"I CHARGE U.S. ATTORNEY OF D.C. WITH MISCONDUCT"

MAN WITH COMPLAINT UNFURLS BANNER IN HOUSE GALLERY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On February 15, 1924, a man sitting to the rights of the Speaker's rostrum in the gallery of the United States House of Representatives threw a banner over the railing which had a multitude of words printed on it.   According to the Evening Star, the words could be read "with difficulty" by members on the floor.

The banner, 3 feet square with a blue border dotted with 48 stars, was torn down by assistant doorkeeper James Griffin and the man who had unfurled it was taken into custody by doorkeeper Bert Kennedy.

The Speaker asked that the man be escorted out of the Capitol and "sent on his way."

The words on the banner expressed a complaint about how he had been treated in District Court.  It read, in part...

"I, John Martinowaski, charge U.S. Attorney Peyton Gordon* of the District of Columbia with misconduct and neglect."

*Peyton Gordon (1870-1946) was born in Washington, D.C. & graduated from Columbian University (GWU) School of Law 1891.  PG served in the US Army 1917-1918 & was Associate Justice of the District Court of the U.S. for the District of Columbia, 1921-1928.

SOURCE

"Accusing Banner Unfurled In House," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., February 15, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Judge Peyton Gordon

Harris & Ewing Photo

Library of Congress

PRESIDENT WILSON APPLAUDS UK'S BALFOUR

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2300

WILSON ATTENDS BALFOUR'S SPEECH TO MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Washington, D.C.  (JFK+50) One hundred years ago today, May 5, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson attended a speech delivered by A.J. Balfour*, former British premier and head of the British mission to the U.S., to the members of the House of Representatives.  Mr. Balfour was the first British official to speak to the body.

President and Mrs. Wilson, in a precedent-breaking move, "slipped in" the executive section of the House gallery.  

The Chicago Daily Tribune reported that the audience, which also included the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, "were in constant applause....at times breaking forth into cheers."  Mr. Wilson was seen applauding many times during Mr. Balfour's speech.

Mr. Balfour said...

"We all...feel...that this is one of the great moments in the history of the world and that what is happening on both sides of the Atlantic represents the drawing together of great and free peoples for mutual protection against the aggression of military despotism."

*Arthur James Balfour (1848-1930) was born in Scotland & educated at Eton, Trinity College & Cambridge.  AJB served as Prime Minister of the UK 1902-1905 & Foreign Secretary 1916-1919.

SOURCES

"Balfour Given Wild Applause in House Talk, President Sits in Gallery to Hear Address by British Leader," The Chicago Daily Tribune, May 6, 1917, www.archives.chicagotribune.com/

"Arthur James Balfour, 1st earl of Balfour, Encyclopedia Britannica, www.britannica.com/

Arthur James Balfour
Photo by George Grantham Bain
Library of Congress Image