Evening star., 1939-01-01
Capital SideIights
BIZ Will P. Kennedu

The curtain rises this week on a new
Congress, with many interesting per-
sonalities among the 118 new members
in the House. These include former
convict, elected from the 1st Michigan
district, the present Mayor of Ham
tramck. DR.. Rudolph G. Tenerowicz,
against the seating of whom a protest
has been made to South Trimble, clerk
Of the House.
The present acknowledgements
James M. Mead of the Buffalo district
(New York)-is to be succeeded by an
old New York Yankees catcher, Plus L.
Schwert. In a Republican landslide he
was the only new Democrat elected north
Of the Bronx in Upper New York State.
He was widely known a few years ago
in semi-pro baseball, and has retained
his interest in all sports and will be
valuable acquisition for the congress
sional baseball team. He is a World War
veteran and ranks high in Masonry. He
started work as q grocery boy, became
owner Of his own store and president of
his benk. He was volunteer fireman,
and, as protege Of Mr.. Mead, entered
politics as county clerk, serving in that
office for six years. He won his elec-
ton against seven competitors.
William j.. Miller, who defeated Rep
resentative Koppleman in the 1st Con-
necticut district, enters Congress in q
wheelchair. He lost both legs as a result
OF an airplane crash in France during
the war. He is 80 years old and has been
conducting his own insurance business.
James H. Fay who defeated Chairman
O'Connor of the House Rules Committee,
in the old Tammany stronghold, the
Gas House district" of New York, has
only one leg as a result Of shrapnel
wounds overseas.
Miss Jessie Summers, Republican, of
Milford, ILL.,, defeated Representative
James A. Meeks, who had served three
terms. She is 80 years old, an Iroquois
County judge, graduate of Smith Col
lege and was the first American woman
to study law at oxford University In
England.
Forest A. Harness of Kokomo, who de-
feated Representative Glenn Griswold,
who had served four terms from the 5th
Indiana district, was special assistant
to the Attorney General and prosecuted
many important cases for the Federal
Government, including the insult case
at Chicago.
DR.. George w. Gillie, who defeated
Representative James I. Farley in the
4th Indiana district, is native of Scot
land, and has lived in Indiana since he
was years old. He is So years old,
veterinarian and former sheriff Of Al
len County.
Foster Stearns, from the I'd New
Hampshire district, is a son of Frank
w. Stearns, who was adviser to Calvin
Coolidge. He is graduate of Amherst
College and Harvard University, served
overseas during the World War as
first lieutenant of infantry, was librarian
Of Holy Cross College and served in the
diplomatic corps In Constantinople and
Paris.
Frank c. Osmers, jr., who will occupy
the seat formerly held by the late Rep
resentative Edward A. Kenney of New
Jersey, national lottery advocate, is
gem expert, appraiser, lecturer and
dealer in precious stones. He is a mem
ber Of the American Gem Society and
previously was Mayor of his home town
and served in the State Legislature, al
though he is only 80 years old.
w. Ben Gibbs of Jesup, Ca, who was
defeated by so votes by Representative
Braswen D. Dean in 1894, now takes
his seat, having defeated five opponents.
John c. Martin, Democratic State
treasurer Of Illinois, and Thomas v.
Smith, former State Senator, who is also
an instructor at the University Of Chi
cago, are coming in to occupy the two
"at large" seats.
John z. Anderson, "a years old, from
the 9Th California district, managed one
of the largest California orchards and
is considered one of the best informed
men in his field.
DR.. Albert E. Austin, 4th Connecticut,
was regimental surgeon in the 214th
Engineers during the World War. For
the last II years he has been director
Of medicine in the Greenwich Hospital.
Joshua L. Johns, 9Th Wisconsin dis
trict, was formerly private secretary to
Gov. Zimmerman.