Class of 1898
The big news in '98 circles this month is the dumping out of Joe Bartlett as CWA administrator for Massachusetts by the Roosevelt administration and the naming of Joe Carney to succeed him. They can't get along without '98 evidently. Joe Bartiett did a splendid job as CWA administrator, just the kind of a thoroughgoing job you would expect him to do. He did it so well he has been freely talked about as the next Democratic candidate for governor of Massachusetts and Governor Ely has been pushing Joe forward on it. That was not liked in Washington, and some NRA or CWA officials took it that Joe was boosting his campaign at the expense of his CWA. It was not true. Joe was in no way doing that. In fact he backed away from it. But the drive was strong and the end came when they told him in Washington to quit the CWA, which he was perfectly willing to do as the job had worn him down a lot. He had to take a Florida vacation in February to rest up.
And now comes Joe Carney as his successor. Joe is the collector of internal revenue at Boston and is making as fine a record on that job as you could wish. He is a good organizer, and he is not impressed with partisan politics. He is trying to establish the internal revenue collection department on a genuine business basis, and he is succeeding. Denis Crowley is helping him. You see, '98 is needed for the big jobs. Joe Carney can handle the CWA as a one-man board and do it well. That is what he is now told to do. The CWA won't last long after May 1 anyway. The only comment is that someone in Washington can pick mighty good men when they choose our two Joes, and '98 men will say amen. Joe Carney has accepted the CWA task, even though it meant a hasty trip to Washington to find out what it was all about.
In a recent conversation with "Semp" Smith '97, the Secretary learned that he met our classmates "Mush" Jones and Leslie A. Hatch at a Dartmouth reunion in California. "Mush," as usual, looked as though he had just stepped out of a tailor shop. He is on the Coast for the winter, attending to the legal affairs of a large estate.
In a letter recently received from Audubon L. Hardy of Amherst, Mass., who at one time was President Coolidge's teacher at St, Johnsbury Academy, the Secretary learned that George Farley is full of courage, although his vision is practically at the vanishing point. George hopes, however, that by patience and skill his sight may be partially restored. Every man in '98 fervently hopes for the same outlook.
Seth Pope writes from Chicago that everything is quiet in his section of the woods. He did state that he heard that Seelman's book on the law of libel in New York had met with a very favorable reception.
E. M. Gleason has had a very serious sickness from blood-poisoning, but fortunately is now once more enjoying his usual good health.
Everett Hoyt's son has passed a very creditable first semester at Dartmouth.
Dr. James Leahy attended the Boston Alumni Association banquet in January for the first time.
Fletcher Harper Swift was a guest speaker before the Dartmouth Association in San Francisco recently.
Secretary, 57 Grove Hill Ave., Newtonville, Mass.
