Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-09
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION.
Lots of Things That Many Don't
Know.

How many people there are in the coun-
try who do not know anything about what
we here In Washington think is Css entail in
forIna ton. Not long since a delegation
from New Jersey was visiting the capital
They were well-to-do, intelligent looking
people and seemed to be of a class that
ought to know consldera Bile about our gov
eminent and it's Institutions. The party
was gathered in the Treasury Department
waiting to see the secretary. one who
seemed TO be somewhat familiar with the
city pointed to the magnificent shaft that
is prominent from every point OF view ana
said 1t was an obilesk that had been
brought here at great expense. So much
for the Washington monument Inquiry
was made to whose statue was located
in front Of the building and when told
that ii was Gen. Sherman S. the identity
of the great civil war general had 10 be
explained. Then, turning to a gentleman
standing near. this purveyor OF informa-
ton asked who was Secretary OF the Treas
ury, and was Informed that 1t was Leslie
NJ. Shaw.
well. l didn't know but what # was
Taft"
when Secretary Shaw was told about
this he related an occurrence that took
place in Iowa. It was at gathering OF
educators an association Of some kind
where all were supposed TO be well In
formed. 4 question arose as 10 something
In current history, ana there was a wrong
answer given. One Of the gentlemen, in
referring to the lack OF knowledge said
that 1t was really deploiable, but not
wholly inexcusable, as he would venture
to say that in the convention of educators
there was not person that would UNDER
take to name correctly the President and
the members of his cabinet, and no one
made the attempt.
In this connection II is said that Post
master General CorteiyOu recently received
two letters on the same day, one addressed
m ssXNileon g Russell POefmaSteT (,anAr3l -
and the other addressed to William L.
Wilson, Postmaster General" Both held
the position IN Cleveland's last administra-
ton.
It is not so strange, however, that people
should not know all these facts of current
history. Probably they ought to know the
names of the cabinet, but thousands-yeg,
millions-do not care about the names OF
the Presidents cabinet. They say, why
burden our minds with things that do not
concern us?" And there is a great deal In
that. 1t Is not often that the average man
has anything whatever TO do with cabi-
net officer. II he wants to transact busi-
ness with the government he can do so
by writing to the department rather than
the cabinet officer. But very few persons
have any such business relations with. the
government. If they have a satisfactory
postmaster in the smaller towns, and n
satisfactory mail carrier system IN the
larger towns they do not care who Is post
master general. You can't make people
take a vital interest in things that do not
come under their observation or are not
a part of their daily life The business
man has something to think about besides
politics. We laugh at the man who can
not tell who represents him in Congress,
but many people have relations with
their congressman whatever. It is simply
a case of environment. good road over
seer in the country is of more importance
to the average farmer than either a cabi-
net officer or a congressman. 1t is moro
to him TO have a fair and competent as
SCISSOR than TO have the best in the
country for his senator in Congress To
the city man a good alderman and intelli-
gent school officials are far more to him
than the Supreme Court and the methods
Of the United States government. II Is
not at all surprising. therefore, that there
are a great many people In this great ma
ton of ours that are not at all familiar
with the names of officials of our gov
ernn1eut