Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-27
Capital sideIights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

There Is an interesting institution al
Ehe House end Of the Capitol, infor-
mally established, about which the pub
nc knows little, but which is important
IN It's eject upon efficient and exped1-
tlous transaction of legislation.
1e Is something like King Arthurs
round table. It is q round table In the
members dining room at the House end
OF the Capitol, about which gather at
luncheon daily the Republican leaders
Democrats never sit at this table, not
because there has ever been q rule
established, but because they recognize
that sitting at this table in informal
conversation as they eat their luncheon
the majority party In control Of legisla-
ton are able to comfortably talk over
their plans and policies.
Even those who have gotten into the
habit Of sitting at this table when they
have a guest at luncheon go to some
other table, thus leaving their colleagues
an opportunity to discuss freely the
legislative matters that are OF partlcu-
lar interest on that particular day:
Naturally, House Leader T1lSon,
Speaker Longworth and Chairman Bert
Smell Of the House Rules Committee are
the most conspicuous members at this
round table. The members OF the Re
publican Steering Committee and COM
mittee chairmen, with those in charge
Of some special brand of legislation, are
among those who gather there daily.
II 4 +
The other day while several friends
were chatting with Representative Sol
Bloom Of New York, associate director
Of the George washington Bicentennial
celebration, Representative Louis Cram
ton OF Michigan, who Is father OF the
George Washington Memorial Parkway
project, came along. Representative
Bloom facetiously remarked that they
had been discussing q proposal to
Cramton. That reminded Representa-
tive Cramton that while his father was
q soldier In the Civil War, his name
being George Warren Cramton, there
was q fellow soldier in the same regi-
ment whose name was George Wash
ington Cramton. These two Union sol
diers were so frequently caused incon-
venience by the similarity of their
names that the other Cramton changed
his name temporarily.
* 4 4
The statue OF Henry Clay in Statuary
Hall at the Capitol, which was formerly
the House chamber, in which Clay so
brilliantly served, is attracting much
attention from the constant stream Of
tourists.
Representative Virgil Chapman, from
the Ashland district Of Kentucky, which
knew Clay so well In the days Of his
in the closing hours Of the
colleagues the salient facts of Clay'S
career and many interesting anecdotes
and sideiights on his character which
had never before come to their atten-
ton.
He emphasized that the enactment of
the alien and sedition laws, threatening
the life Of the newborn Republic, fired
the youthful Clay when he had barely
reached the voting age, and he de-
them with such scorching in
vecttve that Indignation came like a
dark shadow upon every countenance.
The flame that burned in his own heart
was caught up and lighted in every
other" After that speech, tnyeighing
against Federal encroachment upon the
reserved rights Of the States, Clay's
reputation as an orator was established.
At % Kentucky's adopted fair-haired
son was commissioned member of the
Federal Senate. At "a he entered the
House of Representatives, which met
then in what IS now Statuary Hall, the
theater of many of his most brilliant
forensic contests. The young war party
was ascendant. The need was for a
leader who could vanquish in debate
the Sage Of Roanoke" the most vitu-
perative orator and greatest master of
lnvective whose vitriolic utteranceS ever
through those corridors.
"It must be-" said one, "a man who
can meet John Randolph on the floor or
ON the field, or he may have to do
both" All eyes were turned to young
Harry of the West" He was chosen
TO the speakership the day he became
, member of the House, an unprece-
dented distinction, and Speaker Champ
Clark described him as the most re-
nowned Of all Speakers"
The only President during that epoch
Of Webster, Calhoun. Benton and Clay
whose name looms In history rs large
and respondent IS their names was
old Hickory" jackson, whose heroic
dglire in bronze stands as o mute wit
ness today near that new statue Of
Henry Clay In Statuary Hall.
Representative Chapman calls atten-
lion that in grim determination and
nfiexible will, strong though he was,
Mr.. Clay did not equal the invincible
Did man in the White House. In close
and in memorable logic he
credits Calhoun with being Clays SUI
perior. In profound learning and
classic diction Clays speeches. he says,
we're excelled by those of Webster; the
majestic sweep of whose sublime rhet-
oric and the grandeur of whose glowing
perorations have been surpassed, If at
Ill, in no speeches save those Of Burke
among all in the English tongue. Yet
as an intrepid and inspiring party
an q resourceful and redouht-
able parliamentary leader, as mag
netic and charming personality, as .
brilliant and versatile orator, taken all
n al, Henry Clay has had no equal in
he annals Of America, according to his
successor In Congress. Representative
Chapman.
Members Of Congress who have been
with farm relief problems, the
;ariff, industrial depression, unemploy-
nent and those other important con-
alterations affecting the welfare and
happiness of the American people are
much impressed by terSe opinion ex-
he new reparations plan, regarding
conditions antecedent to American
progress when he said:
When our political policy in inter-
rational affairs becomes cooperative in
spirit, which need not involve us in
or alliances; when our
policy looks to the economic
of the world as a whole,
md the Improvement of living stand
lrds everywhere; when our tariffs and
,ur treaties are made to evidence this
pir1t (because we. are under suspicion
low), then we may hope for effective
,lans for farm relief, for reduction Of
,ur surplus Of raw materials and man
fractured goods, for relief of unemploy-
nent and for--what is most important
If ala better spirit of all nations
oward us and toward each other. That
means peace, and peace thrives in q
world OF contentment and mutual well
are. 1t cannot live in q world or in q
nation where there are great ineuuali-
les and injuSticeS caused bv n1an-inade