The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-31
H0t-Fo0ts It for Miles Over
Warrington Streets.
WANTED TO DECIDE / QUESTION
Do Congressman Work3 Was
the Point 1T Issue.
Kansan Was Selected as Repre-
senting the Average.

s9 q result OF 4 controversy ON tnl8
subject. decided to live the life Of a
congressman for one day. or. to be
more exact, to live life with q con-
eressman Tor working day.
Ine controversy started at the
Press club. 1t was decided that there
for q day and evening sleuthing q
member who lived near Washington.
and who would therefore have plenty
of callers from his district. Then
again. it was unanimous decision
that Democrat should not be select
ed. for the simple reason that they
are practically all engaged in pie
hunting, for their constituents must
have federal jobs.
After a scrutiny Of the list Of pos
sion decided that Phil Campbell Of
Kansas. Republican, should be the
one FOR me to shadow. It was agreed
that I should break the news to- Rep
resentative Campbell not later than Z
O'Clock the following morning.
Ten minutes ahead Of time, I pre-
sented myself at the apartment house
where the Kansas member has rooms.
1 expected to find the Campbell fam
lily. especially the head Of the family.
proved the case. Mr.. Campbell admit
ted me with a CHEEKY Good morning"
1 briefly told him of the reasons that
prompted my early visit, and asked
MIN 10 De lenlenI ana let me WauQer
around with him during the day.
"Certainly, glad to see you. but you
are a little late" found upon in
quiry that he had been up an hour.
played barber for himself, and read
the morning papers. The Campbell
family was astir. and for three-quar-
ters Of an hour took it easy while my
subject read the country papers from
his district.
What was transpiring in the little
towns in Kansas seemed Of greater in
terest to him and to Mrs. Campbell, to
whom he read now and then, items of
local news. than the possibilities Of
war with Mexico or the probabilities
of hard times are of interest to me.
Grant township. rural route No. 3.
Liberty. Hackney, Bruce-all gave up
their news to the Campbell family.
Then the congressman tackled the
news from Austin, Ladore, Mound VAL
ley, Altoona, ChautauQua Springs, and
was in the midst Of Buffalo Brevi-
ties" when Mrs. Campbell announced
breakfast.
Breakfast With Phil Campbell.
1t was my second breakfast for the
day, and before got through with
my task, was glad had had it. We
had toast and bacon and coffee. 1t
was a happy American family-the
congressman, his wife and three girls
that met at the breakfast table. Mrs.
u
1 acquainted her with my intention.
and asked If I was fond of walking.
The Significance of her query did not
hit me with proper force until later
in the evening.
up and at EN-" was the slogan for
the day. II have not much to do this
morning-things seem dull, said the
CONGRESSMAN as we left his home and
started to walk for the war depart
ment. II have a little business at the
war department. then at the treas
ury, and before go up to the capitol
I must go by the postofice depart
ment. / like to be on hand at my
first port Of call in the morning at 9
o'clock"-that's the hour the gov
ernment opens up its departments for
business.
Promptly at o'clock we reached
the Office of the adjutant general in
the war department building. There
the congressman made personal ap-
peal for a young fellow of his dis
trict who is in a military prison serv-
ing time for desertion. The treasury
department was stop number two.
We cut through the White House
grounds, and in passing the executive
Offices the Kansas member was pleas
antly hailed by Judge Clayton of
Alabama, Senator Stone of Missouri.
bers who were hustling to be on hand
early when the president got down to
his desk and took up the great Ques-
ton Of slicing the patronage pie.
Secretary of the Treasu ry McAdoo
seemed mighty pleased to see Mr..
Campbell He greeted him with a
pleasant smile, a hearty handshake.
and promised to do what he could to
have government deposits given to
banks in the Campbell district Then
we rushed upstairs to the office OF the
supervising architect to see about the
work on the government buildings at
Arkansas City. Winfield and Chanute.
Puts On More Speed.
By this time it was past the half
hour Of nine O'Clock. Mr.. Campbell
seemed warmed up to a higher speed
his regular working speed. 1 found
out later. We scrambled out OF the