Evening journal., 1913-07-09
SUMMER DAYS
in The SENATE
lawmakers Dress Lightly
That Legislation May
be Acted on
CONGRESS MAY BEND
BUT CANNOT QUIT
By BURTON X. STANDISH.
lWrltten for the United Press.l

WASHINGTON. July 0.-Summer
days in the Senate chamber a hot,
moist, sticky afternoon, without a
breath of air stirring beyond the arm
length region OF the electric fans. The
erumphng. wtherng heat quivers among
the hard red desks, rises malignant from
the gicen carpet and rebounds from the
walls. Hot weather and the debate on
minor bills and resolutions drags on.
a figure in cleaning white, from
crown of hat to tip OF toe, enters the
Democratic cloakroom. As his hat comes
oh the long iron gray hair marks Sen
ator Nardaman. OF Mississippi, coolest
IF all the ninety five members who are
compelled To stay here through the sum
mer White duck suit. white shirt, col
lar and tie. white belt and hose and
shoes-he is refreshing oasis in this
legislative desert.
In the chamber ere a dozen flannel and
linen suits, an odd dozen pairs of white
flannel or duck trousers, and here and
there white shoes with dark clothing
evidence of the inrosds that the tenn
peratWe has made upon senatorial fash
ions. There remains a faithful group in
correct black ar dark Galinger. of
New Hampshire; Smith. of Maryland; f;
Johnston and Bankhead. of Alabama; /;
Bacon. of Georgia: Goff. Of West Vir-
gina. with occasional recruits. The rest
either brazenly haunt their light raj
ment of the tropics or compromise in
srays and light browns. with here and
there concession to llundered white
Naistcnats of broad eXpanse.
That crinkled linen suit blazoned
rrstN1 Il. a . N1|r
generous form of Newlands. ct Ne
vada The other cream-colored one
sets off Overman of North Carolina,
and those neat white shoes, sOx and
pents to the left are worn by no less
A. parsonage than the solemn McCum-
ber, of North Dakota. White haD-
mel trousers have appeared on the
ooyish form Of the erstwhile formal
ly correct Henri Cabot Lodge. Of
Massachusetts,. who rises unasnamed
without a vest. exhibiting the bosom
Of a black-and-white striped shirt to
the astounded gaze of his colleagues.
Curious turns of sartorial fancy.
Jones, of Washington has founo a
skirt and collar of robins egg blue.
Clapp of Minnesota, pats a saffron
vest Brandagee. of Connecticut,
wearing a linen suit and fighting for
air, strolls into the Republican
cloakroom for icewater Nelson. Of
Minnesota. in alpaca coat and a pair
Of trousers tnat wouldn't tin the
scales at more than a pound, stead
les himself at the doorpost and then
resolutely steps out to listen to the
discussion OF our relations with Mex
leo Fall of New Mexico is talking
and Stone Of Missouri. in gray .ilh
coat lies Imply back in his chair
wiping his forehead Bacon waves Q
broad palm leaf fan, and carefully
adjusts his choker collar before ris-
ing to ask a question.
Hot afternoon. and not a hope oi
coolness until night. and even the
hope of a cool night in Washington
springs only from the breasts of sb-
normally optimistic persons at THIS
time of year Reeu of Missouri
draws up his white hannels and
glowers at a calendar it is still two
months before currency can be dis.
posed of. Simmons walk soIt to the
Democratic cloak-oom where coats
are off. and Korn and Hoke Smith
Williams and Owens arc smoking tC
with smoke; every settee has its
sprawling statesmen; ice clinks ir
glasses passed around by waiter;
from the Capitol cafes
New Senators are discouraged hu
they know the protest is a waste o
words. Congress will stay in session nm
I'll Septeber Hot days or cool, the oil
members remind them indifferently. tn
Il
and delays must 90 on, while Presiden
Wilson sits sweltering at the Whit
Hou'e keeping tab on Congress. deter
mined that party pledges be redeemed b.
reduction of the tariff and currency legis
lation.
Congress may bend before the hea
blasts OF Old Man Sol but it dare no
quit
Senator IKE" Stephenson. the "silen
man OF the Senate who grows loqua
cious only when somebody will lead hir
on to talk about how much he is worth
is distinguished in another way He !
noted for the manner in which he chew
tobacco. There are quite a few compe
tent tobacco chewers in the Senate Sen
ator Nelson of Minnesota chews in
nminative. thoughtful manner: Senate
Overman of North Carolina chews thor
oughly. but irregularlv and sometime
carelessly; Senator Reed of Missouri
chews in sort of angry and method
cally swapping fashion Senator Stephen
son chews rapidly. eagerly regularly an
continuously. His molars beat a staccat
against each other as regularly and abou
MS fast as the tick of the second hand q
watch. OF course. each Senator has hi
particular brand Of plug and there
much borrowing and lending anon
elem. Senator Stephenson has bee
known TO Tend" out as many as fit
'chaws' in one day. He has never bee
known to borrow "chaw" once sine
he has been a Senator. He says he di
enough borrowing when he was a lumber
lnnL-