Evening star., 1924-02-10
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY

The late Iamented Champ Clark's
famous speech on "The Making of a
Representative" has again made it's
appearance in the Congressional Rec
ord. just as it always does when a
congressional campaign is opening up.
Champ Clark emphasized the advan-
tage of any district in keeping a rep
resentative in Congress for long
time. pointing out that useful and
influential congressman are made
largely by experience and practice"
He recalled that 1.-The old Charlotte
district in Virginia knew this, and
kept John Randolph of Roanoke in
the House till he became a great ma
tional figure. Then the Old Dominion
sent him to the Senate and Gen. jack
son sent him to st. Petersburg"
Out of his long-drawn experience
and shrewd observation Champ Clark
concluded that 'ft is an unwise per-
formance for any district to change
Speaker Gillett. who has served
thirty years consecutively in the
House, and who is known as -"the
father of the House" by virtue of
longest consecutive service, was used
by Champ Clark as an illustration.
New England and the cities of
philadelphia and Pittsburgh" he said,
have understood the value of long
service all along, and, having elected
a fairly good man to Congress, they
keep him in the harness.
I'm the second and third Congresses
in which / served" continued Champ
Clark, Maine, with only four mem
bers, had the speakershfp and the
chairmanship of the great committees
on ways and means. Navy and public
buildings and grounds most re-
markable circumstance, giving the
Pine Tree state an influence in the
House and the country out of all pro-
portion to her population and wealth.
These four men-Reed, Dfngley, Bou-
telle and Millikin-each served in the
states might profit by her example"
X \
During the illness of Woodrow Will
son the democratic national commit
tee called upon him to pay their re-
spects. Just before this reception one
of the Massachusetts, members, Mayor
Edward ]. Quinn of Cambridge, called
at the White House to see Calvin
Coolidge, whom he had known for
many years.
knowing that the democratic ma
tional committee was going to call
upon former President Wilson, Presi-
dent Coolidge said to Mayor Quinn:
please give him my kindest re-
CARDS" But when Mr.. Quinn reached
the Wilson home he found the former
President so obviously tired and weak
that he refrained from delivering the
message, so that was one presidential
message that was not delivered.
Representative Allen T. Treadway
of Massachusetts tells this little story
of how the first lady of the land was
shopping for millinery. AS each hat was
tried on. the saleslady. who didn't
know who she was. insisted on pull
ing the brim down on Mrs. Coolidge's
forehead, and Mrs. Coolidge, just as
regularly, pushed the hat back off her
forehead.
Finally, when she had made her Sc
lection, had directed where the hat
was to be sent and was leaving, Mrs.
Coolidge was detained by the sales
lady, who said: why, you're Mrs.
Coolidge, aren't you?" AS Mrs. Cool
idge smilingly admitted the fact, the
saleslady said with a laugh. "In that
case YOU can wear the brim anywhere
you please"
x X X
In Chicago Coolidge button has
appeared with a picture of President
Coolidge and the slogan Keep Cool
idge." During the cold snap Hiram
johnson had a meeting in Chicago,
and one of his henchmen. referring
to the weather, remarked. Its rather
Coolidge outside tonight
The House has developed for itself
a. cashier Who, without previous ex-
perience, has become so expert that
some of the largest banks in the
country have endeavored to ALLEVIATE
his affections from his duties at the
Capitol.
This young man is Kenneth ROM
ney Of Montana, who has been en-
ployed in the Office of the sergeant
alarms for eight years under the
administrations of Robert B. Gordon.
democrat, who first appointed him
in 1915, and now under Joseph G.
Rodgers. republican, sergeapt-at-
arms since May 10, 1919.
Mr.. Romney handles $10,000.0O0 in
cash every year over the counter. He
makes up the pay roll of members
of the House and disburses their SAL
aries. He must know the members
and must know the signature of
every member. In addition, he cashes
the pay checks of employees whose
salaries are disbursed by the clerk of
the House. MIR. Romney has never
lost dollar on a check, although he
accommodates many who are not in
official life. He is regarded by many
as the most accurate and fastest
money counter in the National Capital
He was educated in the University
of Washington. at Seattle, where he
was honor student in journalism. He
did newspaper work in northw western
states before coming to Washington,
and had no banking experience until
he was appointed cashier Of the
House. He was "four-minute man"
in Washington theaters during the
war, and in 1919 organized the Lit
members. and is regarded the best
debating society in America. He is
annual orator at the alumni banquet
of the Kappa Sigma college fra
ternity.
His hobby is literature, and he
spent all last year studying Russian
classics from "Gogol to Kuprin."
!: X x X
Representative Ashton c. Shallen-
berger, democrat. of Nebraska has
lived for thirty-five years with the
Republican river running through his
ranch. He is an extensive stock
grower as we'll as being engaged in
the banking business, and last year
produced some 10000 bushels of corn
on his ranch. He developed Su-
premacy, and ''she is the best known
COW in America today, having won
more grand championships than any
cow now living" according to the
Shorthorn World Yearbook.