Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-28
WILL ROGERS GETS
Job IN CONGRESS
Becomes Representative at
Large" at Press Clubs
Program Held Here.

Hills, CALI, was appointed to and In
stalled In the office of congressman
It large for the United States of Amer.
ca" by the National Press Club last
hight in the Washington Auditorium
before an audience that taxed the hall
o capacity.
The addition to the popular enter
.ainer's long list of titles was con.
'erred upon him in connection with
l reception rendered by the club in
mis- honor while Mr.. Rogers is in the
'ity participating in the filming of a
forthcoming motion picture, "A Texas
Steer"
For nearly two hours after the
Of the commission. a
handsome parchment scroll, the
comedian kept the house In an up
'oar with his gags, ranging from his
recent operation to the forthcoming
presidential boom. With respect to
the latter subject, Herbert Hoover.
Secretary of Commerce, was spotted
in the audience and cautioned not to
take that choose too seriously. and
don't give up your job until you are
sure Of something better"
hSHuTSI introduces Rogers.
Louis Ludlow, president of the
press club, presented the scroll after
a brief address. and Senator Henry F.
Ashurst of Arizona, also former cow
boy, introduced the honored guest of
the evening. In his presentation speech
Mr.. Ludlow declared that a committee
Of lawyer members of the club-Har-
vey d. Jacobs, Frank j. Hogan and
Jerry A. Mathews-examined Article
10 Of the United States Constitution
and concluded that 'all powers not ex-
pressly reserved to the Federal Gov
are to be exercised By tho Ma.
tional Press Club
This legal opinion gave the club au-
thority and machinery to carry out it's
desire-to do something for Mr..
Rogers since his separation from the
of Beverly Hills. Tentative
plans to run him with President Cool
announcement of the Executive, Mr..
Ludlow said, so it occurred to the
members that while a good many of
the States have congressman at large
there is no congressman at large for
the entire Nation. II therefore was de.
cided to create this Office under the
powers delegated the club by the Con-
stitution and have Mr.. Rogers as It's
occupant. The position carries a sus-
pended salary of 81 per annum.
Breaks Senate Precedent.
Senator AShurst, in introducing the
new official" declared that mo words
Of mine could add to or enhance the
shining fame of Will Rogers" He
said he decided to purposely limit his
as he was not in the Senate
where I'VE talk for hours without hest
tation. preparation. manuscript, re-
lection or remorse."
The honored guest Of the evening
was plainly offended" and Thu.
as he arose in response to
the honor" that had been conferred
upon him.
II regret this humiliation tonight"
he declared with a scowl. Back home
N Oklahoma my folks beat it into me
rom childhood to try and live life
so that l never would become a Con-
gresham. That failed. / want you
TO know and consider it as being
shame, as you do"
Prior to coming to Washington, the
speaker said, he had read in the pa
pers about the city's tribute to Walter
Johnson, which, he added, has created
much favorable comment throughout
the land. When he learned his pres
ence was desired at the Auditorium
he said he thought they We're going
to give me loving cup full of money,
but what do l get--a sheepskin-giv-
ing a sheepskin. to a cowboy. We've
got over a million people who have
got sheepskins and haven't got a
sheep and during the time it took
to get the sheepskins, they didn't
teach them how to get sheep"
Soft Job I'm Black Hills.
Nevertheless. the guest of honor
Club for it's efforts and then he added:
THE best ones of the Press Club are
out counting the fish that Coolidge
while the ones left here are
kind of riff-raff. 1 can imagine no bet
Ter assignment than laying on a bank
on one of those Black Hills creeks
with pad and pencil waiting for some
thing to land. The only way one of
sharp-eyed enough to detect the sex
Of the fish as it is pulled out of the
water"
Thanking Senator ,Ashurst for his
of him, Mr.. Rogers said:
DO you remember Boulder Dam?
Well. this is the bird that talked that
Town. What was he trying to do?
la was trying to keep water away
rom us poor Californians."
While the speaker was talking his
words were being broadcast, and his
appearance was terminated at this
Joint to permit the Introduction of
Ann Rork, Louise Fazenda and Doug
as Fairbanks, jr., film stars; George
Iarion, a veteran actor; Richard Wal
ace, director of the picture now being
made here, and Sam Hardy, former
musical comedy star.
With the microphone shut off,
rogers, who was prohibited by his
contract to entertain over
he radio. opened up on his inimitable
ags.
Talks About Operation.
He charged the purpose of the as.
was to advertise office space
n the new National Press Building,
yhich was built from money saved
ut of our gridiron dinners given to
id Coolidge" However,, he took
he side of the club in the matter, and
dvised ANY kind of a public or bust
ess man to rent at least one room,"
dding that Coolidge was so leery
t it he had Stea.ns take two"
Then he switched to his recent
peration. requesting the 'Iadies who
ave had operations to stay and let's
ak this thing over" He declared
is doctor heard he had a very good
eason last year and that his "pleas.
mt ailment" had developed into
else"
While in Washington Rogers said
g had met people that were smart
nough to vote, believe He then
I'D of his visit to the White House
st year. praised the Presidents sense
humor and lauded Mrs. Coolidge.
Pointing out Secretary Hoover, he
eclared that when four or five States
ct into trouble or the whole Nation
eeds help. they get him to do the
'ork. He's Americas family ply
cian." Gen. John j. Pershing also
as singled out Of the audience and