Evening star., 1945-05-27
Capital Sidelights
By Will p. Kennedu.

By Will P. Kennedy.
The Senate has its own penetralia,
hidden away from the public gaze and
intrusion, never seen by visitors to the
Capitol. where Senators can go into
seclusion for study of pending legisla-
ton and draft their speeches, but still
be near enough for prompt response to
emergency calls for their presence on
the floor. Consideration of the current
legislative appropriation measure dis
closes a keen interest among Senators
to improve the facilities of their private
library, beautiful sanctum sanctorum,
where complete record of proceedings
in Congress and authoritative works on
all kindred subjects readily are avail
able. 1t is an intriguing retreat where
the historic and reminiscent writings of
famous colleagues can be taken down
from the shelves: the writings of such
Senators as the great Missourian,
Thomas Hart Benton, 1.-The scholar in
politics" Henry Cabot Lodge, Albert
j. Beveridge and many others.
This treasury of legislative and polit-
ical lore is housed in what originally
were the rafters Of the first House
chamber in the Capitol. 1t is in charge
of veteran career man, more than a
quarter of a century on the job, Ruskin
McArdle, who was private secretary to
the late Albert j. Burleson when he
was Postmaster General His work as
Senate librarian is a labor of love.
In fact, when he finds any rare book
that he believes should be In the Senate
library, Mr.. McArdle is apt to buy it
out OF his own pocket. 1t is his ambi-
ton to make the Senate library Of
the best possible assistance not only to
Senators today, but to safeguard and
build it up progressively for the future.
This historic library owes its official
establishment as Senate library to
two great Senators-Solomon Foot and
Justin S. Morrill,, both of Vermont.
Senator Foot introduced resolution on
December IA, 1868, for procurement of
books, maps, ETC., by the secretary OF
the Senate, and Senator Morrill, on
February 18, 1868. and February IL,
1870, introduced supplementary resolu-
tions, the latter directing the architect
OF the Capitol to fit up the space now
occupied by the Senate library. On
March 3, 1871, the position of librarian
was authorized in an appropriation act.
providing a salary of $2,220.
Senator Morrill, also was author of
one of the great constructive laws, which
has contributed inestimably to the edu-
cation Of all the people. He sponsored
the establishment of the land grant
colleges. a going concern today.
Both the Republican and Democratic
Congressional Committees are watching
with interest the special election in
Montana's I'd congressional district,
on June S, to fill the vacancy caused
by the death of Representative James
F. OConnor. This is the first test of
how the people are inclined to vote after
the war emergency has passed and the
Roosevelt grip has been loosened It is
d PiCtu1cS4uc CdulpdlSu WIN ftODeTL
Yellowtail, chief of the Grow Indians,
running as an independent: Leo Gray
bill, State legislator and lawyer, as
Democratic candidate, and State Sen
ator Wesley D'Ewart, the Republican
nominee. Chief Yellowtail is "a figure
of pomp and pageantry," according to
Representative Harold Knutson of Min
nesota, who made the keynote speech
at the Republican State Convention and
promised all-out party support to
D'Ewart. Yellowtail owns string of
racing ponies which he enters at all
the State and county fairs and has
big Indian following which is an i'm
portant factor in the campaign. He
served as Indian agent on the Crow
reservation in Southern Montana. A
well-tailored and personable redman,
he is making a whirlwind campaign,
appealing especially to the Indians to
send true native son" to Congress
There are 80 counties in the district,
which includes the two great scenic
parks, Yellowstone and Glacier. yell
lowtail's empire Is the old Custer battle
ground.