Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-01-09
Capital Sidelights
BIZ Will p. Kennedu

announcer former congressional Secre-
tary has made good in a big way in state
affairs. The Little Congress has just
learned that q former very active men,
Der, Fletcher D. Plumley, who some four
Representative Charles A. Plumley of
Vermont has been appointed by Gov.
William H. Willis to be chairman of the
State Public Service Commission. This
is considered one of the most important
positions in the State. For the past
three years. since he left Washington,
Mr.. Plumley has been secretary of Civil
and Military Affairs for Vermont and
secretary to the Governor.
William D. Hassett, White House Sec
rotary and lifelong friend Of the Plum
ley family, reminds us that Fletcher
Plumley is now 81 years old, that in
1918 his father was the same age and
Speaker of the Vermont House, while the
latter's father, Representative Frank
Plumley, was serving in Congress, and
the then Gov. Fletcher appointed him
(Charles Al commissioner Of taxes. In
gress but did not know what was cook
ing" until the Governor made the APP
pointment So the boys in the Plumley
family seem to be getting along pretty
well ION their own" without political
boosting from father or grandpa" "or
handicap of parentage."
The Little Congress is going to have
a celebration when Chairman Commits
sioner Fletcher Plumley comes to the
Capitol.
In the early days of "aristocratic rule"
for this new Nation the residence of the
Presidents was called Presidents Man.
sion" or Presidents Palace" But when
President Jackson threw open the doors
Of equal right for political Office to all
the people under truly democratic
system, it was nicknamed by his critics
to whom it then became not mansion"
or palace" but merely a house" They
called it "the White House." and a
whitewashed house at that. But the
democratic people, rejoicing in their
new-found freedom for Office in their
own self-government, took that nickname
to heart-and it has continued to be
best known, and most highly regarded,
through the elapsing years, as 1.-THE
White House."
One of the greatest toasts ever given
to this federation of self governing
States (but promptly challenged was at
a Democratic banquet in the Capital
City in $780, President Andrew Jackson
proposed the significant toast: "Our Fed
eral Union-it must be preserved" I'M
mediately, before the applause got well
under way, Vice President John c. CAL
houn arose and as soon as he could make
himself heard, toasted the rights OF the
States. Thus these two highest officials
of the Government took issue across the
party dinner table on question which
great armies in another generation
fought out. And today our Incompatible
and uncomfortable Government has
linked both toasts into the supreme law
of the land" That's the American way
of life.
X
Senator James j. Davis Of PennSyl-
vania boasts that two delegates from
his State were the most frequent de-
baters In the convention drafting the
Constitution. He names James Wilson,
who argued in debate 1853 times, as one
Of the most active architects" Of the
Constitution and cites the fact that no
one else spoke oftener except Gouverneur
Morris "the witty bad boy" Of the con-
vention, who, later in life. posed for the
figure Of Houdouns famous statue OF
Warrington in the Virginia State Capt.
tol In Richmond.
James Madison, Father Of the Con-
stitution," was the smallest physically
Of any Of the United States Presidents
about 5 feet inches. He weighed q
little over 100 pounds.
Aaron Burr was the smallest man
physically who ever was Vice Presi-
dent.