Evening star., 1941-06-15
Capital SideIights
BIZ Will p. Kennedy.

AS a token of appreciation of the
heroic services of Commodore John
Barry, often called Father of the
American Navy" Congress has approved
a resolution authorizing the President to
present to Ireland on behalf of the
people of the United States a statue
of that doughty hero, born in Wexford.
The resolution was guided through the
Senate by Senator David I. Walsh of
Massachusetts,, and in the House by
Representative James Stanley of Con-
necticut. The plea of the united Wex-
ford and other Irish societies for this
action was headed by Daniel Murphy of
Washington. The resolution had the
approval of Secretary of State Cordell
Hull, the Navy Department and the
Budget Bureau. Commission No. in
the infant Navy of the United States
was given to Barry and carried the
signature of George Washington. The
recipient launched and equipped the
first ship in our Navy. A report made
by the House Foreign Affairs Committee
carries tribute to Barry reading: The
laurels on his head and the gold on his
shoulders grew there; and neither
money of the enemy nor the blandish-
ments and offers of high command in
the British Navy could pluck these
laurels from his head or the gold from
his shoulder knots. He was more than
loyal-he was God-given to US" For
the youth of today, eager to build up
his appreciation of founders of the
American Navy, a suggestion is found
in Representative Shanley's report re-
ferring to Barrys exploits in handling
the Black Prince prior to the Revolution,
his second cruise in the armed brig
Lexington, his voyage in the letter-of-
marque brig. his suppression of the
mutiny on the Alliance at New Lon
don, his arduous yet successful China
voyage in the ship Asia, his tremendous
battle against odds in equipping and
manning the frigate United States.
These are glorious chapters in the an
mails of the Navy.
When Mrs. Katherine Byron of Mary
land was sworn in on Wednesday atten-
ton was directed to the fact that while
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt is known
throughout the States as First Lady
of the Land" there are nine first women
in Congress, all elected to that honor,
from various great sovereign States
Representative Jeannette Rankin of
Montana was the first woman ever
elected to Congress, sworn in on March
4, 1917. She served in the first World
War Congress, and after an absence of
almost % years she again was sworn in
on January 8, this year. Senator Hattie
w. CaraWay of Arkansas is the first
woman ever elected to the Senate.
Representative Mary T. Norton of
New Jersey is the first woman of the
Democratic party elected to Congress,
and the first elected from New Jersey,
serving since March 4, 1925. Two years
earlier she was the first woman elected
freeholder in her State and county.
Representative Edith Nourse Rogers
is the first woman from Massachusetts
elected to Congress, June 30, 1925. Mrs.
Caroline ODay of New York is the first
woman elected at large from the most
populous State in the Union, serving
since November 6, 1884. Miss Jessie
Summers of Illinois is the first woman
elected from that State, sworn in jan
uary 8, 1889 Ms. Frances P. Bolton
is the first woman from Ohio, sworn in
February 81, 1910. Mrs. Margaret C.
Smith is the first woman from Maine,
sworn in June g. 1910, and Mrs Kath-
crime Byron, the first woman from
Maryland sworn in June IL, 1941.
x*
Representative Dan A. Reed, Repub-
lican, of New York, has been named vice
president of the National Rehabilitation
Association in recognition of his devoted
work for quarter of a century in be-
half of vocational education. In this
position he succeeds the late Speaker
William B. Bankhead, Democrat, of Ala
bama.