Evening star., 1942-04-26
CopitoI SideIights
By viii p. Kennedy.

In celebration of Arbor Day, last
Wednesday, Representative Karl Stefan
of Nebraska, accompanied by members
of the Nebraska delegation and a score
OF other members Of Congress, visited in
the Capitol the memorial statue OF j.
Sterling Morton. the originator of Arbor
Day 10 years ago, whose 10th birthday
anniversary 1t was. They then pro-
ceeded to the white pine tree across the
plaza from the House wing Of the Capt.
tol, planted many years ago by members
OF Congress In honor of Morton, Father
OF Arbor Day." and to the elm tree at
the east end Of the Department Of Agri-
culture Building, also planted in his
honor by the Nebraska delegation in
Congress. They emphasized that Ne
braska was the first State TO celebrate
Arbor Day as result of resolution pro-
posed by Morton, and that on that first
Arbor Day more than / 600 900 trees were
planted IN the State. Eleven years later
1t became a legal holiday This move
was pioneer enterprise in the con-
servation Of natural resources and, Rep
resentative Stefan, later addressing Con-
gress, emphasized that the custom OF
tree planting has spread until the whole
civilized world observes the custom.
Morton. he said, was a pioneer in Ne
braska and probably more than any
other man impressed his personality and
influence upon the community. He was
strong and original character, and
on the day of his marriage, October 80,
1854, started for Nebraska to make his
home there. He first served In the State
Legislature, and then oficial returns
gave him majority of Il for Congress
but ne was counted out by the opposition
tellers. On the admission of Nebraska
as State he was elected Governor by
a margin Of 14S votes, but a block of
ballots were thrown out on a technicality.
Fifteen years later he again was defeated
for Governor, and he also was defeated
In his third and fourth campaigns for
lands second term he appointed Morton
Secretary Of Agriculture. During his
encumbency he fought Congress on the
free seeds" distribution custom as use
less and pernicious" Representative
Stefan told Congress that Mortons
greatest memorial Is beautiful park
adjoining his own estate in Nebraska
City, on which has been raised a heroic
statuary group financed by more than
5000 contributions from all parts of the
United States, including $l,150.89 from
school children. At It's unveiling on
October %, 1905, former President Gro
yer Cleveland made the principal ad-
dress. 1t emphasized Mr.. Morton's prac-
tical gospels as to how to raise fine men
and women, fine trees, apples, cattle.
horses and swine. Two of the slogans
engraved on the Morton memorial are:
Love Of home is primary patriotism"
and Other holidays repose upon the
past; Arbor Day proposes for the fu-
ture."
"Fishbait" Is one Of the most efficient
and popular Of the younger veteran en-
ployes at the Capitol. Seldom a day
passes without his patron, Representa-
tive William M. Colmer, being told by
colleagues what a fine fellow" this
"Ffshbait," w. NJ. Miller, is. He has been
working ut the Capitol for nine years, the
first six and one-half years In the House
Post Once and since then as doorkeeper
In the Speakers lobby. He knows all the
members and when most Of their birth
days occur, 30 annually he surprises
them pleasantly with happy birthday"
greeting. When the save paper" cam
paign started, ''Fishbait" set q good
example by inducing members to save
their discarded newspapers for him. He
puts the proceeds In Defense bonds His
home as boy was at Psscagula, Miss,
where they now are building ships to win
the war. When he was IS years old he
was a "runt." weighing only rs pounds,
but was ubiquitous and popular. Down
there on the Gulf coast they use
shrimp for fishing bait, so his many
friends started calling him "Fishbait"
and the name still sticks though he has
grown to be q very sturdy young man.