(2 of 3)
Career: Son of a well-to-do Scottish father who had served as Collector of Internal Revenue in Detroit, he was educated in the local public schools and the University of Detroit, got an LL.B. degree from the Detroit College of Law. During the War he enlisted as a private in the aviation service, transferred to military intelligence, was commissioned a second lieutenant, never got overseas. Back in Detroit, he began to practice when death caused a House vacancy in the district in which he lived. A Holy Name Society leader in a strong Catholic community, he presented himself as the Republican candidate for the short term, was elected Nov. 2, 1920 by a 3-to-1 majority. When he took his House seat in December, he was just five months over 25, the minimum age required by the Constitution for membership in the House of Representatives.* In Congress: Widely publicized as the baby Congressman," he served through the three-month session as something of a curiosity. In 19? 3 he was again elected to the House, and, at the age of 28, found himself the youngest member of the 68th Congress. Said he then: "Before I came here, I thought I might be ignored because I was so young. But I was wrong. Everybody gives me a friendly hand." Once he had to produce his birth certificate to prove and retain his title to "baby." Aware, however, that such a distinction was transitory, he began to specialize in legislation in which Michigan and Detroit were most interested— larger Congressional representation. As a member of the Census Committee he was in the forefront of agitation which resulted in the Reapportionment Act of 1929-This law gives Michigan four more House seats. The 13th District, one of the biggest in the land (pop.: 468.0—4), was recarved to include a Negro community and a Protestant "silk stocking" area, political factors which, after all his efforts, may cost the present Catholic Congressman his seat next year. He voted for: Soldier Bonus (1924), Bonus Loan Increase (1931), Tax Reduction (1924, 1928) Reapportionment (1929), Tariff (1930), Farm Board Bill (1929). He voted against: Restrictive Immigration (1924), the Jones ("Five & Ten") Bill (1929). He votes Wet, drinks Dry, favors a referendum on the 18th Amendment. Legislative Hobby: Laws of interest especially to Detroit's automobile and aviation in- dustries. He has urged a House Committee on Aviation He worked for a Pan-American Highway "Ot survey committees appointed, conferences held. Even before he was in a bad automobile accident at Columbus, in which a friend was killed, he favored a Federal law compelling all drivers to carry liability insurance. In appearance he looks younger than he really is (now 36). He is slight (145 lb.) and trim. His dark hair is slicked straight back. He wears well-cut conservative clothes and a black derby, smokes cigarets. He converses better than he speechifies. In 1920 he married Marie Cathrine Posselius, has two sons and a daughter Outside Congress: He lives at Wardman Park Hotel during short sessions, rents a house and brings his family from Detroit for long ones. He drives a big Packard limousine everywhere at top speed. He flies much as a passenger, was almost killed in a plane crash in Pennsylvania. In Detroit he is a member of the law firm of McLeod, Pixel, Abbott & Pixel. His good friends are Robert Clancy, Detroit's other