The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-12-28
WASHING LET TER
Capitol Chosen as Battle Ground
to Fight Theatre Trust.
DEPARTMENT CLERKS LIFE.
Loath of Leave Salary and Start Out
For Themselves. Bank Accounts
few Among the Clerks.

as the natural and legitimate arena for
political struggles but it was not until
II recent date that it assumed unusual
as a scene for war between
forces in the theatrical world.
David Belasco, the versatile playwright
and manager, has undertaken TO defy
the Theatrical trust and he has select
ed as the field for one of his most de
cisive battles the city of Washington.
Owing to the action of the trust in
barring him from the theaters Mr.
Belasco has leased Convention Hall, a
colossal meeting place on K aud 9Th
Streets Moth West, and is retitting III
preparatory TO presenting Adrea.
play written by himself and john
Luther Long, the author OF The
Darling of the Gods, japanese play
which became popular some years aso
Mrs. Leslie Carter will play the role
of star. Klaw & Erlanger and Nixon
& Waterman derisively called he
Sheeney Theatrical Trust, of New York
City, have practically controlled the
American drama, and they have
dragged the exalted art into the CUTTERS
of commercialism. Their criterian ofa
play has been the box Office recejI ts
and they have attempted to dictate as
to what plays should be pr, ented.
They have se.ured control OF most OF
the theatres of this country in the
large cities, or by q threat of ifrdFaw-
al Of patronage have been able ~ clp=e
theatres to managers not in syna3stty
witn their methods. 1t rem45is be
seen whether champion OF @ a1t
like David l5elasco can succeed in a5s
attitude of defiance toward the hst
and against the spirit Of conn la
AID monopoly, and whether te 500 lie
will lend their support to tals eohA-
mendable undertaking by sao ing a
proper appreciation OF art iag t'a
sake. The venality Of certain d. c
critics have figured in this deer q 90
OF the American drama, as sbasn by
their connection with the etis al
trust while ostensibly writing tor Ger
tain newspapers.
One of the most interesting and co. :
vinciug object lessons in sociology and
psychology with which [ have c"ii.@ in
contact is afforded by the depaltnl It
service in Washington. It's var ETY.
and intricate ramifications make Il an
absorbing subject for investigation
Each department has its army OF M
ployees and it's distinct and peculiar
characteristics. 1t is only after oae h S
met great number OF these people and
alter an acquaintance sufficiently init
mate to enable one to realize the +
hopes and aspirations that the y
Geological val.e of the study iuuras.
Many of the younger federal employees
take UP collegiate work at one or the
other of The universities here, and the
government service abounds in men
possessing college degrees, ran2ing
from A. B. to LII. D.. doctors, dentists,
lawyers. theologians and other profess
sional men in considerable numbers
hold positions in the departments.
They are 10th to surrender taAil
salaries for the uncertainty of starting
out UPON an independent career in
their chosen work. And so they sink
into the hopeless, helpless and insur
mountable sense of dependence u.
salary which smothers genius end -.
b ton and in the lethargy TIA folio :
and the decadence Of asp'ration wh,ef
results from the sense of seef-fity =.
gendered by the regular, f,nfaif.c {
monthly salary they offer acc n
habits of Indulgence. These habits
sometimes take the form of drunkenes:
and gambling, and other habits tn
can hardly be said to rebound TO TIL,
advantage of the clerk or official ] ht
subtle process whereby men drift from
a deserGion of their ambition to lie o.
sensu slitY and indulgence is known !:
at al, only By those who have traverse
that sorry trail. Bank accounts amor
department people who have been il
the service for q long time are scarce
and triliing. [ venture that ohere i
more improvident people in the govern
ment service than among any othel
class OF employees with IN equal salary
This is mapifesb nor only from The de
plorable and humiliating. habit OF petty
and promiscuous loans among clerks
just before pay day, but also FROM lht
clamor OF old clerks. whose entire lives
almost have been spent 10 the service
drawing good wages for a pension OF
retiring AT certain age. This age pen
sion problem nowhere meets with much
favor, except among aged civil seryic.
emp Dyes. IL is quite generally reg I'd
ed as vicious in principle, and ii does
not furnish an analogy or parallel witt
soldiers pensions and in no way in
wolves duty or even right or the
part of the government to conduct d
charitable institution.
The all-absorbing phase Of Washing