Evening star., 1924-06-08
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.


No matter who is nominated at the
national conventions you can be sure
Of one thing that longtime, tried
and-true employees Of the House are
going to see that the wheels of the
convention machinery continue to run
smoothly. No matter who may be
presiding officer or keynote orator
as the conceptions roll along, de-
pendence for the truck horse work of
these conventions is placed upon
these veterans in service.
OF course, most every one knows
that the general rules for each con-
national House of Representatives,
but the voting public and even the
delegates to the conventions are in
bl1ssful ignorance of the real hard
work that is carried on by these few
dependables.
It is generally admitted that there
viii be something akin to a riot at
the Democratic convention in New
York for admission and that thou
sands will seek to enter, using all
sorts of influence and excuses. who
will be unable to get by the door
keeper. It's the meanest sort OF job
to try to stem this tidal wave, but
Joseph j. Sinnott. now in his fortieth
year as an employe at the Capitol
faces the task without a tremor, for
he Is to be chief doorkeeper
Mr.. Sinnott is now a minority en-
ploye or the House and assistant to
the Democratic whip, who with his
cooperation has made wonderful
record. Joe Sinnott has been an
official at the last eight Democratic
conventions. He was chief doorkeep-
er in San Francisco four years ago
He has the reputation of knowing
more public men than any one about
the Capitol
Mr.. sinnott has been assistant whip
for twenty-five years. When he was
elected doorkeeper of the House ar
the same time Champ Clark was
elected Speaker and Oscar Under
WOOD. now candidate for the nomi-
nation for President, was elected
House leader, they insisted that Mr..
Sinnott continue the two Jobs of
doorkeeper and assistant whip.
Then there is "P l." HaIti,,n
known throughout the entire United
States as the man with the tireless
voice" He is reading clerk of the
House-has been for thirteen years
and will be reading clerk at the New
York convention, just as he was four
years ago at the San Francisco con-
vention.
His remarkable feat at the Golden
Gate convention of going through
forty-four roll calls with no great
change in his voice or seeming fatipue
IN spite or the tremendous strain for
tnree days and three nights won for
him unstinted commentator from the
delegates and the press of the coun-
try.
There were fully $4,000 persons in
tnat convention, but notwithstanding
that tremendous attendance and the
bitter craftsmanship "P. j." was at all
times able with his superb voice to
drown out insipient disturbance and
to maintain order while reading. Dur
ing the roll calls there was abso-
lutte quite so that you could hear a
pin drop.
Kenneth Romney. now cashier of
the House. who held that job through
efficient service during both Demo-
cratic and Republican regimes, is to
be one Of the four tally clerks at the
Democratic convention. The other
three are former Capitol employees
during the Democratic majority.
Romney was tally clerk at the San
Francisco convention and took the
forty-four roll calls. His coworkers
A. r. Garfield. formerly a tally clerk
in the House; W. C. Van 'Cleve for
merly journal clerk, and f. G. Sher-
rill, former notification clerk.
y +
The parliamentarian of the New
York convention will be Representa-
tive Clarence Cannon of Elsberry, Mo,
who was parliamentarian while
nf
House and for time under Speaker
Gillett. He served as parliamentarian
at the San Francisco convention.
Representative Cannon has been
clerk of the Democratic caucus of
the House of Representatives in the
last four Congresses. He is editor OF
two editions of the Manual and Di-
gest of the House of Representatives.
author of "A Synopsis Of the Pro-
cedure of the House" and of Pro
ceudre in the House of Representa-
| tives," published by resolution Of
the House. He is also editor and
compiler of the precedents of the
House by act of Congress.
Similarly, the parliam en- tartan at
the Cleveland convention of the Re-
publican party will be Lehr Fess,
now parliamentarian to Speaker Gill
lett. He was parliamentarian at the
last Republican convention in Chi
cago. He has been parliamentarian
of the House for FIVE years.
During his term about 5000 points
Of order have been decided. He has
prepared two editions Of the manual
and digest of the rules, annotated
and has had charge of this work dur
| ing the revision of the rules which
was a big issue when the House re-
organized for this session. More than
| 100 precedents have been established
W hile he has been parliamentary ad-
wiser to the Speaker.
Mr.. Fess has ten large scrap books
| full of the proceedings of the House
when these precedents were estab-
| lished during the last five years, for
ready reference in deciding new par
| liamentary problems as they arise.
y * X
Representative John Philip Hill Of
| Maryland. who claims divided honors
| with Representative George Holden
| Tinkham of Massachusetts, as leader
of the wet" forces, has the additional
distinction of being chairman of the
largest committee in the House, albeit
| 1t is an unofficial committee. This Is
TN committee on modification OF the
Volstead act, which has the names OF
sixty members printed on the COM
mittee letterhead.
X y \ +
On occasions a little bit of friendly
CnnRraQa
as sirup Is in catching dies. During
the closing days of Congress. Repre-
sentative Edgar Howard Of Nebraska.