Home"
were among the songs they sang
while Conry's voice keyed true to
every note.
Or perhaps they'd sing an Irish
baIIad-something that carried one
back to the memories of green hills
and clear lakes, to blue-eyed lassies.
to cottages where old-fashioned
mothers crooned the lullabys that
have always put little children to
sleep, and to a little isle whose ma
tionaI heart has been as big as the
great out-of-doors.
.MIkes Conry stirred.
And then, too. Mike" Conry's voice
was heard above the rest. but it had
a sort of puaver in it and his eyes
had that faraway look that comes
when ones feelings are deeply
stirred.
Maybe the members Of the. House
will not get chance to sing at all
before the adjournment comes sine
die. But IL Conry were here he'd
want them to, and now he is dead
and the body is on the way to his
New York home. Mike" Conry would
not have them refrain from song be-
cause OF that.
This story might have been told in
few words-but the writer felt 1t
was worth a bit more than that. In
these final hours OF an epochal ses-
sion of the national legislature, IL
cannot be amiss to turn a moment
from practical things and record that
sentiment still exists, that there Is
not a member OF the House who
doesn't miss Michael Conry Today, ana
that. II the songs OF yesterday are
sung again some of his colleagues
will seem to hear once more the lead
of Conry, of New York.
House shows Spirit
Persons who have never seen the
end of a session in the House of Rep
resentatives probably cannot appre-
ciate what adjournment means to the
members OF the lower body. In the
Senate there is always dignity, real or
assured. The farewells are grave,
matter-of-fact. although doubtless sin
cere. In the House the scenes are
entirely different.
House members somehow are closer in
their friendships. The complexion Of the
lower chamber is constantly changing.
Men come and go every two years. The
leader OF today may be the vanquished
of tomorrow. But during his term he
has formed friendships that are as true
as steel and associations that are hard
to break.
Final adjournment in the House Is
much like the graduation day in a high
school or college. The young fellows
assemble in class for the last time.
Each one knows that never will they
all meet together again. New faces are
sure to appear and old faces are certain
to be missed. It's breaking Of the ties
that bind.
So with the House of Representa-
tives. with its membership that comes
"cIose from the soul of a great peo-
pie" The end OF business comes. the
tension is relaxed, members are say
ing goodby-perhaps for a day, per-
haps forever-and then away over in
a corner a song is begun, a hush falls
over the crowded galleries, the MEM
bership Joins in, the Speaker with
holds the gavel, there is no word of
reproof, and moisture dims the eyes
Of those who appreciate the note OF
pathos in II all.
Thus they have sung in the past
ana thus they will sing in the future
But mike" Conry's voice will never
lead them again.
News of Death Comes.
Mike" Conry. beloved of every
member Of the House, died last night
at Providence Hospital. The end came
quickly. Unexpectedly.
The House stood In recess for one
hour when the death was announced
by Congressman Fitzgerald. dean Of
the New York delegation. The crush
of legislation prevented q longer re-
cess, but the tribute of the House was
none the less sincere. Tears stood in
the eyes OF Mr.. Fitzgerald as he told
his colleagues that Michael Conry had
answered the final roll call
Should they sing as the sands of
the SiXty-fourth Congress run low,
there1l be tribute to Conry in that,
and there'll be proof once more OF the
fact that the makers OF national law
have in them the touch OF sentiment