The National tribune., 1908-01-09
AS THE DAY GOES.
(Continued from page one.l

NJ. C. recommended him for appoint
ment. and hustles to get things straight
ened up. There is more. political dyna-
mite In post offices in an NJ. C.'s district
than in any other dozen offices corn
bined- This man wants a Consulship
which he can't get. but the NJ. c. has to
let on" to try for it, so that the appli-
cant can get a letter from the Depart
ment saying that his application ha:
been filed, and that 1t will be consid-
cred in turn, etc.
Then comes a summons home. Some
body is sick, somebody has died. politi-
cal fences are sagging, some have tum-
bled, and two-three weeks is consumed
in the trip. During that time careless
clerks have messed up a carload of his
mail; callers have gone away incensed
because he was not here to take them
to call on the President as he promised
he would before election; the Vice Con-
su1ship he had nailed has been nabbe1
by some other M. c.: the river and har-
Dor bill has no mention OF Silver Creeks
necessities in it, and his return to Con-
greSs probably rests on getting that ap-
preparation: the committee knocked out
his appropriation for 100000 for q
Government building, and his Depart
ment work has piled up mountain high
Social Demands.
The M. c. who would shine politically
has got to shine socially-in Washing
ton. Women have more of a hane in
shaping legislation in Washington than
anybody guesses who is not acquainted
with the situation. There are dinners
and teas, and receptions, dances, con-
certs, fairs, bridge parties, State recep-
tons at the White House. to which an
invit alton is-or should be-considered
a command. Many an NJ. c.. comes to
Washington firmly resolved that he yiI
give as little attention to society here
as he did at home. Fallacious resolve
He will shuck his sack coat and soft
hat for a frock coat and derby the first
month, and after that he goes the whole
pace in high hat, evening clothes, cor
rect afternoon attire, FURNISHED shoes
proper neckties and immaculate linen
for the occasion. He finds that when he
Is in Rome he must do as the Romans
or the chariot will run over him and
not leave grease spot! If he doesn't
Well, Mrs. Some Other NJ. c. gives a
dinner, and he has the gall to attend in
sack suit. The next time she gives a
dinner she says she will not have boor
at her table, and tells hubby so. Hubby
feels offended that his wife's feelings
have been hurt, and he fails to vote for
the M. C.'s pet measure. He tells an
other Nj. c. that the bill is no good, and
another vote is lost The NJ. c. finds
in the end that a sack coat and lack of
good manners at dinner have lost him
votes enough to have just carried his
bill. He must give theater parties, he
must drive and ride. and be scrupulous-
ly careful in returning all the social at
tentions Of the worlankind Of other
NJ. Cs.
If the NJ c. has a family his burdens
inPrQ1Sad Il
must live in eonsonance with his posi-
ton. It will not do to sneer and speak
of the simple life" The man who
lives the simple life has to pay for it,
and pay well. He has to have money to
carry out the simpIe-life ideas exactly
as the woman who looks perfectly
charming in her simple robes" pays for
them in hours Of brain work and pounds
of good money. The President of the
United States talks of the simple life,
and enjoys it, but it costs him like the
mischief, with shooting lodge in yir-
ginia, and trips to the mountains of the
West and canebrakes of the South in
special trains. Mighty few NJ. Cs. can
afford to lead the simple life'' in Wash
ington. 1t costs more than it comes to.
Houses in Washington are prohibitive in
price. Apartments in a snowy, many
storied caravansary are the same, and
hotel life is an abomination, but he has
to make a selection, and whichever it Is
he Is liable to wish he had done the
other thing. He must entertain. His
poor little wife probably never catered
to above half dozen people at time,
outside of family connections, and is
scared to death at the prospect. A costly
chef is necessary, and perhaps a social
secretary, who is expected to keep them
off the shoals of society wreckage.
No matter whether 1t is a home, a
hotel or apartments, the Constituents
have to be received. Sometimes regular
tramps impose upon the M. c., but he
dare not risk offending the angel in dis
guise, and it all goes. There have been
NJ. Cs. who found their stock of silver
and household bric-a-brac so depleted
by souvenir fiends among their guests
from home that they have had to stock
up again after the visitors have gone.
II the entertainment is not lavish, super
cillious guests go back to the "deestrict"
and tell that the M. G. is stingy, naughty,
unattentive, CLOSE and mot a bit like
he is at home, where his votes are"
and that means trouble with his fences
right off.
If the M. C. has children and sends
them to school in Washington, then his
say he Is getting stuck
up" and has no regard for his home
people, who have to educate their chill
dren where they can. No matter how
rich an M. c. may be, with the excep-
ton of the money trials, he has exactly
the same experiences as the member
who has not dollar to his name out
side of his salary. This is the story OF
quite 300 members of Congress at the
present moment, and is repeated every
day In the year in every Congress.