Evening star., 1942-08-09
By WILL p. KENNEDY.


Representative Secrest. Democrat,
Of Ohio, left the Capitol yesterday
as the first member of Congress who
actually resigned his seat to enter
active service with the armed
forces. He was sworn in as a lieu
tenant commander in the Naval Re-
serve and will report to the COM
mandant of the New York Naval
District on August II.
Two other House members, Repre-
sentatives Osmers and Vreeland,
both New Jersey Republicans, have
declared their intentions to go into
the Army when their terms expire
January 4, 1943, but they are con-
tinuing in Congress until that time.
Wanted to Do His Duty.
Mr.. Secrest, who was chairman of
the House Library Committee and
has been in Congress for 10 years,
said:
II found I couldn't get into the
Navy unless I quit Congress. I
wanted to do my duty in its hour
of need for this great Nation that
has done so much for me. There
is no use in being a naval officer
if you are not going into active
service"
During the last four days Mr.
Secrest has had handclasps and
commentator on his action from
practically all of his colleagues on
Capitol Hill. He first returned to
his home town. Caldwell, Ohio,
where, on August /, at large gath
ering in the High School Auditor
ium in which he has held the last
meeting of each of his five cam
paigns, he made his final report
to his constituents.
"The danger to this country is
50 great that any man who can
contribute something to its defense
in a direct way should do So" he
told them. This country is bigger
than the 18th congressional dis
trict of Ohio, and its bigger than
Bob Secrest. I haven't been one
bit worried about the election, and
never have been. I'm sorry didn't
know sooner that I could get into
the armed service, or I would not
have filed for the nomination"
Mr.. Secrest has had previous
working service as a sailor. He
worked on a boat out of New York
to South American countries in
1928. Among his greatest sacri-
fees in entering the service is that
he leaves a wife, two daughters
and son behind-"They are well
worth fighting for" he comment
ed, looking fondly at their photo
graph on his desk His commission
calls for appointment to the deck
volunteer service, which makes him
line officer.
Started as Coal Miner.
Telling of the debt he feels he
owes his country, Representative
Secrest explained that he started
at the age of Is as coal miner,
worked his way through Muskingum
College, was later principal Of the
Senecaville High School and super
intendent of schools at Murray City
He was in the State Legislature
before coming to Congress and while
in Congress graduated from the
Washington College of Law. Be-
sides being chairman of the Library
Committee he has served on Other
important committees-food con-
troll, mines and mining, roads ane
invalid pensions. He has been g
member of the National Archive.
| Council, National Archives Trust
Fund Board, Smithsonian Gallery
of Art Commission, and of tht
Oliver Wendell Holmes Device Com
mission.
All other members of Congress:
who had taken leaves OF absenct
for service with the armed force
have returned to their Legislative
duties except Col. Melvin j. Maa
of Minnesota, ranking Republican
on the Naval Affairs Committee
who is on a special duty with th'
Marine Corps in the Pacific area
He was an overseas Marine Corp
aviator in the World War.
There was only one member o
Congress who during the Worl
War set a precedent for Repre-
sentative Secrest's resignation from
Congress to go into active duty will
the armed forces-Representativ
Augustus P. Gardner of Massa
chusetts, who left after 16 year
service in the House He had beel
captain and assistant adjutan
general on the staff of Gen. Jane
H. Wilson during the Spanish
American War. During the Worl'
War he served at Governors ISLAM
and Macon, Ca, as colonel in tn
adjutant generals department, an
J was transferred at his own reques
to the 13lst United States Infantr
with the rank of major. He died o
pneumonia at Camp Wheeler, Ma
con, Ga, and is buried in Arlington
National Cemetery.
Eight Took Leaves of Absence.
During the World War eigh
members of the House and Senat
took leave of absence from thei
services in Congress to go into &C
tive military or naval service, bu
did not resign, and later returne
to complete their terms. Severa
Of these have since given notabl
peacetime legislative or executiv
service.
Later by special resolution, whic'
was vigorously debated, Congress