The Evening Star (January 3, 1947)
Democrats fail to fill aide job with Romney
Speculation and rumors ran through House circles today as to why Democratic members, in their party, caucus yesterday, failed to nominate anyone for the $5,000-a-year job of assistant sergeant-at-arms in the new Republican-controlled House.
This was the only one of the key House positions available to the Democrats in their new role in the minority for which they did not name a candidate. It had been confidently expected the Democrats would agree, probably unanimously, on Kenneth Romney, House sergeant-at-arms in the past Democratic Congresses.
The Democrats, after selecting Speaker Rayburn as minority leader when the Republicans took charge at noon today, named their choices for other party posts and Democratic employees, but skipped over the sergeant-at-arms job. No reason was announced.
Speculation grew as friends of Mr. Romney commented that only a few more years of service in the congressional organization, would make him eligible for retirement.
The Republican conference of House members named William F. Russell to be sergeant-at-arms, and he was to take office today shortly after the selection was confirmed by the House.