Evening star., 1928-12-02
Capital Sidelights

lie is woefully ill-informed, George
Rogers Clark, under whose leadership
the great Northwest Territory was ac
quired, out of which have been develop
ed flve States and part of sixth State
comprising one-fifth of the population
and one-fourth of the wealth and re-
sources Of the United States, is about
to receive tardy recognition in the
form of a permanent memorial on the
site of his greatest achievement and
Nationwide historical, patriotic and
educational celebration in commemora-
ton Of the lS0th anniversary, February
25, 1929. Of his capture of Fort Sack
vile, Vincennes, Ind.
Senator Simeon d. Fess of Ohio has
been made chairman of a commission
arranging for this celebration and the
commission is to meet here q week
from Tuesday. December IL. Presi-
dent Coolidge advocated such action by
the Federal Government, during the
last session of Congress.
The old Northwest Territory embraced
the region north of the Ohio River be-
tween the Alleghenies and the Missis-
sippi River 1t now comprises the
States of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan,
Ohio, Wisconsin and part Of Minne-
sofa.
The principal feature Of the proposed
memorial is hall Of history, in which
may be recorded the history of the de-
velopment of the Northwest Territory
down to the present day.
Senator FesS emphasizes that the
success of the military expedition or
ganized and commanded by George
Rogers Clark in 1778-79, eliminating
with the capture of Fort Sackville, con-
quering the strong and well equipped
British garriSons In the Northwest, is
one Of the most remarkable and OUT
standing achievements of the Revolu-
tionary War, The British control and
domination of the Northwest was ter
minated and this rich and now popu-
lous region became American property
by the treaty of 1888
Further than that. Clark's victory
prevented the naturalization of the
British plan of an Indian crusade in
the Spring of l779 against the border
settlements. II this plan had been car
ried out, Washington'S armies in the
field would have been seriously depleted,
as the sharpshooters from the frontiers,
who made possible the victories of
Cowpens and Kings Mountain, would
have been needed to defend their homes
against the Indians,
y y
With the important minority office
of whip" about to be filled, owing to
the recent death of Representative Will
liam A. Oldfield of Arkansas, many in
quiries have been made regarding the
history and duties of this office Rep
resentative Guy U. Hardy of Colorado
has made careful study and answers
these inquiries as follows:
AR ,I~f
the British Parliament--that is, the
name does. and 1t has been used for
some 200 years. 1t is probable that
every legislative body. as long as there
have been such bodies, has had some
person who has acted in this capacity.
The whip looks after the membership
Of his party and endeavors to have them
present to vote on important measures.
When the vote is apt to be close, he
checks up, finds out who is out of the
city and advises absenteeS by wire Of
the important measure coming up.
There are many hours of long debate
when many members do not feel 1t
necessary to be present and listening,
and they 60 along attending to their
other business, which in many cases Is
pressing. The whip keeps posted on
the daily program, and il something
important comes up where votes will
be taken, he notifies the membership
of his party. Occasionally members
offices are notified by phone from the
sired on the floor Immediately" After
such notice Is phoned around, you will
see the House gradually fill up with
members.
The Republican whip has also a
duty to perform in connection with the
White House. The President OCCASION
ally seeks information from the whip
as to the sentiment of the House on
important administration measures,
about the prospect of passage of cer-
tain bills, and the whip naturally re-
fleets the Presidents view about many
things and is in position to know
the administrations policy.
The Republican whip was formerly
appointed by the Speaker, but is now
chosen by the party caucus. Repre-
sentative Albert H. Vestal of Indiana is
serving as Republican whip at this
time. He has served six terms in Con-
gress. Some others who have rendered
distinguished service as Republican
whip have been Thomas B. Reed, James
Wilson, later Secretary of Agriculture;
James E. Watson, now United States
Senator from Indiana; James A. Taw-
ney and John w. Dwight.
y y \
Senator Ralph B. Howell of Nebraska,
recently reelected, who went abroad at
the behest of Will H. Hays while the
latter was Postmaster General to study
o-telegraphy and other "commun1-
cations" when the administration was
considering the advisability OF having
the Post Office Department changed
into a department of communications,
under the plan of reorganization which
Is going before the next Congress, takes
this long look backward along the way
trodden by his ancestors;
Upon an occasion during the Revo-
lutionary War Gen. Washington made
his headquarters at the home OF my
neutrality-suspicious.. At that time
my great-grandfather was boy OF IA
and 1t seems to have been omclally
noted that he voluntarily and at great
hazard successfully carried dispatches
for Gen. Washington through the Brit
ish lines. At that time my family were
seasoned Americans, as the first Howell,
from whom am descended, landed on
these shores from Wales IN the latter
part of the seventeenth century"
Senator Harry B. Hawes who when 20
years OF age was president of the st.
Louis Police Department, who during
the World War performed notable mill
tary intelligence work both with the
general stan in Washington and in
France and Spain and who subsequently
was assistant military attache at the
United States embassy in Madrid, has
set up in his home in ST. Louis a COM
plete Spanish room of the sixteenth
century period. 1t Is furnished with
titles, paintings, furniture and fittings
brought from Spain. He has the largest
collection OF the work Of Cervantes in
the United States and has specialized
in the study Of that masters great work,
Don Quixote." His particular hobby is