THE CONGRESS: Connery for Cannery

From 1922 until last June when he died of food poisoning, the Seventh District of Massachusetts heartily elected and re-elected a bald, magnetic, music-loving Irishman. For Representative William P. (“Billy”) Connery Jr., House Labor Committee Chairman, appealed to a big majority in the shoe-manufacturing, textile towns north of Boston. Moreover he was famous as co-sponsor of the Wagner-Connery National Labor Relations Act, of the Black-Connery Wages & Hours Bill.

Last week Seventh District voters chose Billy Connery’s successor: a bald, magnetic, music-loving Irishman. Add seven years to and subtract about 15 pounds from Lawrence J. (“Larry”) Connery and the result is a twin for his late brother Billy, whom he had served as secretary since 1922. Nineteen years ago Sergeant Billy refused a promotion because it entailed separation from Sergeant Larry. Both became lawyers after they reached Washington. Last year Billy swamped his Republican opponent by a 3-2 margin; last week Larry won by 3-2. His first official announcement: he would re-introduce the Connery 30-hour-week bill.