The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-11-25
WAsHINGToN. Nm.

WASHINGTON, Nov. z5.-Coo-
FRESHMAN Edward Cooper was the
host to his successor. Congressman
elect Wells Goodykoontz, last week
They are close personal as veil as
political friends The pair were on
tiyes together and circulated IN the
Republican cloakrooms, where Mr..
Cooper introduced Mr.. Goodykooat1
to his friends, especially to the most
influential members on the Republf-
can side. So. It VIII be that when
Senator Goodykooltz comes TO take
Mr. Cooper's place in the House he
viii not be total stranger.
The new member from West Vir-
ginia made a good impression on
those he met and talked with. to
Judge from the complimentary re-
MARKS made OF him to West Virgin
ians later. The latter look upon the
congressional career OF the newly
elect as most promising one, and
one that has all the premonitory signs
of being an extended one. The knoWl-
edge that the Williamson man has the
ability, experience and energy to
make a distinguished place in the
House for himself Is largely the basis
for this feeling among West Virgin
ians here that the career Of Congress
man Goodykoontz In Washington is
likely to be no Il anSitory one.
Mr. GoodykoontS' friends have adj
vised a candidacy on his part for
membership on the most important
committee on the judiciary in the
next congress. They have already
presented his qualifications to the
party leaders here. The fact that he
but recently retired as president OF
the bar association In his state ID ac-
cepted as prima faeie evidence Of his
legal ability and experience, as the
fact that he is president of the West
Virginia Senate is taken as PROOF Of
his legislative ability and experience.
The late Congressman Hunter II.
Moss was the last Republican from
West Virginia to hold a place on that
committee. Congress- an M NJ. ely
is a, member. Mr.. Goodykoontz Is the
only one Of the five Republican mem
bers Of tie West Virginia delegation
who Is lawyer. The party reasons
why place on the committee in cues
ton should go to West Virginia are
no less strong than the personal rea-
sons.
The rush Of West Virginians to get
out of the army and navy has heaped
up the burdens Of the members Of the
congressional delegation and their
patient and hard worked secretaries
and clerks. It is seemingly q greater
rush to get out than It was to get in,
for the rush to get out comes all at
once, the rush to get in hiring been
more leisurely by comparison and
spread out over longer duration. It |
illustrates the let down in the service |
and in all channels Of life.
The Offices of the delegation are
swamped with letters, more from par !
ents than from the boys themselves,
asking that dis .rges be procured at |
once. This it is impossible to do, for
the rules for the rehabilitation do |
not confer any special authoritative |
powers upon the members OF con- |
gress. About all that they can do is |
to transmit the request, and they take !
their regular course, which Is ted1- !:
ous1y slow. AS matte rof fact, IT Is I
practically useless to waste the time |
and the postage to send in these re- |
quests, for the naval and army de-
have announced their own !
rules governing mastering the men |
out, and although It will be done as :,
expeditiously as possible, they have !
stated, it cannot beaccomphshed any |
ways near as rapidly as the parents |
of the boys seem to think
In regar dto nustering men out OF
tho navy, that department informed
Senator Sutherland that it can only
be done after the Individual enlisted
man makes written application to his
immediate commanding officer. That
is extremely important, says the
order, 1nasmuch asst is impossible at i
this time to authorfze the discharge