Evening star., 1936-05-10

the United States; for his fellow man,
and for his religion.
Washington knows him well. For
II years he worked as a compoSitor
and proof reader in the Government
Printing Office. The Archdiocese of
Baltimore knows him well-for four
terms he was president of the Arch
diocesan Union of Holy Name Socie-
ties, was a crusader in the cause for
more than 80 years, and after inten-
sive organization campaigns in the
District, Maryland and Virginia he
was in charge of the great Holy Name
demonstration here a few years ago
Throughout the entire Nation he is
well knoWn-for IA years he was edi-
tor of the National Hibernian, for
much longer than that he was promi-
nent in Hibernian organization ac-
tivities-and for 16 years his voice has
gone broadcast from California to
Maine and from Alaska to Florida
making announcements at the Demo-
cratic National Conventions.
Convention FavOrite.
Familiarly and lovingly known as
'P. j." he is the choice of the Demo-
cratic National Committee to be chief
reading clerk at the coming conven-
ton in Philadelphia in appreciation
of his good services in 1920 at San
Francisco, 1924 in New York, 1928 in
Houston, and 1882 in Chicago. He
will have as assistant at the conyen-
ton this year Emery L. Frazier of
Kentucky, Senate legislative clerk.
While working in the Government
Printing Office at his trade he studied
law nights, at the Georgetown Law
School, and won his LII. B degree 1t
was during this time he was first his
torian of the Columbia Typographical
Union-covering 80 years Of research,
and did the job so well that congratu-
lations flowed in from craftsmen all
over the country. This swung him to-
ward journalism, and his prominence
in the councils of the Ancient Order
of Hiberians resulted in his being
chosen editor of their national publi-
cation-which position he filed with
distinction IA years.
One day, on his way to the library of
the United States Supreme Court, un-
til recently in the basement of the
Capitol, to study in one of the quiet
little corners of that StorehouSe rich
in legal lore, the printer-student-j Jour-
faliSt stopped in the gallery of the
House for a few minutes to watch the
proceedings. That was the day he
really found himself it was
that he settled upon his real life's am
bition.
Selected as Reading Clerk.
The House was busy with legislative
matters and the clerk at the Speakers
desk was hustling to keep things mov-
ing according to program. 1t was dur
ing that chance visit that Haltigan
formed a concrete resolution some day
to become reading clerk of the House
That was 40 years ago. It took him
is years to achieve that consuming
ambition, as it was not until 1911,
when the Democrats came into control
of the House, with Champ Clark as
Speaker, that, after a sharp contest
with score or more of aspirantS, he
was selected as reading clerk in the
special session called by President
Taft. For 25 years he has taken pride
In his job and made it profession.
Never yet has he been corrected for
mistake in his duties or reprimanded
for inattention on job that calls for
extreme care, quick action and often
times physical endurance
At 3:15 am, on the morning of
April 6, 1917 Good Friday, in the
midst of terrific rainstorm, Haltigan
called the roll of members of the
House on the resolution which de-
clared war on Germany. This, he says,
was the most impressive half hour of
duty he has ever performed. If ever
he had to control his feelings so that
the husk in his voice would not impair
Its clear carrying power as he told off
the votes it was then. He has pre-
served that roll call, and will pass it
down to his posterity as a reminder of
q momentous event in the life of the
Republic.