Evening star., 1941-01-05
Capital SideIights
Bu Will P. Kennedy.

William Tyler Page, whose record OF
SO years of service at the Capitol has
been written into the permanent annals
of Congress, is a living representation
of the history. ideals and development OF
this Nation, in which he and his fore
bears have taken conspicuous part
The first progenitor OF his family, John
Page, settled in Williamsburg, Va, IN
1850. Another John Page was Governor
of Virginia and served in the First and
Second Congresses. Mann Page ana
Mann Page, jr, were members OF the
Continental Congress-and Mr.. Page
still has letters which they exchanged.
Carter BraXton, Mr. Pages great-great- L
grandfather, was signer OF the Declara-
ton of independence and member OF
the House of Burgesses of Virginia which
adopted the resolutions of Patrick Henry.
Nh Page is both lireal and collateral
descendant of President John Tyler.
He also is the grandson OF the late Dr..
William Tyler of Frederick, Md, re-
nowned for his professional and humani-
tartan activities.
At the age of 13 Mr.. Page was the
man of his family, working II hours
day in a printing shop and paper bag
factory just before Christmas, SO years
ago, came a letter from Representative
Edward Mcpherson, offering the boy
job at the Capitol. His mother stayed
up all night making him a suit of home
spun. Aboard a laggard milk train
he reached Washington at 8 am. Mon
day, December 19, and was taken in tow
by Aaron Russell, veteran colored clerk,
who became his guide and mentor for
many years. In few days he was told
he could go home and was paid the
enormous amount of S2323 He thought
at first he was being discharged. He
bought his mother pewter castor, with
pepper, salt, vinegar and mustard cruets,
for a Christmas gift. His mother feared
he had gotten into evil ways in Wash
ington. His job at the Capitol was as
page in the Office of the clerk of the
House, serving at the Speakers desk
and for most of his SO years he has
been on duty daily at the Speakers ros-
trum Mr.. Page has served under IA
Speakers.
What Mr.. Page considers his most
dramatic experience was at the close of
the Forty-eighth Congress, after the
clock had been turned back on a night
session that kept Grover CleVeland's first
inaugural ceremonies waiting for full
hour after President Arthurs term was
supposed to have expired.
It was a standing joke of the late
Speaker Champ Clark that Mr.. Page
was born in the Capitol. As he worked
al the Speakers desk he was keenly alert
to all that was being done, went to
night school and devoted his spare time
TO intensive study of the history and
problems of government-until today he
is an outstanding authority, and an
ardent champion of national ideals. He
was promoted to assistant keeper of
archives. filled successfully the various
clerkShips, was clerk to the important
Committee on Accounts for IA years and
secretary to two members from Rhode
Island. He was elected clerk of the
House in 1919 and held that Office
until December, 1881. Then when the
Democrats came into control the Demo-
cratic leaders-Speaker Rainey, House
Leader Garner and Representative Carl
Vinson co-operated with Republican
membership in creating a new post for
him-emeritus minority clerk, which he
holds for life.
While Mr. Page was clerk of the House,
during the World War, in 1917, he won
a national competition in which there
were more than 5000 contestants, writing
an Americans Greed of the basic prin-
ciples of American political faith, which
carried an award of $1,000 on behalf of
the city of Baltimore by Major James
H. Preston. Congress celebrated his
achievement with impressive ceremonies
and had an account of the proceedings
printed in the official record. Other cere-
monies were held on the Capitol steps
at which Mr.. Page purchased with his
prize money Liberty bonds from Charlie
Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fair
banks and Marie Dressler.