Congressional Directory

Ever since the proverbial Eve tasted the apple, the notorious human race has been noted, for its egregious curiosity. Men in high places have suffered most from the consequences of Eve's sin. Therefore it is an ever-renewing joy when a new issue of the Congressional Directory appears, carrying the gossip which the great legislators write about themselves in their official autobiographical sketches. And a new one is out.

There are the President and his Cabinet, the President's biography occupying some nine and one-half lines of nine-point* type--only about half the length of most Cabinet biographies, but two lines longer than, was that of Warren G. Harding.

There is:

Senator Caraway of Arkansas, compressed into the words "T. H. Caraway, Democrat, Jonesboro."

Senator Stanfield of Oregon, "America's largest producer of wool and mutton."

Senator Frazier of North Dakota, who achieved in college "wide distinction in athletics, especially in football."

Representative Casey of Pennsylvania, father of "eleven children."

Representative Wefald of Minnesota, father of "ten children."

Representative Free of California, father of five, including "two sets of twins."

Representative Winter of Wyoming, "author of the Wyoming State Song and of two Western novels."

Representative Bloom of New York, who built a theatre before he was 21 and later, in the music publishing business, became known as "the music man."

Representative Reed of West Virginia, "See Who's Who in America."

Representative Hull of Tennessee, who does not mention that he happens to be Chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Representative Berger of Wisconsin (Socialist), four times elected to Congress and twice unseated by the House because he opposed the War; sentenced to 20 years in prison, but subsequently acquitted by the Supreme Court--and once more reelected.

Representative Howard of Nebraska (who affects the appearance and manner of W. J. Bryan), "married at lawful age and is still married . . . . started in religion as a Quaker, but of late years has been in the Episcopal fold . . . former Lieutenant-Governor of Nebraska, holding contemporaneously the higher office of editor of a country newspaper."

* Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina.