South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-07-11
WEATHER SENDS
STATESMEN INTO
STRANGE CLOTHES
Ice Cream Suits, Soft Shirts,
Tan Shoes and Other UnCon-
ventionaI Garb Replace the
Formal FroCk Coat.
BY BURTON X. STANDISH.
(Written for the United Press.


WASHINGTON, July 11.-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
crumpling, whitening heat quivers
among the hard red desks, rises ma
Hgnant from the green carpet and re-
bounds 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. entdrs the
democratic clOakroOm- AS his hat
comes of, the long iron gray hair
marks Sen. VaTdaman of Mississippi,
coolest OF all the 80 members who are
compelled 10 stay here through the
summer. White duck suit white
shirt, collar and tie, white belt and
hose and shoes-he is a refreshing
oasis in this legislative desert.
In the chamber are a dozen flannel
and linen suits, an odd dozen pairs of
white flannel or duck truosers, and
here and there white shoes with dark
clothing-evidence of the inrOads that
the temperature has made upon sena-
torial fashions. There remains a
faithful group IN correct black or dark
blue-Gallinger of New Hampshire,
Smith OF Maryland. Johnston and
Bankhead of Alabama, Bacon of
Geargia, Golf OF West Virginia. with
occasional recruits. The rest either
brazenly flaunt their light raiment Of
the tropics or compromise in grays and
light browns. with here and there
concession 10 Numbered white waist
coats Of broad expanse
Even Sen. Lodge.
That crinkled linen suit blazoned
with the red flowing tie protects the
generous form of Newlands of Ne
vada- The other cream-cOlOred one
sets off OVerman of North Carolina,
and those neat white shoes, sOx and
pants To the LEFT are worn by no less
a parsonage than the solemn Nc
Cunrber OF North Dakota White
flannel trousers have appeared on the
bOyish form Of the erstWhile formally
correct Henry Cabot Lodge OF MaSsa-
chusetts. who rises unashamed, with
out a vest, exhibiting the bosom Of a
black-ehd-white striped shirt to the
aStounded gaze OF his colleagues.
Curious turns of sartOrial senatorial
fancy. Jones of Washington has
found a shirt and collar of robins
egg blue. Clapp Of Minnesota pats
saffron vest. Brandagee OF Connect
cut, wearing linen shoes and fighting
for air, strolls into the republican
bloakroom for ice water Nelson of
Minnesota, in alpaca coat and a pair
of trousers that wouldn't tip the scales
at more than a pound, steadies him
self at the doOrpOst and then reso-
Iutely steps out TO listen TO the dis
cussiOn OF our relations with Mexico.
Fall OF New Mexico is talking, and
Stone OF Missouri, in gray silk coat,
lies Imply back in his chair. wiping
his forehead. Bacon waves a broad
palm leaf fan. and carefully adjusts
his choker collar before rising TO ask
a question.
Hot afternoon. and not a hope OF
GOODNESS until night, and even the hope
OF a cool night in Washington springs
only from the breasts of abnOrma1ly
optimistic persons at this time OF year.
Reed OF Missouri draws up his white
fIannels and glOwers at a calendar:
il is still two months before currency
can be disposed of. Simmons walks
out to the democratic cloakrOOm
where coats are off, and KOrn and
Hoke Smith, Williams and owen are
smoking TO forget the weather. The
air is thick with smoke; every settee
has its sprawling statesman; ice clinks
n glasses passed around by walters
from the Capitol cafes.
Must Keep at Work.
New senators are discouraged, but
they know the protest is a waste of
words. Congress will stay in session
until September. Hot days or cool.
the old members remind them indif-
fereDtly. the committee work and
caucus wrangling and delays must go
on, while Pres. Wilson sits sweltering
at the White House keeping tab on
congress determined that party
pledges be redeemed by reduction of
the tariff and currency legislation.
Congress may bend before the heat
blasts Of Old Man Sol but il dare
not quit