Evening star., 1936-12-13
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

What Is the United States Govern.
ment's biggest job? The answer is of.
fered by Uncle Sans handy man." his
"Jack-of-All Trades" and versatile pinch
hitter. Harold L. Ickes, Secretary of the
Interior, portfolio head of the Bureau of
Education. oil administrator, Federal
emergency administrator of public works.
member OF the National Emergency
Council, of the Migratory Bird Conser-
vation Commission, of the Council of
National Defense, patron ex officio of
Howard University, member of the
Smithsonian Institution, National Forest
Reservation Commission, National Re-
sources Committee, National Power
Policy Committee and a few other odd
Jobs. Surely he ought to have a good
inside view and general survey Of the
Government.
His answer Is "Readin', Ritin' and
Radio"-and he volunteered this answer
in speech at the First National Con-
ference on Educational Broadcasting,
when he said:
ITO my mind, the most important
function OF Government Is the assurance
to every American child, without regard
to race, or creed, or color, for a free
education up to the capacity Of that
child to absorb and use that education.
This is the highest duty of our Govern
ment, because we are a democracy, and
that form of government cannot reach
its full fruition, nor indeed, long survive
unless it is developed and supported by
an intelligent and educated constitu-
ency."
Here is officially emphasized the essen
tial difference between our Government
and that of any other nation in his
tory-free education of all the people.
Just one year short of century ago
come Christmas eve-a baby boy was
born On Kent Island, Queen Annes
County. Md, who has since gone places"
and who, when Congress meets in jan
uary, will enjoy the privilege of sitting
in the National House of Representa-
tives, where he served for 10 years be-
fore any member now in either House
or Senate was elected.
As boy Judge Henry r. Gibson at
tended the common school at Bladens-
burg and graduated from Decker's Acad-
emy there in 1858, from Hobart College
in 1862 and attended the Albany, N. j.,
Law School.
During the Civil War he served in the
commisSary department of the Union
Army. He was admitted to the bar in
1855 and became an authority on GER
tain subjects. He was appointed COM
missioner of claims by Gov. William G..
Brownlow of Tennessee in 1868, was a
delegate to the States constitutional
convention two years later, a member
of the State Senate in 1871 and 1872, a
member of the State House of Repre-
sentatives in 1874 and 1875. He founded
the Knoxville Republican in 1879, and
was its active editor. He was appointed
post Office inspector in 1881, became
editor Of the Knoxville Daily Chronicle
in 1882, was appointed United States
pension agent in Knoxville in 1883 and
served for two years. He was elected
chancellor of the second division of Ten
nessee in 1886, and was professor Of med
ical jurisprudence in the Tennessee
Medical College from 1889 to 1906. He
was elected as Republican to Congress
and served from 1895 to 1905, declining
denomination.
Judge Gibson Is author of several
standard works-"Suits in Chancery"
089D, and maid of Redenfayn" 190O.
He was consulting editor of the Aneri-
can and English Encyclopedia of Law
and Practice and associate reviser Of the
Code of Tennessee in 1918. He Is retired
from public and professional life, but still
retains an active interest in national and
world affairs. Judge Gibson lives at
1925 Allison street northwest and enjoys
q wide circle of friends.
The dean Of the House, without any
close competition, is Representative
Adolph j. SABBATH Of Illinois, completing
80 years of service having been sworn
In on March 4, 1907.
The dean of the Republican House
membership, which has now dwindled to
SO as compared with 127 when he first
came to the sixty third Congress in 1918,
is Representative Allen T. Treadway Of
Stockbridge, Mass. But Treadway has
q close call for this honor. Representa-
tive Carl Mapes of Michigan has served
Just as long-and both continuously.
They were elected on the same day and
sworn in on the same day, but Tread
way gets the rank because MaSsachu-
sets entered the Union February 6, 1888,
while Michigan did not join the Union
until nearly half . century later. January
"a 1887.