Evening star., 1934-03-18
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL r. KENNEDY.

H. By WILL r. KENNEDY.
Representative James w. wads-
worth, jr., is invariably called Sen
stor" In remembrance Of his distin-
guished work during the World War
in carrying through President Wilson'S
legislative program as chairman Of
the Senate Military Affairs Commit
tee. He Is now being groomed for
the Republican nomination in the
next presidential campaign. Mr.. Wads-
worth was chosen for orator at the
banquet Of the Friendly Sons Of st.
Patrick last night because his ances-
tors were most closely associated with
the founders of that society and have
been outstanding benefactors Of the
Irish people.
His family goes back TO the pioneer
settlement In Massachusetts,. His
great great great grandfather, Will
liam Wadsworth, was one of those
hardy men who made their way
through the wilderness to found
Hartford, Conn, In 1885. Some half
century later, in the reign Of James
II, when the royal Governor. Sir Ed
mund Andres, undertook to seize the
Connecticut charter, the candles were
suddenly snuffed out and before they
could be relit the charter had been
snatched away from under the royal
Governors hand-and 1t was Capt.
Joseph Wadsworth who hid the docu-
ment In the hollow Of the Charter
Oak" till In a freer time the precious
document was brought out with honor
as the constitution Of the colony.
Gen. James Wadsworth served as
major general Of the Connecticut line
in the American Revolution and as
a member Of the Continental Con-
gress. At the same time jeremiah
Wadsworth was commissary general
and at his home in Hartford, Conn,
in 1880. Washington and Rocham-
beau worked out Joint plan of cam
paign. When the country returned
to peaceful pursuits after the Revo-
luton, Jeremiah Wadsworth advanced
his young nephew, James Wadsworth,
funds to purchase lands at a dollar
an acre in then-distant Western New
York. James induced his brother
William to make 1t Joint venture
and thus was founded the ancestral
Wadsworth domain. Geneseo. pur-
chased from the Indians in 1870
where the present Representative
lives.
MAJ. Gen. James Samuel wads.
worth, eldest son Of James Wads-
worth and grandfather Of Representa-
tive James w. Wadsworth, jr., who
read law in Daniel Webster's office
went on his honeymoon from the
Geneseo domain to the west coast OF
Ireland. became much interested in
the people there and sent a number
Of Irish lads to America to make their
fortune-and who helped to develop
the great State of New York. Then
some years later, at the time of the
Irish famine in 1847, Representative
Wadsworth's grandfather sent an en-.
tire shipload Of grain for their relief.
This distinguished grandfather fol-
lowed the lead Of Martin Van Burer
in seeding from the Democratic
party and was active In the campaign
AOA 44CC cOA1s 4ACC lice ldDOI
and free men," precursor Of the Re.
publican party. He was chairman oi
the convention In 1856 when the anti.
slavery Democrats indorsed the Re.
publican candidate for President
John c. Fremont-and In 1860 was
an active supporter Of Abraham Lin.
coin.
When It was learned in April. 1851
that railroad communication with tht
Capital at Washington had been IN.
terrupted by damage done by dis.
loyalists, this grandfather Of the pres.
ent Representative. organized Union
Defense Committee" which got 3
ferry boat and sent her to Annapolis
with supplies and materials and 1ot
laborers for maintenance OF the rail.
road between Annapolis and Wash.
ington. He fought valiantly at Bull
Run and became military governor il
charge Of the defenses of Washington
He also fought at Characteristic
and Gettysburg. directing much of th'
advance fighting and in 1864 was giver
| command of the 4th Division of thl
5th Corps, Army of the Potomac. ir
the Battle Of the Wilderness, wherl
he was mortally wounded.