Evening star., 1935-08-04
Capital Sidelights
BY Viii p. Kennedy.

Here's another country boy who came
to the big city and made good in a
conspicuous way-one of the Horatio
Ager or Oliver Optic type-proving to
the youth Of the land that there is still
opportunity for boy to work his way
up from the humblest start, through
honest effort, willingness to oblige and
to do just little more than is required
OF him, who has ambition and gracious
ness. Colen H. Emerson, floor manager
on the Democratic side of the House.
who take special care Of all telephone
calls to the Democratic cloak room. has
Just received commission as a Ken
lucky colonel, by the hand of Gov. Ruby
Lat1oon. This all came about because
young Emerson had been obliging to
former Representative Joseph w. Morris
VINO thought he deserved a commits
sion. and every member of the State
delegation and scores of others testified
to his deServingness of such honor.
This recognition comes as q reward
Tor II years of service He was brought
TO Washington by Representative Finis
Garrett, one of the ableSt lawyers and
students OF the Constitution in Congress.
Emerson worked in the House Post
Once during the World War and
brought himself TO the attention of
many members through the service rem
oered. In 1924 when Garret was House
leader he brought Emerson over to be
assistant in charge of the floor and
when "everybodys friend" Bill Bray,
was appointed secretary to Postmaster
General Farley, Emerson stepped into
the place Bray was vacating in the
House. He is from the little-heard-o of
Alamo. Tenn, which never before
boasted native son who became a Ken
lucky colonel
Johnny McCabe, short in stature, but
long in friendships and a heart as big
as all outdoors, big brother to all the
pages, OF whom he is chief on the Re
publican side. has had a varied career.
but always one of integrity and clean
living. Today he is the friend of the
country'S greatest statesmen and most
renowned churchmen, or the wealthiest
men in the country and of the poorest
boys just starting in to help support a
large family. He recalls tending bar
when he was only II years of age and
could hardly reach up to the till of a
cash register. Later he was in vaudeville
and has done most anything to earn
an honest living. He is sometimes called
The Turkey King of Congress" because
OF his sideline. He has been raising
turkeys and has a large chicken farm
few miles from the Capitol from
which he brings eggs and fryers to men,
berS OF Congress. The late Represent
ative Will r. Wood of Indiana, then
chairman of the Appropriations Com
mittee, was ore of a group of House
members who helped to dig post holes
when Johnny was fencing his turkey
farm.
Wage Garner at IL years for family
of nine brothers and Sisters-thats the
proud boast of one of the happiest and
most obliging among the House pages
Howard Ostmann. Howard is now l3.
He has five sisters and four brothers, all
younger than himself. He is now 13,
having serving in a previous session of
Congress. His brother sells Star news
papers. Howard's father is butcher in
o Street Market. Howard formerly at
tended st. Michaels Parochial School in
Silver Spring, and after he was ap-
pointed page through the influence of
former Representative Loring Black of
New York he has been attending the
pages school. His ambition is to be-
come lawyer.
But true to the best traditions of life
coming out of large family that has
to figure to feed all IL mouths, Howard
is thoughtful of his fellow pages, and
eager to help make them happy. So,
when the family found it difficult to
get rent" in Washington for such
large family and hired humble cottage
at North Beach for the Summer, Howard
grabbed the opportunity to entertain
his fellow pages there and he has been
very happy indeed with them as guests
at his shore cottage. And do they
appreciate it!
Boys will be boys" long after they
grow up, and that is why a former
member of the House, Charles Evans,
now on the Capitol guide force, in spite
other morning with Haynes Terry, an
other veteran guide, formerly of the
Government Printing once and for
many years one Of the best-known guides
in the Capitol.
Evans is an old-time miner, born in
Illinois, but who prospected and engaged
in mining in Manhattan and Goldfield,
New. He was at one time quite wealthy,
but like many miners was a daring
gambler for big stakes and eventually
lost 1t all.
u 4
The death of the late Speaker and
Senator Frederick II. Gillett of Massa-
chusetts, who was engaged in writing
the biography of the late Senator George
Frisbie Hoar, leaves only one living
former Speaker, Vice President John N.
Garner, who Is still going strong.