Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-22
Capital SideIights
By Will P. Kennedy.

The program for mutual cooperation
by the American republics for co-ordi-
mated defense of the Western Henri
sphere, worked out following the Havana
Conference. under the leadership of Sec
rotary Hull, focuses attention on the
good neighbor development work that
has been IN progress for half a century
under the leadership of the Pan-Ameri-
can Union. This is an international or
ganization created and maintained by
the 81 America republics. Origially
known as the International Bureau of
the American Republics, it was estab-
Gshed so years ago at a conference pre-
sided over by James G. Blaine, then Sec
rotary Of State. The purpose of the Pam
American Union is to promote peace,
commerce and friendship between the
republics of the American continent by
fostering economic, judicial, social and
cultural relations. Special studies are
constantly and progressively made to
carry through the best mutual interests
Of the peoples of the Western Henri
sphere. In these days of preparation for
defense of the integrity of the Western
Hemisphere, through expansion of the
Monroe Doctrine, the groundwork laid
and the contacts made through the Pam
American Union and the good-neighbor
policy are proving of inestimable value
to this Nation in its hour of threatened
rope.
There are now in the Senate and
House. one member in each chamber,
who voted against the United States en-
tering the World War. During the hours
when the present Congress was voting
on the consumption bill, this record of
nearly a quarter of a century ago. as
compiled by Ansel Void, the official biog-
rapher of Congress-past and present
was placed in the current historical rec
ord by Representative Frank Carlson of
Kansas. Senator George w. Norris of
Nebraska is the only survivor of six
Senators who voted against the World
War resolution. Representative Harold
Knutson, Republican. Minnesota. is the
only one of the so House members who
voted against the resolution who is still
member Of the House, and 81 of whom are
deceased. Among the others still alive
are Miss Jeanette Rankin. the first
woman ever to serve in Congress. who
wept on that Good Friday night as she
cast her vote: Edward Heating of Colo
rado now editor of Labor; Fred A. Brit
ten, Republican, Illinois. former chair
man Of the Naval Affairs Committee, still
resident of Washington.
Landing the bravery of the Canadian
engineer officer who at great personal
danger superintendent the digging out of
the delayed explosion bomb from St.
Pauls Cathedral in London, Representa-
tive Martin j. Kennedy of New York has
placed in the Congressional Record a
beautiful description of that famed ca
thedral and summary of its place in
history. He reminds his colleagues that
more than 100 years ago the destruction
OF ST. Paul's was predicted by Macaulay
in one of his famous reviews He quotes:
"She (the Roman Catholic Church, may
oliI Chiol III NlSOT WIl6U
some traveller from New Zealand shall, in
the midst of a vast solitude. take his
stand on broken arch of London Bridge
to sketch the ruins of ST. Paul's."
X X
This country, beginning to prepare for
defense, finds it's waterways better able
than ever before to transport bulk freight
and take care of the heavy traffic which
the railroads were unable to handle in
the first World War" Representative
Joseph j. Mansfield of Texas, chairman
of the House Rivers and Harbors Com
mittee, emphasizes. He points out that
the longtime program of inland water
ways development has today proved to
be of outstanding value in Americas
citadel of defense"-and especially in
the transportation of heavy essentials for
the manufacture of war munitions. But
for the comprehensive planning that has
been accomplished with thoroughness
and vision by the Army engineers, and
but for the broad minded craftsmanship
exercised by Congress in authorizing
waterway projects we might not be so
well prepared for the emergency we now
face" said Mr.. Mansfield. He points out
that the waterway development is partic-