Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-02

the great commercial CenterS OF the west.
The new Representative and his family,
therefore, if their fortune is moderate, find
themselves between the millionaire colony
on one side, called the Smart SET and the
old residential society on the other, known
as the "cave dwellers,' neither of which has
any particular interest in the newcomer.
This has thrown the political element back
upon itself, and it forms an agreeable and
distinctive circle This has resulted in the
formation of the Congressional Club, a
woman's club of which Miss Helen Cannon,
daughter of former Speaker Cannon, was
first president. In this club there are many
women, wives of Representatives and Sena-
tors, who have an important social position
in Washington, and through this organlza-
ton the wives of newcomers are Hospitality
received, and find a circle of acquaintance
who soon make them feel at home. There
is no similar club for Senators and Repre-
sentatives; but the Senate and House have
many characteristics of a club, and no man
need ever want for friends or company II he
belongs to either House.
THERE are two classes of Representa-
tives however, who never evolve any
thing. One is the selfmade man, who has
acquired a great fortune, and fought his way
through life by kicking Others out OF his
path. These men come to Congress with
the combative instinct highly developed.
They are met by solid wall of custom and
experience, against which they may dash
their heads in vain. These men are admins
traitors, and can never be converted into
legislators. They are in general lawless,
both by nature and by ignorance OF law.
One term generally suffices for man OF this
type. He comes to Congress bent on accom- |
plishing certain things by the only method
he knows, which is that of the steam roller.
He finds steam roller three hundred and
ninety times bigger than his own, which
rolls over him and his ambitions and pull |
verizes them. He is naturally infrr1ated,
calls Congress reactlonary, declares that
reforms are not encouraged, and either
throws up his job or is pitched over the
ropes at the next election.
The second unsuccessful type is the tad
dist, who comes to Congress for the purpose
of Transforming his fads into legislation. He
is ANNOYED and chagrined to find that, al
though he may talk of his schemes, declare
his plans in newspaper interviews, and OBJ
tain "leave to print in the Congressional
Record, and have it distributed broadcast,
he never gets anything enacted into law.
There is one Socialist in the sixty-second
Congress, and he made his debut by intro
ducing bill to make it easy to change the
Constitution OF the On1LeQ OCdLeS. Hat ILL.,
mediately settled him. Men who are expe-
rienced in national legislation have found
out that it is more than doubtful whether the
Constitution of the United States can ever
be amended again, and that the last two
amendments, the fourteenth and the ff-
tenth, are dead letters.
1t is one of the stock jokes of Congress,
what is the Constitution between friends?'
The origin of the expression was: A New York
Representative of the steam roller variety
mentioned to colleague piece of legislation
he was determined to put through. His
colleague, an experienced Representative,
mildly replied, at is in violation of the Con-
stitution" To which the steam roller Repre-
sentative Indignantly replied, "What's the
Constitution between friends??'
1t has often been alleged that there are
too many lawyers in Congress; but it has
been found by actual experience that lawyers
are the only men who can make laws that
steer clear of the Constitution and are water
tight.
1t is tradition of the House that no jour
nalist has ever been successful as Repre-
sentative The more brilliant the journalist, |
the more comp etc his failure.
The House of Representatives IS pure
democracy 1t has been said that, on the
turf and under the turf, all men are equal;
but the same may be said of the floor OF the |
4 L.