The National tribune., 1908-03-04

served with punctilliousness by every
President from Washington to Roose-
velt. He has brushed into oblivion a
good many moth-eaten traditions. On
the other hand, President Roosevelt has
undoubtedly done more to make tle
State receptions at the White House
resemble the American Court OF
Washington's day than any other Presi-
dent. Since the beginning until the last
three Administrations the White House
was open four nights during the season
for receptions to the ambassadors. the
Supreme Court, Congress and the Army
and Navy. And then a general public
reception was given for many years
The custom of sending out cards grew
up of recent years. and then little paste
boards of admission were added, with
out which you couldn't get into the
White House. Now the lines are very
strictly drawn. 1t is true that the push
ing, sweating jam of earlier years is
now avoided, and that the gowns worn
are magnificent beyond description,
with jewels that have graced many a
drawing room" abroad, but the democ-
racy of the thing is gone. 1t has been
suggested that if a man of unimpeach-
able character and high standing Shoul
make the attempt to enter the White
House at one of these state receptions,
tho unbidden, and should be turned
down. that he might make a case of it.
as the White House is Government
and that while its doors stand open
anyone may be admitted.
The COW that kicked over the buck ct
of milk is found in every relation of
life. The last example is Representa-
tive William F. Cary. of Wisconsin, who
managed in some way to be sent to
Congress from that great State. Mr..
Cary presumably made some promises
which he could not carry out and so
sent out a queer sort of ''justifying'
circular to his constituents. That circu-
lar is the STORY" in this item 1t is
likely to get him into all sorts of trou-
BILE with the House. Mr.. Cary charged
in substance that the House was cor
poration-ridden, and that it was prac-
tically impossible to get bills thru for
the benefit of the people" Here is an
extract from Mr.. Cary'S circular:
"If some of the people here knew
what their Representatives were doing
they would be astounded. 1t is a terri
BILE menace to the we flare of our coun-
try to see men here doing all they can
to prevent bills going thru Congress for
the benefit of the people, sneaking into
corners to whisper to corporation law
yers, and attending dinners and recep-
tons given by men who have especial
bills to pass.
"a plan of killing a good bill is to call
two or three committee meetings SO that
a Congressman cannot get to them all.
They kill his bill in one committee while
he is attending another. However, /
learned a few things myself while /
was Alderman and Sheriff. and these
fellows have found out that they cannot
put me up tree"
Mr.. Cary will probably wish he had
never been born, or else been born a
girl baby with no aspirations for Con-
gress, before his colleagues get thru
with him.
There was an odd scene in the SEN
ate Chamber the other day when Sena-
tor Charles Curtis, who year ago
graduated into the Senate from a IA
years service in the House, tackled new
Senator Owen, from Oklahoma. The
Subject-matter does not particularly
concern Us, as it was simply a question
of policy as to conduct of certain In
dian affairs. 1t was the fact that two
Indians. aboriginal citizens of the Unit
ed States. who presumably have bet
ter right to boss things in this country
than anybody else living, and have yet
had less chance to do it. should stand
up in the United States Senate and
throw the English language at each
others heads. They could do it all
right. and nobody was objecting. SEN
ator Curtis lays no claim to oratory, but
his English is plain enough to be classic,
and you never make any mistake on his
And what he does not know
about Indian affairs is not worth While
printing. He has made it study since
he entered Congress. Senator Curtis,
small, dark, with keen black eyes. jet
back hair and dimpled chin, is of
the Kaw (kanSas) tribe of Indians. and
is now making the fight of his life to
keep from being made hereditary chief
OF the tribe, that being his blood-right
since the recent death of Sho-wun-go,
or something to that effect. Senator
owen is a Cherokee, sifted thru sew
eraI generations, and he is some of a
locker, with pure Indian traits, and
talker from way back. He does not
believe with Senator Curtis on certain
points concerning the Five Civilized
talkee was about. They both got pretty
some like war dance for two, when
some Senator arose and grayely sug
gested that the Senate declare belliger-
caused a laugh, and a Iet-up on the
tension. But, mark you now. it is over
400 years since Columbus mixed up in
Indian affairs in this country, and this
is the first time there has been more
than one Indian in the United States
Senate, which is now over 100 years