The National tribune., 1911-02-16
warrant. In-the long run. that is no
mean party service.
The Three Rig Men,

warrant. In-the long run, that is no
mean party service.
The Three. Big Men.
The President. the Vice President and
the Speaker Of the House are the three
big meh to these corners of the early
Spring. Not all of them see the Presi-
dent. a. He is too busy. and access to
him is necessarily SO restricted that
many of the tourists are not able to
Arrange it'T On the contrary, time
hangs heavily upon the hands of the
Vice President and he is one of the
most accessible men in the world. They
are pushing across his official thresh-
hold by the hundreds these days, and
he always has smile and a welcome
for these visitors. 1t is not so easy to
reach the Honorable Speaker. because
he is much occupied. and yet to those
who are patient enough and will wait
till he is in his private room and not
rushed. handshake and a cordial word
with him are easily attainable.
OF course, the next Speaker, the Hon.
Champ Clark, of Missouri. is now much
sought out. The visitors all want to
see him, and they generally have their
wishes gratified, for he, to9, is very
democratic man and is willing to shake
hands and converse with strangers from
any part of the country.
The Senators-elect and the Repre-
sentatives-elect, who come down to
Washington these days to learn the
ropes" are very few. They are giving
Washington a wide berth, and probably
for one or two reasons. One Is that all
the Democratic Representatiyes-elec
came here in mid-January to attend the
Democratic caucus, and therefore that
had to count for the usual visit of Rep
resentatives-elect to Washington. There
are comparatively few Republican Rep
resentatives-elect, and they are not
Fastening to Washington for trip, be-
cause of the rumors that there will
be an extra session of Congress. A
few of the new Senators have come
to town, but not many They, too, are
probably waiting to see what comes of
the extra session talk.
Climax ut Easter. &.
The big annual tourist migration to
Washington comes to a climax during
Easter week. It has started little
earlier than usual this year, because
Congress adiourns in early March, and
after that time half of the attractive
ness of the Federal Capital from the
sightseer's standpoint is taken away.
In late years this migration has as
sumed such proportions that it is strik-
ing. OF course, the business interests
of the city count upon it, particularly
the hotels, the rubberneck wagons, and
numerous other allied enterprises. But
the migration affords the lawmakers
upon the Hill an opportunity to sound
the depths of sentiment at home with
tolerable assurance. Instead of going
to his constituents, his constituents
come to him. ss
The song of the Federal guide, who
haunts all the much-trodden parts of
the city, swells with the appearance of
the tourist vanguard. 1t means BUSH
ness for him--two or three months of
good business to offset numerous lean
months. He is naturally much abused.
Local folks think he is legitimate tar
get. whether he be a guide around the
White House grounds or at the Capitol.
The errors OF their descriptive mono
logues are emphasized and sometimes
probably magnified. But the Federal
guide Is generally very good fell |
low who tries his best to be accurate
and who is almost invariably affable |
and obliging. He does not command |
lucrative reward, and comes close to |
earning all that he is paid. In Wash |
ington he Is a man superior to those |
Of his, fellows. in other parts OF the
world, and that fact will sooner or |
later come to be recognized.