Evening star., 1942-09-06
CopitoI SideIiehts
By Will P. Kennedy.

The Grand Old Man" of the House,
Sage Of the Wheel Chair" the kindly
and greatly beloved veteran chairman of
the Rivers and Harbors Committee, Rep
resentative Joseph Jefferson Mansfield,
has just been honored by his friends and
neighbors, who gave "a rose to the uv-
ing" by unveiling q memorial tablet to
his services at Mansfield Dam, named in
his honor, in recognition Of Long years
Of unselnsh public service" Mr.. Mansfield
was born in Virginia but Wayne, his
birthplace, is now in West Virginia His
grandfather was clergyman and soldier
in the Revolution, fighting with Wash
ington, while his grandmother was
cousin Of Thomas Jefferson His father
was a colonel in the Confederate Army
and killed in battle when Congressman
Mansfield was but i've months old. The
population Of the United States was only
10000, 900 when he was born. At 20 he
migrated to Texas, sailing by steamboat
down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.
He worked in nursery as baggageman
and railroad telegrapher and on farm
while studying law; wrote the city char
ter of Eagle Lake, and was mayor and
county attorney for 20 years before COM
ing to Congress in 1917. He organized
several National Guard companies and
was grand master of the Masonic Lodge
OF Texas. Representative Mansfield has
been a member Of the Rivers and Har-
bors Committee since 1921 and chairman
since 1881, and has served longer than
any other member as chairman or mem
ber since the committee was created. He
represents the district in which Stephen
F. Austin, 'the Father Of Texas" estab-
nshed his colonies. The Mansfield Dam.
named after him, is the third largest
completed concrete dam in the world.
During the ceremonies the services OF
Chairman Mansfield in q continuing pro-
gram for national defense over a period
OF nearly half a century were emphasized.
\ ~
Warren Hatcher. deputy sergeant at
arms, in charge of the mace which is
the ofncial symbol of authority in the
House, is one of the veterans retained
In ofice by successive Speakers and
House Leaders because Of his valued
services. He is 80 years of age and on
the job daily. He never asked for a
patronage appointment. He had been
interested in clean politics back in his
home community, London, Mo. When
Champ Clark was about to become
Speaker in 1911, he wired Mr.. Hatcher,
who was just recovering from a long
illness, that there was job for him in
the Speakers office, and he became
timekeeper of debate in the House, with
his station at the Speakers desk. Years
later he learned that Champ Clark had
given him the appointment because he
felt that he was responsible for his
nomination by exposing two attempts
at trickery. When Mr.. Clark died two
days before Congress was to close and
Claude Kitchen of North Carolina was
elected Democratic leader, he requested
that Mr.. Hatcher be assigned to his
ONCE. When Mr.. Kitchen died and
Finis Garrett of Tennessee succeeded
him Mr.. Hatcher was retained and he
continued on with John N. Garner.
When Mr. Garner became Speaker his
first act after being sworn In was to
send Mr.. Hatcher to see Kenneth
Romney, sergeant at arms, for duty as
assistant sergeant in charge Of the mace.
He has held that job ever since, and
is one OF the most kindly and courteous
OF congressional employees.