The Washington times., 1914-03-29

Joker" in his idea OF Jefrerson's So
cial proclivities.
year when social life in Washington
Is str enuous," the Secretary said.
During that time officials should
make sure they get home by u:30
o'clock Midnight should be the
latest they permit themselves to stay
out A sort OF an official curfew law
would not be amiss.
But ! believe few men in the Gov
Crnment, certainly few in the de-
partmentA carry social gayeues to
excess Their work shows that.
Nest of them are a hard working
lot.
Many of them. I feel sure think
about this dinner thing the way
do. that II gives q man elbow touch.
He mingles with his fellows. He
gets their viewpoint A man who
goes out to luncheon with Norman
Hapgcod or with c. w. Post. or any
ideas.
JEFFERSON set us Democrats a good
example in that direction after he
returned from Paris. You remember
he entertained frequently and con-
tinuously. He attended many din
ners.
AT all of these the President was
singulaIiy silent. He let others do
the talking. He did the listening
And on his own testimony he gained
much information and got new view
points from this social indulgence
The man who tangoes all night
ts OVERRIDING things sadly. But, as
said. few do that. Most OF tho
Cabinet officials do not leave their
offices until 8 o'clock. Like myself
they get down at $50 o'clock or
even earlier"
What Senators Say.
Varying views OF the social pres
sure on men in public life was dis
closed by talks with Senators. All
of them denied that social lobbying
was prevalent in Washington.
Several Of them cited one recent
amusing instance of an attempt to
influence legislation on a minor mat
ter by a well-known resident Of the
Avenue of the Presidents She
wanted that street namo to De main
tained. Several Senators laughing
ly described the manner in which
she bombarded members Of the up
per house with invitations. irrespec-
tive OF her previous acquaintance
with them. Most of these invita-
tons were declined. and the august
upper body again demonstrated its
freedom from Hobbies. social, IN
s.dious.' or otherwise
Senator Varda man Is one OF tho
lew men who came forward with
The assertion that social life Is
'overdone' here.
Il believe there Is too great a
demand upon Senators for attend
ance at social functions when there
Is more serious business to COM
nland their attention" he said a
Senator's business is never ended.
There Is always work ahead on his
desk. He can not AFFORD any great
amount Of diversion. social or other
wise. for there is no catching up"
mo Time For Society"
II you do not believe the average
Senator is a hard working person
with little time for the mere frivoI-
itjes Of existence. take 1t from SEN
stor James Hamilton Lewis. He
recalled that dim and distant past.
when as Congressman, he ad-
Tritted. he had time for considerable
social circulation.
But that time has gone" he
piaintively ruminated. Now ] AZ
Kept right at work all the time
90 not know a thing about the social
side of Washington now. ] am too
busy for that"
From the tips OF his pink whiskers
to the so,es OF his new spats, the
Illinois legislator typired the new
sort of Senator. a bustling busy
animated. dynamic being. in marked
contrast to the stately dignataries of
tine bygone days when the upper
house was known as the "cOuntrys
richest club
Far from deplor1ng the addiction
of public men to social affairs.
Senator Miles Poindexter believes q
long felt want In humor In public
life would be supplied IL they would
go out" more.
"As casual observer. ! would
say that social activity Is not over
done by public men and It does not
interfere with public business. AZ
matter Of fact the 'heaviness' Of
some OF our public affairs would ne
improved by a touch Of the 'gaiety
of nations
Social life in washington, in IT'S
proper sense, is. on the whole, quite
distinct from political LIE. Nearly