Evening star., 1933-04-16
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

u 01 W1AAA 06NNEOxs
Son Of . railroad conductor, Repre-
sentative J. Hardin Peterson, Democrat
OF lakeland. Fla. himself worked IN
railroad shop, was water oov In . phos-
paate mine and earned his own Ray
through the University Of Florida. He
now represents 18 counties in Congress
He has q keen interest in the agricul-
tural interests and the working people
Of his district.
He was in the U. s. Navy during
the World War. He has been prac-
ticing law for nearly 20 years and dur
ing q large part Of that time specialized
In municipal law. He served l6 years
as city attorney Of his home town, rep
resenting at the same time number
Of other municipalities. For nearly II
years he was prosecuting attorney and
solicitor Of the Criminal Court of Polk
County. He served several terms q.
Of the Florida League of Municipalities
, He was also special counsel for the
Florida Department Of Agriculture.
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One Of the most experienced "collec-
tors" Gas q hobby TN Congress IL Rep-
resentative Otha d. Wearin, proprietor
Of Nishna Vale Farm, Hastings, Iowa
! author Of q number Of text books on
agricultural subjects. He has devoted
considerable time since childhood te
collecting stamps, books, autographs
signed photographs, curios and what
have you"
He was elected to the Iowa Legisla-
| ture In 1928 and was the youngest
member Of that body during the forty
third and forty-fourth sessions. In the
latter session he was assistant floor
leader Of his party.
HIS first interest in politics occurred
In 1908. He recalls his keen disappoint-
ment over the defeat Of william Jen-
nings Bryan and his childish demon
stration Of temper as he stamped back
and forth on the front porch of his
farm home declaring he would make
speeches for the defeated candidate the
next time he was nominated.
He has always been engaged in farm
ing activities in Iowa on the farm
where he was born, and during 1927
he spent several months abroad study
ing agriculture. The trip was made
largely on foot, via bicycle, third-class
passage, etc. One interesting portion
OF the journey was made on q freight
train from Omaha to Boston as care
taker for q load OF stock. While abroad
he studied farm production and.did re-
search work in the International In
stttute Of Agriculture In Rome. He Il
author Of An Iowa Farmer Abroad, ~
and . number of special studies and
magazine articles on farm subjects. He
has always been a leader in farm or
ganization work.
He has devoted considerable time
during recent years to the development
nf q NJ
from which have repeatedly won high
awards In Midwest agricultural shows
During his college days he developed
q natural aptitude for debating and
won fame throughout that section oi
the country. He was elected treasurer
Of the Wearin school district In 1926
was Q delegate to the State convention,
In 1924. 20, '28 and 80. He wa
assistant secretary OF the Iowa Demo.
cratic Convention IN 1928; temporary
chairman, "keynoter" and permanent
chairman Of the Iowa State Democratic
Judicial Convention In $780, elected tc
the State Legislature In 1928 and 1890
He was appointed by the Governor O,
Iowa to represent the State at the In.
ternational Midwest Aeronautics Con.
vention in Minneapolis in 1880. HI
was elected to Congress by q majority
Of 1888.
When Bert Kennedy, veteran Repub
lican employe Of the House, who ha!
about him in the Capitol the othe
day; he rubbed his eyes in amazemen
and then assured himself-"Yes, tina
is Joe Ford" Before coming to Con
| gress as . page, Bert Kennedy hat
served as page in the State LHgislatur,
OF Michigan. where "Joe'' Ford has nov
been for IS years cloak room maj
for the STATE Senators during legisIA
tive session and at other time porte
on the Pere Marquette Railroad.
Bert thought 1t would be q good tim,
to introduce Joe" Ford, 81 years O
age to Arthur Lucas, 86 years Of age
the veteran colored employe in tn,
House cloak room for the past S,
years. When they got chatting the!
again proved how small this worlt
is" by disclosing that they were bor1
IN the same neighborhood near Peters
burg, Va. and recalled many person.
whom they had both known in thei
youth.
Prom the time I was big enough {,
ride" says Representative Randolpl
| Carpenter of Marion, Kans., IT spen
most OF my life outside of school, frs
upon my small Shetland pony and ther
upon other ponies as I grew larger
roaming the prairies with the cattle
men. When about the age of 3 year.
I took the pennies that my mother
saved for me and bought a calf anc
went into the cattle business In q few
years had a small herd Of cattle
which I sold and used the proceeds Il
put me through college"
| He Is today interested, with his IA.
| ther, In considerable land holdings, *
he feels that he knows-from tn
ground up-the sentiments and feeling.
| Of the farmers and people Of that great
agricultural section.
Just when he had finished his lega
course at the University Of Michigan
this country engaged in the World Wa
and young Carpenter hurried home ant
! organized the Home Company Of In.
fantry in the Kansas National Guard
This unit was later transferred into thu
| 139th Infantry, 35th Division. Car.
penter was first commissioned seconC
| lieutenant and promoted to first lieu.
| tenant during the Meuse- -Argonne Of
| fensive. He was overseas with his com.
pany for q year. He was first brigadet
with the English in Northern France
and later served IN the trenches IN tht
Vosges section Of Alsace. He saw serv'
ice also in the st. Mihiel and Verdur
sectors.
Mr.. Carpenter returned to France or
his honeymoon, touring the battlefield!
and especially the place his company
had occupied during the war. He wa.
q delegate to the American Legion Con
vention in Paris in 1927.
He was twice elected to the board o.
education Of the city Of Marion, ant
twice elected to the State Legislature
He IVES author Of the Kansas oil pro
ration law that passed the Legislature
two years ago and was instrumental II
stimulating the oil business In that par
Of the country.
An Egg Limit Needed.
From the Toledo Blade.
Regulations for restaurants operate,
with beer motive should pat limi
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