The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-10-17

n in the interest of friends candi-
dacy for an appointment shared
a coat pocket with the morning paper
announcing the prospective departure
from Washington of some of the pow
ers that be- They were going on hunt
ing trip for a week. Two stogies far
Their along the line and other dailies
peated the same, adding that the hunt
ing party would leave the next day.
Much depended upon seeing them be-
fore they left Washington. The time
table held out hope of an hour's chance
for an interview. Nothing remained
but to loathe the Louis XVI hunt, burn
stogie in the fire of another revolu-
ton and trust to getting that one hours
! chance by the grace CT Providence and
| the Pennsylvania railroad.
1t pleased the gods just once to eXpe-
dite the course of the stranger within
the gates of Washington, even to
breaking down the hauteur of the COL
ored gentlemen who keep guard at the
doors of the great men. The miracle
which obtained this prompt audience
with a senator must have been wrought
by the incarnation on the calling card
I that the visitor was from somebody
| related in some way to the senator's
| Wife's sisters husband somewhere
Subsequent developments furnished
! further proof of the potency of rela-
tionship. the talismar which swings
open the political portals While plain
patriots without connections are left
to frapa themselves nver the reception
room furniture. What boots it to bear
a message that the press, the pulpit,
tie bench. the bar and senator's from
! Maine to California indorse a candidate
in letters, petitions and kilograms jack
eted in a departmental file while q
statesman's wife's cousin knocks the
persimmOn?
This senatorial wire forthwith pulled
another wire at a department and the
head thereat telephoned back that the
case in particular would be kept open.
certainly, senator" pending the return
of the powers from the hunting trip.
And this closed the incident of quick
action. There was 10 relationship but
ton to press at the doors of those who
came after.
The experience at those doors is the
common experience of him in Wash
ington on a political nission-the story
of the waiting side of Washington.
This business leads you for wander
ing days through the corridors of the
capitol; it holds YOU in hours of sus-
pense in committee rooms: it compeis
you to sit for your turn among a dozen
other sitters in department Offices: it
Tolls you around hotel Hobbies and it
tw:rls your thumbs in reception rooTas /
for heaven knows how long
Be it known of course. that this be- /
statesman. The new member is found |
readily enough. Indeed your visit I
electrifies him with q. realization that |
his presence in congress has been dis I
covered. Before your arrival his medi- /
tations probably We're confined to a |
change in lifelong views concerning |
trousers and boots. He is reaching the
point of cheerfully sacrificing a Prince
Albert coat made by the best tailor in /
his home town. He has already given
away silk hat which. when he bought
1t at the leading store in Squashtown,
was the pride and wonder of his heart,
and he is coming 20 be family conscious
of the fact that the wearing of white
neckties during the day is CAL
culated to cause misunderstanding.
Why, my dear fellow! Glsd to see
you!"
Certainly he is, amp presses you into
the Capitol cafe to beam his joy upon
You over a friendly glass
DO anything in my power to help
you. of course"
He has sent out garden seed by the
distributed stacks of literature
about potato bugs and grub worms and
s only waiting for Providence to speed
he apotheosis of the elect.
But it's another proposition to get the
attention of the working members, the
1oor leaders and the wheelhorses. who
wade through papers and figures in the
hight hours. bury themselves in COM
nittee rooms with heavy black cigars
through the day, attend formal dinners
n the evening and drop into poker
big and sensational, but
luiet and persistent. And for these
-ou lie in wait
Mayhap your mission sends you on
he trail OF that worker. General Dick.
Day after day Of repeated calls upon
he general elicit the information that
ther affairs have engaged his atten-
ion, and he has been unable to act in {
his particular case. but will do so yet
les, he still has the brief of your
riend's case with which you supplied ;
i'm on the occasion CT former visit,
the Endorsement filed at
he department. You go away. Offering
p prayer of gratitude because, please
eaVen, you have been able at least to
un your man to earth; for sometimes
ou pass whole days waiting for him
t this place or that, while he is de-
aimed elsewhere. Here is the record
f a typical day:
AT his law office at $50 in the morn
lg; his arrival is uncertain, as he has
ommittee affairs coming up at the
apitol. His secretary is going there.
Whittier Caesars minister goes, there
lust Caesar be- You go likewise Men
nd women who travelled days and
lights to ask this mans help are sit
ing in the reception room of the law
flee, living monuments of waiting,
ONE with pension claims, some with
ar department business, some with
'hio politics and other troubles on
heir mind ii
You twist through winding passages
l the labyrinth of the capitol where
lie desperate hopelessness of finding