Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-03-08

I r,.3cio,ls = W, lcumC to the man who
has won /: uupularly admitted to be
tie most expensive Tor its size within
thcs,. United states. Unless the raw
recruits. WHO Will next March, in
larctr numbers than for many SEES
sinus Usurp the desks and commit
tees of "XpericnC,d veterans in the art
of running the nation. ar" provided
with surplus funds they will discover
that they can get whatever they de-
sirt--if they pay for il
He has ways all mis- own, this new
member. very tolerantly amusing to
tie old inhabitant who has stayed
right here and seen SO many take
the course" a. witty Senator RaNner
once described it. Impressed by tie
magnificent distances OF Washington,
the new member invariably seeks
quarters as near the capitol as pos
siblt He wants to be on the job
early and late. After breakfast the
mere time for which would determine
for the close observer how long the
partaker had been in C0ngresS-he
often strolls over TIE House for a look
around. aHf84f
There is a certain pOmpous strut
ami proprietary air that none but men
who have served in other conspicuous
public positions previously ever seem
able to dodge lie has Won and he
is glad, and he feels that everybody
here is his friend. In his native town
he goes with everybody worth while,
so why not here in Washington? This
for lhe country member, no matter
from which point he started.
That anybody should look down ON
an occupant Of Il scat in the House
of Representatives is beyond compre-
hensicn.
Gradually hn begins II learn of
.davs at home" for the wives OF mem :
bers He thinks it might be improp-
er Tor him To go when his wife is not
here, bat loneliness overcomes conser-
vatism and hc goes. has fairly en-
ioyable afternoon, goes again and gets
into the habit.
His clothes are not just what the
other men seem To be wearing n
frock coat and a silk hat appear m
dispcnsable He writes to mother that
he had thought his wardrobe complete.
but those accessories are a necessary
Somehow the money does not save
itself here as it does on the farm. lie
almost wishes his wife had come along.
Maybe there is young daughter ana
she has higher ideas. Everything de-
sirable is taken by this time and the
only expedient is TO rent furnished
fat or house at whatever the agent
thinks he can get. Then tht season
is off With a bang.
On the day of the first public fceep-
ton at the White House he and ms
illk are early in line. To see the presl-
dent is an honor But it is doubtful
if anybody can find second-term rep
resentativc among this motley array.
The recently elected think it a relG-
ious duty TO come out every time Il
card il brought to him by pert-faced
page. And maybe grafters and would
be lobbyists don't know this,
The next Congress. which uproots
traditions and puts in j Democratic
majority, is going TO bring them
ilocking, and the new member Wili
see them all until his head puz2es ana
his desk looks like a snoWstorm with
reminders and requests and promises
He can't find time To, do his regula
work because Of this incessant de-
man6 on his time. Besides, there is
certain pride in realizing that even
men way up in public affairs of MS
state have to wait humply until M
elects t. come to them, card in hand.
1t is boyish sort of pride and
amuses everybody. but is sneered al
by nobody. for the member is bland
~ unconscious of his rawness.
He likes to take friends to dine IN
the Senate restaurant and TO franz
letters at the post-office while people
look on. and to be alluded to in tone!
audible all over the chamber and gall
lcries as "the gentleman from 50 and
50" He has maybe had hard fshl
and he has won and he Is glad. Ana
some of the foundations for the pes'
and wisest measures emanate from thi'
sort. It is only that he acts so an
ferantly later on.
Take a representative to whom th'
winter in Washington has become a
professional habit, and the only IN
duccment that would make him try
topr on the monster AUTOMOBILES
would be delegation from home. Ills
wife nas learned to select a day tia
does not conflict with the judiciar
or the cabinet. and he can say there
the great 'What-do- you-call- him
without letting n trace of earlier awe
creep irto his voice. And, i'll passing
the longer the NJ. G. stays in otfice tn
farther he lives from the capitn
Nithcut exception the newcomers
who nave not been If the old regime at
home start on Capitol hill and end n
Chevy Chase. or does this apply mere
lv 70 plebeian sons of the soil Wash
iDptn1 star