Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-28
Click of Monographs in House
Office Building Tells of the
Campaigns Approach,
LETTERS FLOOD THE NATION
Each Party Has Big Machine for
Use Of Its Members Who
Seek Reelection.
By SIDNEY ESPEY.

WASHINGTON. Sept. 27-The
click and purr OF mimeograph ma
chimes in the House once Building
proves beyond a doubt that another
campaign Is approaching. Walking
down the corridors Of the structure
where the members OF the House OF
Representa- have their offices, one
hears the steady grind OF the mimeo-
graph, manipulated by some young
woman or a boy who is engaged at
30 much per" to turn out letters for
my Congressman
over in the majority room there il
a larger mimeograph, driven by cleo
tricitv. This is available for the use
Of members who have no machine OF
their own, but who want to send out
thousands OF letters TO their constitu-
ents
During the of years, so called the
member of Congress isn't the letter
writing busybodv that he Is when the
rampaign is only a few months off.
Last winter and spring the mimeo-
graphs and typewriters were compar-
atively quiet and the member con-
tented himself with answering the
daily mail and writing an occasional
personal letter to some political
henchman
Members Getting Busy.
The 1914 elections, however, will
be coming along next spring and
summer and the House member IL
getting busy. Everybody in the
House must stand for election every
two years and almost everybody
wants 10 come back, once a taste OF
Washington life is had. Consequent
", the ambitious politician doesn't
hesitate TO use the frankng privi-
lege and the mimeograph 10 keep in
touch with the fellow with the votes
Hundreds OF thousands OF docu-
ments and letters are going to be
sent broadcast from the House ONCE
Building in the next six months.
Scores Of members are already at
work getting up campaign material
IN their own individual interest and
In the interest OF the particular party
to which the letter writer happens to
belong.
II would be almost impossible for
member Of the House to write a per-
sonal letter 10 every voter in his dis
trict and to keep up the correspond
ence. Consequently, the average
member Of the House gets out stock
letter about this period OF the cam
paien. has II Autographed and then
writes in at the top. in the same type
and ink so that the entire letter may
seem personal. the name and address
Of his constituent.
Many OF the wise" constituents
know that this letter is merely cir
cular. sent to every voter in the dis
trict Others cherish the epistle from
my Congressman" and proudly ex-
hibit II about the family circle.
Each Has Different Form.
Practically every member has a
different form Of letter which il used
for stock purposes. For instance the
member who comes from district
where there are many veterans will
talk OF the prospect Of pension legis-
Rtion. Another who halls from an
agricultural district will ask II the
constituent doesn't want few
seeds or farmers bulletins issued by
the Department Of Agriculture
Still another member who halls
from a union labor district will dis
cuss labor legislation, pointing ont
incidentally that he. the member. IS
endeavoring to push this or that bill