Evening star., 1934-06-03
Capital Sidel;ghts
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

His legion of friends, particularly in
Washington and New York. have been
celebrating the fact that Capt. James
P. McGovern, native New Yorker
practicing law in Washington and
resident at the Racket Club. has been
made Kentucky colonel by Gov.
Ruby Laffoon and duly presented with
badge and sword.
Representative John j. Boylan,
Democrat, of New York, a boyhood
pal Of McGovern's, is one of the chief
cheer leaders and first to kiss the
sword of the new Kentucky colonel
and pledged to follow his leadership
because Boylan is a great hero wor-
shipper at heart and for many years
has been proud of McGovern's dis
tinguished service as an Army officer
He is a veteran of both the Spanish
American and World Wars. He was
born in New York City and in 1905
was the Democratic candidate for the
State Legislature in the old fifteenth
assembly district Of which John F..
Curry was Sthen the leader. AS a
youth he was threatened with tuber-
culosiS and upon the invitation of
Bucky ONeill of Arizona, who was
killed in the battle of San Juan Hill
vhile serving as captain with Col.
Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders,
moved to that State.
He established himself at Flagstaff
taught school and became assistant
editor Of the Coconino Sun. one of
the country's first tabloid newspapers
now leading weekly of the South
West-and otherwise took an active
part in the affairs of that community
Failing to qualify for the Rough
Riders, McGovern came East and en-
listed in the Signal Corps. In the
World War he was one of the first
to volunteer. but was rejected as
physically unfit" Undaunted he un-
derwent two major operations. subse-
quently passed all required examina-
tions. was appointed a captain in the
A. E. F. and served until honorably
discharged in January, 1919.
Col. McGovern gets his principal
recreation as an outstanding golfer
at the Columbia Country Club.
Occasionally members of Congress
go out Of their way to pay tribute for
hard work and jealous effort, and for
special ability, to individual employees
on Uncle Sans pay roll. Usually
such tributes are won only by extraor-
dinary labors and are for the most
part long overdue.
Now comes Representative Anthony
J. Griffin of New York-Who devoted
his youth to engineering and survey
ing. did a good job in the Spanish
American War and in development ot
the Bronx, N. Y. and in the New
York Legislature and for the past Ia
years has been popular and able
member Of Congress. In making his
report on the bill to abolish per-
manent appropriations, he took pains
to give credit to two clerks Of the
Appropriations Committee who aidec
materially in the hearings and prep
aration of the report. Pause to pay
tribute" he told the House, ito the
clerks Of the Committee on Appropria-
tions. Jack McFall, who worked with
us during the hearings, prepared the
witnesses and got the program out fol
each day. He worked far into the
night. Also I pay tribute to James
Scanlon, who prepared the cross.
reference indices to these hearings
They deserve the highest praise fol
their devotion and industry" Anc
hundreds about the Capitol building
who know these two men, who are
always ready to be of service, applaud
Representative Grifin's public COM
mendation of them.