S. James A. Reed of Missouri

James A. Reed, of Missouri, is the old soldier of the Senate. He is a lawyer, too, but inheritance tacked onto his name all kinds of military designations, making him a Son of the American Revolution, and a Son of the Confederate Veterans. He himself stepped from the presidency of the St. Louis Police Board to a post as representative of the republic of Hawaii during the annexation proceedings in 1899. Later he became a major in the Military Intelligence Department, and went to Spain as assistant military attache.

On his return from Europe, his political career ran a course similar to that of many senators. From the Missouri Legislature he graduated into the House for three Congresses. On November 2, 1926, he was elected to fill out the term of the late Senator S. P. Spencer, which expired in 1927, and to serve a six-year term until 1933.

As chairman of the Senate Primary Investigating Committee. Reed has worked himself into the limelight: His work in the probes of the cases of Senators Smith and Vare was front-page news for weeks. His supporters point to his achievements in these cases as do the friends of Walsh and Hoover to the records of their candidates