The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-23

l
by some of the Washington correspon-
dents, a great deal is made of what is
known as Washington's social war
In other words, the struggle for suprem-
acy between the official and smart
sets. q
1t is said that the social war" is rap
idly resolving itself into a civil conflict.
"It no longer merely presents the spec
tacle, familiar in other Cities OF rival
social queens competing for supremacy,
although this phase Is not lacking; but.
underlying and influencing all the indi-
vidual campaigns for popularity and
transcending them in Importance, is the
general contest between the people in
official life, as body, and the coterle
of wealthy residents Of the city on the
Potomac, sometimes denominated as the
smart set" says a Washington letter.
"This warfare. of which the country at
large already has some inkling, is the
result of latter day conditions at the
American seat of government. In the
early days Of the republic when Wash
ington was so unattractive that the ma
tion's rulers and their families, who were
compelled to reside here cordially de-
tested it and fled Immediately after the
adjournment of Congress In the spring,
the social circle was not divided into two
great rival factions, The present genteel
struggle has come about slowly through
the gradual transformation of Washing
ton into the most beautiful city in Amer
lea This and the absence of vast indus
| activities ka n oh Of
leisure and one of the most attractive
places of residence on the continent 1t
Is not surprising that there has grown up
a colony Of wealthy folk whose social
ambitions have increased with each new
recruit added to the fold
There are not less than 1000 persons In
the official set which means that there
are that number of individuals directly
or indirectly connected with the political
life of the Capital who are sufficiently
prominent to entitle them to invitations
to certain number of social functions
In this list is embraced everybody, from
| the President, cabinet officers, Senators
l diplomats and members of the Supreme
Court, together with the ladies of their
households, to the families of assistant
secretaries and bureau chiefs of the vari-
| GUS government departments and the
| army and navy officers. The list does not
| stop with the immediate members of the
| families, even; there are not a few people
| in public life at Washington who indus
triously use their positions to pry open
the social gates for nieces, cousins and
friends
The members of the fashionable resi-
Dental circle are not so numerous, posi-
bly, as their opponents. Exclusiveness is
the pride of this elite contingent How
ever, this resident set Is a house divided
against itself az to whether wealth or
lineage shall constitute the password for
admission. There are number of mil
| lionaires-some Of whom have made their
| money too rapidly to satisfy the social
| arbiters at home-who have come to
| Washington to idle. While these affect a
| certain exclusiveness, they are inclined to
| admit to the social fortress any possessor
| of a large bank account who is willing to
deplete it by lavish entertaining, unless
| mayhap the applicant be one of those who
! has refused to let down the bars for the
| newly rich at a former place of resi-
| dence. Such one generally encourages
the opposition of some one on the inside
who is thirsting for revenge.
On the other hand, there are living III
| Washington number of old Virginia and
| Maryland families who are unwilling to
accept this new standard of social eligl-
| bility and in self-defense have grown
| clannish and ultra-eXclusive.
The antagonism between the two gen.
| eral divisions of Washington society,
which, despite the covering of good breed
ing and social tact, is growing in bitter
ness, is due primarily to the difference in
tastes and sources of power and to the
exalted opinion each set holds wit re-
| gard to it's own claims of superiority.
| The official contingent has the advantage
In some respects, but must need be chary
of those manifestations of disregard for
public opinion in which many of the we'll
TODD residents delight. 1t will not do for
the office-holders to displease the people
on whose votes they are dependent to
keep them in Washington.