The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-12-01
POWER OF THE PRESS
DUTY THAT DEVOLvES UPON MEN
WHO MAKE NEWSPAPERS.

A Congressman Expresses Some Sentim ent.
Worth ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and
Grandeur of the Government-Sugges
tive Signs-Gossip of the Day.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 80. = Especial. J.
Now that the statesmen are taking pos
session of their old haunts it is worth a
strangers time to take a run down through
the terrace. He who does so will have his
eyes opened as to the greatness and gran
deur of this government of ours-its enor-
NOUS ramifcations, the immense variety
of its operations. The terrace is the archi-
tectural addition made to the capitol for
the purpose of giving that great building
western 'front.' 1t cost 81 100000 In
IT'S design it was purely ornamental, but
it has actually resulted in adding an enor-
NOUS space to the floor area of the national
statehouse. The terrace extends along
the two ends and one whole front of the
capitol, and is, therefore, 1 ,450 feet long.
Its average width is 40 feet. That, you
see, makes pretty big building of itself.
Throughout fully one-half of its length
the terrace is divided into committee
rooms. They have sort of basement ap-
pearance, but are nevertheless light and
comfortable. For years there has been a
tendency in both branches of congress to
give every man committee room. This
was practically accomplished in tho senate
some time ago. Not having room enough
in their end of the capitol the senators
bought a hotel across the street and con-
verted it into capitol annex. The SEN
ate has IS members at the present time
and 60 committees. But every senator
who has not committee craftsmanship is
given "room" all to himself-a place
to keep his secretary, his papers and let
tiers, place to entertain his fri ends and a
place to snooze.
A Close Race.
The house has not quite as many COM
mittees, but it is close race between the
two bodies. The house is at present only
three laps behind. The two bodies to-
gether have III committees, and probably
160 rooms are set apart for their use, or
for the use of individual senators and rep
resentatives who are not chairmen of COM
mittees. Two-thirds of these committees
are practically useless. They do no work.
They meet perhaps once year. The only
excuse for their existence is to afford aroom
for the use of the chairman and clerk
to look after his private business and to
act as a sort of factotum for the other mem
bers of the committee. Go down into the
terrace and take walk through it's long
corridor and you will see such signs as
these On the door: Committee on Forest
Reservations, - Committee on Additional
Accommodations For the Library of Con-
gress," "Committee on Woman Suf-
frage, ""Committee on Corporations in the
District of Columbia " "Committee to In
quire Into All Claims of Citizens of the
United States Against the Government of
Nicaragua" Committee on Revolution
airy Claims, "Committee on Ventilation
and Acoustics" COMMITTEE to Investi-
gate Condition of Potomac River Front of
Washington" COMMITTEE ON the Five
Civilized Tribes of Indians" g Committee
to Establish the University of the United
States" and COMMITTEE on Disposition
of Useless Papers In Executive Depart
ments." 1t is great place for committees
and for snug committee rooms fitted out
with desks, luxurious lounges, typewriters,
messengers, water coolers and other con-
veniences.
The Jenkins Journalists.
In0 society reporters OI UD6 CdplUal are
preparing for their winter campaign. In
Washington the society reporter is an i'm
portant parsonage. She-for with one or
two exceptions the society writers are all
women-are now busy ascertaining what
the plans Of the social leaders are. They
run about from Mrs. Secretary This to
Mrs. Senator That and Mrs. Representa-
tive T'other to find out whether they are
going to cut dash this winter or remain
passive. 1t is the business of the society
writer to get acquainted with all the new
women of Importance and to make sure of
having invitations to all receptions and
teas. AS a rule one society writer serves
five or six newspapers on the syndicate
plan, and if she is bright and industrious
makes good deal of money during the
short but sharp social campaign. Some
of the society writers here enjoy incomes
which enable them to maintain not only
their own houses, but horses and car
riages, and in one or two instances liv-
cried coachman. AS soon as society re-
porter reaches the dignity of a private car
riage her fortune is made. She is invited
everywhere, and is put in possession of
the latest bits of news and gossip almost
without effort on her part. Nothing sue
ceeds like success.
Responsibility of the Press.
One of the brightest members of con-
gress, Mr.. Durborow of Chicago, was talk
ing to your correspondent about the won
derful influence welded by the press in
this country. He said: "The newspaper
press now controls the country. 1t is by
long odds the most powerful engine in our
civilization. In my opinion it will grow
more and more influential. Public speak
ers are losing their power. The press mo-
nopoliZes all methods of communication
with the minds of the people. Party lines
are not drawn as tightly now as they were
10 years ago. Ten years hence the ties of
party will find fewer men than at the pres
ent time. The independent vote, the class
of citizens who think for themselves in
stead of following some organization or
leader, is constantly growing. This tends
to increase the power of the press. AS the
press gathers influence and becomes almost
omnipotent the men who make newspa-
pers should have keener and keener reali-
cation of their responsibility. They are
the men who rule the country, not con-
gress, and they should take good care to
rule it well and intelligently. 1t goes with
out saying that the profession of journal
ism will fascinate many of the brightest
minds in the country If iS a nOhla pro-