Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-14
Capital Sidelights
By Viii p. Kennedy.

Who is the man Of many mistaken
identities in Congress?
Page Billy" Connery, chairman of the
House Committee on Labor, World War
color sergeant in the famous Yankee
Division former actor and welcomed TO
any gathering because Of his story-tel-
ing proclivity and all-around entertain
ing genius.
During his first term in Congress, some
IA years ago, he went down to the
Appeals Board, United States Depart
ment of Labor. AS he went in Miss
Anna Moynahan gave him a jacket on
one of the cases and told him she would
bring him several others later which he
intended to argue. The chairman OF
the board asked him, Whose secretary
are you?" and Connery said, Repre-
sentative William P. Connery. jr." Later
Miss Moynahan brought in three other
files and said: Here they are, Con-
gresham and the chairman was pro-
fuse in his apologies.
Another time he had some 20 school
teachers from Lynn here on visit and
stopping at the old Congress Hall Hotel,
now replaced by the New House Once
Building. He went to deliver to them
letters to get them entire TO the White
House and the Government Printing
ONCE Out bristles very dignifled old
gentleman of the goatee era who asked,
Are you engaged'-mistaking him for a
guide-and proceeded to give him direc-
lions to be on hand promptly at 8 o'clock
because he wanted TO take party of
eight young women to the Library OF
Congress Connery assured him he'd be
on hand and he was. When he had
conducted the party the gentleman Of
the old school asked, How much do I
owe you?" Connery asked who his Con-
gresham was and he replied: Judge
Bell of Georgia" Hes good fellow and
a friend Of mine and I'm sure he'd do
as much for me-" answered the oblig-
ing Billy" When the old gentleman,
a Dr. Murphy, in charge of a finishing
school in Georgia, learned who his guide
was he was much embarrassed, but Con-
merry soon put him at his ease, making
him feel that he was the one honored
by such pleasant company. One OF the
young women told him she had seen
him when he took the part of news
paper man, Clint HarkinS, in Get Rich
Quick, Wallingford," when he played at
Little Rock, Ark.
In a rush one morning Connery pulled
into a reserved place near the Capitol
steps where a sign was conspicuous, Re
served for Members of Congress" with
his dilapidated old Dodge. badly in need
of washing. The Capitol police officer
seeing the old and shabby car next to
the Rolls Royce of the late Represent
alive Martin B. Madden of Illinois
"balled" Connery out. A few moments
later when Connery came to get his
car he found one of his old "buddies" of
the Yankee Division" who had served
with him in France and was then on
the Capitol police force "bawling out
the rookie policeman for having lin
suited" q real soldier who had carried
the flag under fire and who was
member Of Congress. Thereafter the
Capitol policeman greeted Connery with
q salute each morning.
Recently Connery had severe nervous
spell and was ordered by his physician
to take a smile hike in Rock Greek
Park each morning. Wearing cap and
old Stacks, Connery was plodding his
sweaty way home the other morning on
Park road when q big colored man
rushed to meet him: "Is yo' the painter,
caus' If yo' Is yous late and theys
waitin' TO- yo'" Connery assured him
he was q mere member Of Congress
and so it goes.
Miss Jeanette Rankin OF Montana,
the first woman ever elected to Con-
gress, who won worldwide notice when
she burst into tears as she cast her
vote for the United States entering the
World War. who was q pioneer OF the
suffragist movement, who visited New
Zealand working as q seamstress to get
first-hand information Of social condi-
lions, was dragged into the House on
Friday by Representative Paul kvale
Of Minnesota and Representative Maury
Maverick of Texas. who were mere boys
when Miss Rankin was q member IN 1917
She has In recent years been devotins
much time to lobbying for causes"