The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-02-02

may be said about the deliberate way
Washington goes about other things,
socially it is a busy city. Just now
the thing that disturbs the fair host
esses Of the capital is not the woman
question, but the man question. One
would suppose that with all the male
statesmen who foregather here there
would be plenty to dance and lead the
ladies' out to dinner; but, whether it is
that the men are busy playing poker
or trying to devise ways to keep from
passing bills, it is a perplexing fact
that 1t Is not always easy to find
enough men to go around. To add to
the difficulty about fifty new society
buds have blossomed out this winter
or are In process Of doing so, which
calls for just that many more mascu-
line partners. 1t is a pity that the
male beauty squad of the Taft inaugu-
ration could not have been induced to
remain here permanently.
AS Lent begins this year on Feb. 25,
the social season has been FASTENED
INT squeezed up into a few weeks.
This has necessitated the rushing of
cabinet dinners at the rate of one a
week. beginning with that Of the Sec
rotary of state on Jan. 6. l do not
know that Washington social affairs
are intensely interesting to the re-
mainder of the country, but it ought to
anord some satisfaction to the people
to know that their representatives,
senator's and other officials get enough
to eat, even If food prices are doing
the aeroplane act for the rest of us.
1t used to be supposed that the ma
lions brainiest men should be the
ones sent here, but I am not sure that
the view is correct or that it is any
longer followed. So far as l can Judge
the two most important activities of
Washington life are eating and talk
Ing, and as both are performed
through the facial orifce it would
seem that the prime requisite in those
sentenced to terms of service here is
mo- brains, but mouth. Nor am l pre-
pared to say that Of late years this
a not been the rule observed.
Now that 1910 is on the boards
members Of both houses are awaken.
ing to the fact that a congressional
election Is on this year. The Demo-
Gratis are more confident Of carving
the next house than they have been in
a decade. For one thing they argue
that no party ever revised the tariff
that 1t was not showed under in the
next congressional election with the
single exception Of 1898, when the
spanish war came on to distract the
peoples attention. One uncertain ele-
ment In the coming fight will be the
1nsurgent Republicans. I am inclined
to believe that this element, however,
Will fight out its battles within the
party and that whatever division exists
In the majority ranks will be settled
IN convention and will help the Demo-
Gratis little in the election. President
Taft, It now appears, is to take a very
hctive part in the fight, naturally re-
garding the result in the light Of a
verdict on his own administration.
The statue of Robert e. Lee in the
uniform Of a Confederate general,
which was placed by the state of Vir-
s1nia In statuary hall, has created en-
barrassment in official quarters owing
to the criticism leveled at it from Ger
tain portions Of the north. These OBJ
have not been aimed at Lee.
but ut his uniform. Now, outside Of
eating and talking Washington is per-
haps most expert In the matter Of