Evening star., 1939-01-08
Many Congressional
Graduates Practice
Law Here
List Includes Men Who
Held Powerful Posts
On Capitol Hill
BY the Associated Press.

James E. Watson of Indiana, who
led the Republican legions in the
Senate 10 years ago, tapped a noisy
tattoo on the arms Of his big office
chair. He was in q reminiscent
mood.
II tried SO murder cases in nv
day." he said, "but wouldn't try
murder case now under any set
of circumstances. It takes too much
out of you.
when I was a young bug we
went into court all the time, I don't
go into court much any more. I
appear before Government depart
ments. It's much less trying on you
than courtroom practice. And man
can make a good living at it. That's
what a man wants, after all-enough
money to get along on.
The bulky, distinguished looking
Hoosier was explaining how 1t hap
pened that he, like score of other
former members of the House and
Senate, hung out his shingle as a
lawyer here when he quit the legis-
| lative halls.
O'Connor Hangs Out Shingle.
Another Shingle went up this week
for red-headed John J. O'Connor,
who helped defeat the administra-
tion's reorganization bill in the
House, and then was defeated for
reelection.
And Samuel B. Pettengill, who
decided eight years was enough"
and did not run for reelection, will
be here on legal business off and
on. His law Office will be back
home in Indiana, but he will have
an office connection" here and
travel back and forth twice a month
to handle radio, trade and trans
portation cases.
Among the lawyers of the Capt.
tai are men who held posts of great
power in the Senate and the House.
Many of them are men who served
long on Capitol Hill. In general
their stories follow this thread:
No man gets rich on his salary as
Senator or Representative. After
years in Washington man finds he
has lost contact with the business
men of his home State. To 60 back
means to start again, at mid-life
the struggle for recognition and
contacts" But here a prominent
politician has many friends. They
respect his Judgment and his knoWl-
edge of the Governments workings
Have No Political Ambitions.
Because of the congressman S
background, the work usually runs
to appearing before Government off,
cials in behalf of corporations or
! individuals.
They seldom visit the scenes OF
| their former triumphs on the floor
of Senate or House. They do not
| press themselves on official society;
many of them profess distaste for
the "tinsel and glitter" aspects of
social life. They have no political
ambitions.
But the former lawmakers declare
that their story is no different from
that of many little cabinet" OIL
GERS and high-ranking lawyers of
Government departments.
And national committeeman of the
party in power sometimes have
clipped off big fees for legal services
here. One former legislator said he
knew of committeeman who was
assured of $3.50, ,000-a-year income
before he even opened his office.
Others on List.
Here are some of the once-promi-
nent lawmakers who now are quietly
practicing law here:
Royal johnson of South Dakota
Former State attorney general; in
Congress 18 years. member of Re-
publican Steering Committee" of
the House. Practices before the
District of Columbia courts.
Harry B. Hawes of Missouri
Member of House and Senate for
IL years. His wife was a Washing
ton girl, and both of his daughters
married here. Represents the
Philippine government and Philip
pine sugar interests, in addition to
varied practices.
Frank w. Mondell of Wyoming
Twenty-six years a Representative;
floor leader of the Republican ma
Jority in postwar sessions; later
served two years as director of War
Finance Corp. Recently in Ill
health. Office aides said friends
urged him to practice here, partly
because of his knowledge of land
law
Clarence Dill of Washington State
Twenty years in House and SEN
ate; practices both in the Capital
and in Spokane; has made IA air.
plane trips across the continent in
four years.
CHEEKY Club Formed.
Phil Campbell of Kansas-Twentv
years in the House; served two
months as Speaker of the House.
S. Wallace Dempsey of New York
State-Sixteen years in the House:
chairman of the Rivers and Har-
bors Committee.
Thomas P. Gore and Robert l.,
Owen, who once represented Okla
homa in the Senate.
Most of the ex-Senators and ex-
Representatives practicing here are
members of a cherry club called
"The Ancient and Honorable So
ciety of EX-es." Only former leg
islators can be active members, but
the Duke of Windsor, who used to
be King of England, Is an associate
member. They have dinner every
wear