Evening star., 1938-05-29
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.

| BY WILL +. kENNEDl.
A noted writer many years ago de-
clared Good books are the best COM
panions for man." The lawmakers OF
the Nation are men of action, and though
seen close to or judged by daily reports
we are inclined to censure rather than TO
praise them. the public as rule under
estimates the ability, achievements and
right purposes of the members of Con-
gress. Read their biographies and you
will be amazed to find how important
and how varied have been their careers
before they came to the Capitol.
Seldom do we think of them as stu
dents in their libraries, and yet that is
the truest picture of most of them. In
variably they are we'll read. The late
Senator John Sharp Williams Of Missis-
sippi had wonderful library and often
remarked, when invited to important
functions at the White House or other
haunts of the mighty, I'D much rather
stay at home in my library and consort
with the greatest men who ever lived"
and he most sincerely meant it. The
late Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, long
known as ''the scholar in politics" had
noted library. which his grandson. the
present Senator Lodge Of Massachusetts
inherited-and the young Senator also
knows his books. In contrast, there was
the self-educated late and beloved
Speaker Champ Clark, who hewed his
own way to culture largely through a
love for books. and he passed that love
and familiarity with literature along to
his son. the present Senator Bennett
Clark of Missouri, who himself has writ
ten several important volumes of text
book quality. These outstanding ex-
amples are merely illustrations that have
come personally within the knowledge
and observation of the writer. Probably
half the men in Congress today have to
their credit the authorship of at least
one book each.
While in Congress many members are
building up their libraries. Some of
them are having copies Of their own
speeches bound, or outstanding speeches
made by their colleagues. Others are
experiencing what a wealth Of material
on various subjects is available in Gov
ernment publications which widens gen.
eral knowledge and they are amassing
much Of this in their private Libraries.
1t was the late Joel Grayson. for many
SCdlo al Clldl &c VI GllC I1OuSS
Room. who listed among the most valu-
able works of reference the Congress
slonal Directory. the Statistical Abstract
and the hearings on the various appro-
Driation bills. 1t is an indisputable fact
that if any Congressman or any one else
desires to get true knowledge of what
the United States Government is doing
he can find it in the hearings on the ap-
preparation bills, after he has learned
how to skim through them until he To-
Gates the worthwhile information. 1t
is also true that in the much-maligned
appendix to the Congressional Record
the daily newspaper of Congress
members are allowed to extend" re-
marks that were never made on the floor,
most reliable and authentic infor-
nation can be cleaned on many and i'm
portant subjects. The Congressional
Record makes good bedside reading.
What members of Congress died on
the House floor? Representative Edward
Everett Eslick (Tennessee) and Repre-
sentative Thomas Tyler Bouldin CVir-
ginia). The latter died while addressing
the House and was succeeded by his
brother, Representative James Wood
Bouldin. Two other members died in
the Capitol-Representative Martin b.
Madden Ullinois), chairman of the Ap-
preparations Committee, and John Quincy
Adams Massachusetts,, son of John
Adams and father of Representative
Charles Francis Adams. After he had
been President and Senator, Secretary of
State and Minister to Russia and Great
Britain, John Quincy Adams died in the
room now occupied by the clerk Of the
House, after he was stricken in what
was then the House chamber, now known
as Statuary Hail.
= + Il
What members were illegally elected?
The following were all elected before
they had reached the constitutional age:
Senator John H. Eaton (Tennessee). /.
who was later Secretary OF War; Senator
Rush D. Holt (West Virginia.: Mason
Armistead; Senator and Speaker Of the
House Henry Clay (Kentucky), whose
son also served; John Young Brown
(Kentucky). who was subsequently
elected Governor; w. G. c. Claiborne.
House member from Tennessee and later
Senator from Louisiana, one Of the COM
missioners who took over the louisiana
Purchase" Governor of the Territory OF
Mississippi, Governor Of the Territory OF
Orleans and Governor of Louisiana; Sen
ator James Shields, born in Ireland. ana
later Senator from four States, had not
been q citizen Of the United States long
enough when hrst elected.