Evening star., 1934-06-24
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

There seems to be considerable
misunderstanding regarding what a
swan song" is-the swan song Of q
member Of Congress is his good-by
speech to his colleagues when he Is
about to retire. There were no swan
songs In either House or Senate at
the close Of the seventy-third Con-
gress-but Nebraska did the honors
In this regard In each branch.
Senator William H. Thompson, more
than 80 years Of age, serving the un-
Howell of Nebraska, will not return,
and after adjournment issued q state
ment In appreciation Of his colleagues
and as a report Of stewardship to his
constituents. He has won an enviable
standing in law, business, education
and public service, climaxed by being
judge Of the Supreme Court of Ne
braska. both by appointment and
election.
In the House Representative Edgar
Howard, probably the most pictur-
esque figure IN Congress, was given a
most fiattering tribute, applauded
loud and long by the entire member
ship when Representative Paul Kvale,
leader Of the Farm-Labor group,
eulogized the venerable Nebraska
legislator and read an excerpt from
his appreciation of friendships In
Congress, as follows:
Some day each Of us who now
holds membership In this House will
~
perhaps by o discriminating constitu-
ency or by Higher Power. In that
day I shall be content II my COL
leagues who remain shall pay but one
tribute TO my memory, and that will
be to speak Of me as one who was
loyal to his friends. n sage has said
that friendliness Ii q gift from the
gods, and I an believing that precious
gift will be vouchsafed to every NOR
tai willing to receive it. To my every
colleague here, and particularly to
those Of lesser years, before whom
the pathway of life looms long, let me
plead acceptance Of the gift of
friendliness. When hating at two
pathways plain, not knowing which is
best to take. lose sight Of self and
selfish gain and make q choice for
friendships sake True friends are
Gods best gifts to earth; true friend
ships are the priceless boon. Let's
strive to prize them at their worth,
nor lose them from our lives too soon.
Be brave to serve your real friends;
therein the proof Of friendship hes.
Trust friendships tongue to speak
amends for all your faults in other
eyes"
Representative Kvale, who has
known Mr.. Howard closely during his
IL years in the House, added: II
doubt that any member Of this House
has q richer right to claim a realm
and wealth Of friendship, regardless
of party and belief, than our friend
from Nebraska. May his Summer be
sweet and restful and pleasant, as
that Of every associate Of ours In the
House, regardless Of where our feet
may lead us during the Summer and
Autumn; and may those of US who
voluntarily depart from this cham
Der and sit for the last night in
this seat Of responsibility carry with
us the friendliness of this body And
may those who involuntarily are sit
ting here for the last time remember,
also. that they carry with them the
friendly regard of those of US who
have served with them, attributing to
them a consciousness and sincerity of
purpose, regardless Of the differences
that from day to day may have fallen
between Us. thank my friend from
Nebraska from the bottom of my
heart for the thought he has left
with U.s."
And that came the nearest to q
Swan song" at the close of the
Seventy third Congress, in which
there was more important legislation
transacted, with more cooperation
between those of conflicting political
faiths, and more friendliness between
all the members gathered from all
parts Of the Union-than ever before
in the history Of the American Con-
gress.