Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-15
The American Peoples City.

The American People lily.
In the course OF each year Washington
receives several hundred thousand VISIT
or. an unnumbered host from the north'
the south, the east and the west 1heS
come In groups to attend convefuohs'
they come in couples on honeymoon
trips. I'm families on vacation Journeys
and singly on both business and pleasure
They are of all ages, all conditions OF iiie'
all occupations and from all the STATES
They are drawn here by tho commonest
Of American travel impulses, the desire
N sec the National Capital to observe
rhe nlace where the government does lts
work. where the President lives ana
transacts the executive business, Where
the Congress makes the laws. where the
finances are managed and the paper
money printed, where the pensions anu
the patents are granted. where the army
is kept in organization, where the navy
Is ruled and the great guns OK the battle
ships are made. where the weather Is
predicted and the crops are watched anu
the farmers are helped to get more out OF
the soil where the trusts are Kept uhder
control and the lawbreakers are pursued
where the uuarantines that safeguard
the country's health are managed
and epidemics are fought, where the
food supply is analysed and Kept up
TO standard of purity, where the literary
products of the people are copyrighted
and the worlds treasures of the mind are
stored. where the relations between the
United States and all the other nations
are smoothed and this country is Kept
advised of what is happening beyond the
seas where researches of the scientists
are conducted and the results or their
Investigations and their collections are
stored. where the mails are managed and
the great machine that keeps the num-
bIest member of this community in touch
with civilization is operated. where the
laws are interpreted in their last analysis
and the Constitution is finally Interpreted.
Such are the official attractions of Wash
ington, the things the people want TO see
and study. They are. however, only a
mart of the capitals appeal to its visitors.
There are, in addition. its great parks, its
Zoo. its historic surroundings, its ma
tional cemeteries where lie the hero
dead; its many souvenirs of a century
and more of Matchmaking. The broad,
straight, tree-bowered streets please the
eve. The quiet atmosphere soothes the
strained spirit of the busy ones who are
fighting for success in life Noble build
ings and inspiring monuments widen the
mental horizon and stimulate patriotic
thoughts. Washington pleases. instructs
upIifts and broadens every visitor
This Is all because il Is the nation s
city. the capital, the seat of government
No commercial center. however lively or
rich or popuIous or enterprising can COM
pete with il as a center of interest. 1t is
slow" and stupid. perchance, to the ex-
element loving tourist and 1t lacks in
some forms of entertainment to attract
the casual passer-by. But 1t gives to
every guest something that no other city
can give, sense of membership in the
great American partnership of people of
all kinds and sources.
And because Washington stands before
the country for what 1t does. It is due TO
the people who come here that they be
told how ii is getting along, how il is
governed, how supported. The congress
men are, rule. too busy back home
TO convey this message. and 1t is to be
questioned whether they are themselves
in all cases qualified to give II TO the peo-
pie. When they talk about Washington,
in the congressional districts. il is not al
ways in a vein of entire equity or even of
understanding. They are too busy TO
study this situation ordinarily, and even
they need to be informed OF what the
District is and why 1t is managed a
mutual benefit establishment in conjunc-
tion with the federal government
Just so 1t happens that the Washing
tonians must do their own reporting 10
the people who come to visit the capital,
in order that they may appreciate what
this city Is and what 1t needs and de-
serves. and. just now. what menaces il i'll
lis continued growth The District owes il
both to the people who help TO maintain
IL and to itself to set up a well organized
bureau Of information, to see that every
one who calls is told the true story of
how the capital came into being. how 4,
grew despite gross neglect. and how /,
was finally rescued by Congress in 1873
Then the folks back home. seeing here
with their own eyes what Washington is
and learning at first hand how 1t is man
aged and why the United States pays
half the costs. and how essential IT is
that this arrangement should be contin-
ued unchanged IL the capital Is to re-
main and to become increasingly an OBJ
ject OF national pride and qualification,
viii be IN position to put their hands
on the wheels and guide the courses OF
the lawmakers, TO the end of making a
Washington which leaves nothing to be
desired.
IL Is Gle duty OF the citizens of this
District to tell the peop' OF the country
Al! the facts. Get them as they come by
ones and tens and hundreds, and give
them the story of Washington Organize
the bureau Of information without deIav.
get out literature and put IL in the hapds
OF all corners