The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-01
ALABAMA BOYS ARE MAKING GOOD AT NATIONAL CAPITAL
Use SecretariaI Positions as Stepping Stones to
 Higher Things
WASHINGTON BUREAU.
 THE AGE-HERALD xUa a.kxtu~knx. n C Morch lI
Washlngtt

Instances of Alabama boys using secretarial positions in Washington as stepping stones to higher things accumulate.
 It was only recently that the state department elevated Tracy ". Lay to the consul general class. A few years ago. the newly appointed con- sul general was a star athlete on the baseball and football teams of the Alabama PolytechnicaI institute. He was an athletic contemporary of that other native of Gadsden. Jimmie For man, then of the University of Ala bama, now a Birmingham lawyer.
 Lay came to Washington as secre- tary to the late Representative John L. Burnett He applied himself as- siduously and was drafted by the state department. During the war, he served in France, under the state department. Later, his services were required by Secretary Hughes and he was recalled to Washington and promoted. It is said that his future as a diplomat Is unusually bright.
 He Is son of Capt. W. P. Lay of Gadsden, who organized the original Alabama Power company. His wife Is a daughter of Alonbo Bliss, tpne of the wealthiest men of Washing ton.
 Scott with Ps1mer. Pal Q
 Robert T. Scott. once clerk to Senator Underwood. has had rather meteoric career. In the afternoons and nights, he studied law; was eventually graduated, and took the bar examinations in Washington and Alabama.
 Thus equipped, he accepted po- sition In the department of justice. and become private secretary to A. Mitchell Palmer of Pennsyvania, then attorney general. At present, he Is a member of the law firm of which MT. Palmer Is the head, one of
 When Palmer became a candidate for the democratic nomination, Scott became one of his principal lieuten- ants While more experienced men looked after the pre-convention cam paisn at San Francisco, Scott was the main works. When Palmer was eliminated. Scott followed his chief back to Washington and resumed the practice of law-with fine success.
 It Is interesting to speculate on what might have happened had Pal mer been nominated and elected. Fitzpatrick Gets start.
 Another young man whom Senator Underwood has started on the Way to fame is Cecil Fitzpatrick, whose home Is in Birmingham. Like Scott, Fitzpatrick studied law in breathing spells. and was graduated with high honors.
 At the beginning of the year. he accepted position with the law firm of Covington. Burling & Rub- lee, one of the most prominent in the District of Columbia, and with which Capt. Oscar W. Underwood. Jr.. had previously been elevated to member ship.
 Succeeding Fitzpatrick to the clerk ship in Senator Underwood's office is Bruce Nathanpson of Judge Joseph he attends law school Success for him as bright as that acquired by Scott and Fitzpatrick Is predicted by his friends.
 Bankers Also Made.
 And bankers are made here, too. When the late Fred Blackmon came to Congress from the Fourth Ala bama district. he brought as secre- tary Joseph Slattery of Anniston
 Between working hours, he studied finance. Then the federal reserve system was organized. When A. M. Wellborn was made governor of the Atlanta bank, he required the ser vices of a secretary skilled in the technique of banking. and who had. at the same time. general informa- tion as to how Washington does business in the various departments. He selected Slattery, who accepted and instantly made good.
 At present, MT. Blackmon's former clerk is one of the principal of ficials of the Atlanta bank.
 Alex Clarke of Montgomery. came to Washington as secretary to $. H. Second district. He Is now clerk to the district court of customs appeal, practically life job, and a mighty good one.
 The list is interminable.