Evening star., 1933-10-08
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

Assistant Secretary of State r. Wal
ton Moore has often been referred II
in this column as being outstandingly
familiar with the history Of Virginia
The other day he said that he nov
had to quit thinking very much about
the past and must confine himself to
present-day matters. but nevertheless he
spoke Of visiting last month. befor.
he had any idea of occupying the high
position he now holds in the Fedora
Government, some places Of interes
in the James River country. He wa.
a guest Of DR.. Lyon Gardner Tyler
SOD OF President Tyler, and Mr.. Moore
mentioned, incidentally, that the live.
Of DR.. Tyler and his father. Presi-
dent Tyler. and his grandfather
Gov. Tyler. cover the entire continuou.
period between l747 and this day.
In the little area Of Charles City
County, which contains q population
Of only about 5000. Mr.. Moore wa.
shown the beautiful Westover, home oi
the Byrds, and Berkley. which was built
by Benjamin Harrison, and he wa.
shown nearby Greenway. which wa!
built by Gov. Tyler and was the
birthplace OF John Tyler Thus within
few miles OF each other. in the same
very small county, were born the two
ticket for the presidency and vice
presidency-the "T1ppacsnoe and Tyler
too." ticket-both OF whom filled the
presidential office In the same county
Is the impressive Sherwood Forest home
which was built and owned and otter
occupied by John Tyler when he was
President. 1t is an interesting CO.
incidence that DR.. Tyler's wife Is 9
descendant Of Benjamin Harrison anc
that the representatives of the two
families, once so closely united socially
and politically. have their home ano
are rearing their children in Charles
City County, where their ancestors were
born. DR.. Tyler, who Is an eminent
historian, Is still at the age of &C
years mentally and physically very
vigorous.
Again-attention should be called to
the fact that the public-their con-
Stituents-seem to have little or no idea
OF how hard members Of Congress are
working in their interests during this
period between sessions. OF course
there are several hundred who have
been besieging each individual member
to get jobs In the Federal service, and
many OF these blame their Congress
man because they have not secured
Jobs
As an illustration Of how much bigger
than mere job hunting for individuals
has been the work Of members OF Con-
gress this Summer to get important
public works started in their communi-
ties which will furnish work to large
numbers Of people. let's take Repre-
sentative Randolph Of West Virginia
one OF the youngest members, who is
credited by the House postmaster with
having the third largest mail, and who
has been 'on the job" daily with his
ONCE door wide open to greet all
comers. In the incoming session he is
going to be placed on the Committee on
Mines and Mining, which Is Of special
Importance to his district, as successor
to the late Representative Lynn j
Hornor OF the same State. This ap-
polntment comes in recognition OF the
valuable work for the mining industry
which Representative Randolph has
been doing during the period Of de-
preston. He is now conferring with
Government officials regarding the
prospective purchase Of some 10000, 900
tons of coal for distribution to the
needy during the coming Winter. He
is also seeking an ALLEGATION Of 500 600
to seal abandoned coal mines and thus
aid in the program for publication of
streams under the public works act by
preventing seapage into the streams
and which will fit in with the plans for
scenic Identification along the water
ways. He is working actively along
other lines for the benefit Of the coal
mining industry of his home State
and through that to aid all industrial
activity.
The new Assistant Secretary OF
State r. Walton Moore of Virginia. is
enc of the best-informed men on Vir-
ginia history. His friends have for
years been urging him to give future
generations the benefit of his careful
research fer half a century by writing
a series of human interest books on
the history Of the Old Dominion Mr.
Moore has been especially fortunate in
having stored within his memory many
anecdotal stories, bits of romance.
pathcs. tragedy and comedy. connected
with the historic mansions Of Virginia
He has become familiar with all Of the
more prominent and most Of the more
Itlic-hllOWu llASlOllC SpOlS tIllOusIlOul
the State The wealth of interesting
information that he has gathered by
painstaking study and personal tours
about the people, places. estates and
institutions of Virginia have never been
compiled within the reach of the people.
or even of educators and students. Mr..
Moore has been a devotee of the tradi-
tions Of his home State, and has al
ways supplemented his readings and
study In the Library of Congress, and
even abroad, by visiting the locale of
the historical record. and there visual
izing the people in their daily lives
and historic occurrences about whom
he has read. He has personally
scrutinized all the carefully preserved
original records, and has helped in To-
eating and having preserved a number
Of the more valuable documents of
the earlier days-to keep history
straight. Taking prominent Govern
ment officials and members of Congress
on pilgrimages to the historic and
scenic spots in Virginia is hobby with
Mr.. Moore. He keeps his history and
geography thoroughly up to date.
mentals Of really fair competition upon