Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-08-08

THE CONGRESSIONAL EXODUS
tent and proud of my life's best work. 4"
Senator Stewart, of Nevada, loves
this city and remains as long as pos
sible after every adjournment. His
Nevada home is so far away from bust
ness centers, and he is a business man
as well as an orator and statesman.
Everybody here who knowshim hikes
to have him stay, and so he is often be-
guiled into prolonging his residence
here after all other statesmen have
departed.
Senator Quay, of Pennsylvania, has
splendid home here in a fashion
able section, but he does not occupy
it except during the sessions of the
senate. This is an especially busy
year for him in the political field and
he is already in the thick of a fight
which will last until the polls close
in November. He likes living here,
but is too busy to do so.
Senator Dolliver has lived in q fiat
for number of years with his fam
lily. He did not wait for the adjourn
ment, but took his wife, children and
venerable father to Iowa some weeks
ago. The children were not well and
| the wise doctor prescribed Iowa air
and food and water and out-of-door
life for them. By the time congress
adjourned they were all at home in
Fort Dodge, surrounded by friends.
The only representatives who re-
main here for any length of time
after adjournment are those who
come from districts beyond the Mis-
sissippi and Missouri rivers. Ehose
whose political and domestic homes
are in the vicinity of the Alleghenies
can come to Washington without in
convenience any time. Those who
dwell in states nearer the setting
sun find it a great Inconvenience to
come between sessions. Consequent
ly they remain here long enough to
finish up all business which they may
have before the executive depart
ments.
Following the hegira of the states
men and their families the society
folks desert us. They who have dol
lars to burn, and are always seek
ing new ways to dispose of them,
hurry off to seaside or mountain for
| the summer and fall. The resorts
along the Atlantic coast all the way
from Norfolk to Eastport receive
them by the hundred and thousand.
During recent years many have pen
etrated the White mountains and the
Green mountains of New England,
finding there greater enjoyment and
better health tonics in air and food
than at the coast resorts. But the
shoddy folks who garishly parade
their tinsel prefer the gayeties and
profigacy of the seashore where
morality is a myth and religion a
sham.
And now the government clerks
| are figuring out where they will go
to spend their vacations of 80 DAYS
each. Hundreds of them never take
| any vacation, but plug along at their
desks the year around, as though
they were financially interested in
| the business in which they are en-
gagged. But substantially all of them
| feel it duty incumbent upon them
| to take their annual leaves of alb
sence, and they spend their money
| like princes and princesses, while it
lasts. Some of the wise ones go to
their old homes, visiting relatives and
friends who are glad to receive them.
and renewing the political ties which
strengthen them sometimes, IN some
of the offices, although political in
fiuence is growing less potent every
year, and the merit system is grow
ing in strength under existing condi-
| tions. The present incumbent of the
chief magistracy believes in practical
civil service reform and his views are
pervading the executive branch of the
| government. greatly to the good of
| the service.
| The newspaper men upon whom
the people depend for information
concerning their government must
remain here and swelter all through
the summer. Very few of than ever
have opportunity for vacations But
we wish good luck and happiness to
all of the more prosperous and for
| tunate- We tip our hats to them, seto
their families, and may they all live
long and prosper.
! SMITH q. TRY.