Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-01-26
Capital. Sidelights
BY viii p. Kennedy.

eartwarming tribute to devoted
brotherhood was demonstrated by Rep
resentative William P. Connery of Massa-
chusetts, chairman of the House Com
mittee on Labor in disclosing the other
side" of nepotism at committee hear
ing. Irked by repeated charges of
nepotism, Chairman Cochran of the
Committee on Expenditures conducted
the hearing to give any person an oppor-
tunity to disclose such facts if they de-
sired. The proponent of the legislation,
Representative J. r. Mitchell of Ten
nessee, declined to give specific examples,
stating that he was fighting for a prin-
ciple, not personalities" Connery. how
ever, told the committee that many men,
bers found it advantageous to employ
members Of their own family whom they
could trust. and not take chance on
being double crossed. I have employed
my brother as my secretary because I
need hinl-he doesn't need me-" Ever
since he came to Congress 13 years ago
the devotion of the Connery brothers to
each other has a shining example on
Capitol Hill-since 1917 their devotion
had been inspirational to their fellow
service men overseas. Bill boaSted about
Larry and Larry Dragged about Bill
Either would suffer anything for the
other. They went through law school
together while Bill was serving as Rep
resentative and Larry as his secretary
All of their associates at the Capitol
who know the facts say, IF that be
nepotism-lets have more of it."
Who are the nestors of Congress?
The dean of the Senate is William E.
Borah of Idaho and the dean of the
House is Representative Adolph j.
SABBATH of Illinois-both of whom came
to the Capitol on the same date-March
4, l907-and have served continuously.
There are two other men in Congress
now who came in on the same date-but
whose service was not continuous-Rep-
resentative Benjamin K. Focht, Repub-
lican, of Pennsylvania, who has some
thing of an in-and-out record and Rep
resentative William A. Ashbrook. Demo-
crat, of Ohio. who after II years serv-
ice was defeated in the Harding land
slide of 1920 by 1913 votes and who after
an absence of Is years has come back
with majority of 1872 votes.
What American-especially in public
life-has received the largest number Of
decorations and honors from other ma
tions? An outstanding claimant for tine
distinction is DR.. Francis B. Sayre. a
free-trade professor at Williams College,
son-in-law of the late President woodrow
Wilson, and now Assistant Secretary of
State, in direct charge Of reciprocal
trade treaties. His achievements in the
field of internationalism were put into
the Congressional Record by Represent
atives Francis D. Culkin, Republican OF
New York and Allen T. Treadway, Re-
publican, of Massachusetts,.
According to that record, Prof. Sayre
was created Phya Kalyan Maitri by the
King of Siam, 1924 awarded the Grand
Cross of Crown of Siam, 1924; Grand
Cross of White Elephant, Siam. 1925;
grand officer, Order of Orange Nassau,
Netherlands, 1925; knighs grand COM
mander, Chula Chom Klao, Siam, 1926;
commander Order of the Dannerbrog,
first class, Denmark. 1926; Grand Cross,
Royal Order of Isabel la Catolica, Spain,
1926; Grand Cross of Order of Christ,
Portugal, 1925; commander, Order of st.
Olav, first class, Norway, 1927; Grand
Cross Order of Crown of Italy, 1927;
grand officer de la Legion dHonneur.
France, 1929.
"Napoleon's suggestion that a cor
poral's knapsack contain a marshals
baton holds good for military training
generally says Rear Admiral Reginald
r. Belknap, U. S. N, retired. for the
goal of all is ability to surmount emer-
gency."
In an article printed in the Congress
sional Record Admiral Belknap COM
mends the "statesmanlike grasp OF our
country's need" by Secretary of War
Elihu Root, which resulted in the estab-
lishment in Washington in 1908 Of the
Army general staff and the Army War
College. The War College, he empha-
sizes. capped the Army system, making
its training comprehend every degree
of command or staff responsibility.
Similarly he pays tribute to Admiral
Stephen B. Luce, "a seaman OF highest
quality, an officer of rare insight, indie
fatigable energy and resolute persever-
ance, who as captain had codifled
naval seamanship with a comprehensive
ness never before attempted nor since
surpassed" AS a result of his zeal the
Navy War College, the first school for
higher naval command in any country
was established in 1884.
The Naval Academy motto, "Sea Mas
terry Through knowledge" has become
at the War College, Victory Through
Unity"