Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-03-26
SENATOR kENYoN'S CRITICISM
or WASHINGTON LIFE PROVES
-g9s t
TO BE JUSTIFIED.
WORK or LEGISLATION
FREQUENTLY Numbered
Members Of Congress Must Either
Neglect eusiness Of sueeumb to Nsr-
vous Strain If Social Side Of Life
in Capital 10 Mst-Fsw Men Can
Can Stand Strain.
Especial correspondence.1


Washington. March 26.-When Sem
ator Kenyon recently declared that
public men in Washington were giving
too much time to dinners and other
social functions and that 1t was hurt
ing the public service loud cry OF
protest went up from some quarters.
Senator Kenyon was abiding in part
to members OF the senate and house
and in part to members of the cabinet
and public officials generally.
Nevertheless, in spite of the protest.
it is well-known by those familiar With
Washington that what the senator
said about excess of attention to So
cial affairs had much truth in it. The
stress of dinner giving and Of attend
ing dinners given by others and OF
other social functions breaks down not
only many men in Congress but in 9TH
er phases OF Official life or, If it does
not, break them down, is hurtful to
their usefulness.
An Illustration.
AS an illustration of this, member
of the cabinet told his own experience
&c. single evening. He attended
reception early in the evening. From
there he hurried away to fashionable
dinner. After that. he had to attend
still another function and was expected
to make q speech. He got home a
little before midnight ond then, In Or
der to saYe himself from too early
grave, went thru certain physical ex-
ercises which he had had laid down
for himself by an expert.
This official is one Of the most haro
working and conscientious men IN
public life in Washington. However
he knows and everybody else know
that between his official burdens and
his social burdens he Is OVERRIDING.
And he is only one of numerous otnef
similarly conditioned.
Once in a while man can be founo
who can stand UP unde. this sort OK
thing without having his health or MS
work affected. President Taft was a
marve, in this respect. He was tono
Of social life and it didn't seem TO set
on his nerves. President Wilson mas
not so powerful a constitution as ms
predecessor and keeps out OF socia'
functions for the most part. Never
theless. there are certain oohsations
he can not ignore and the result
that the social stress adds much TO the
tax upon him.
Social Demands Constant
Senators and members OF the mouse :
are in constant demand at dinners anu
other affairs 4 congressman Is sup
posed always to have speech on zap,
No old timer about Washington nesu
be told of the number OF men IN W.
legislative branch who have gone 70
their graves because Of their 100 slea.
fondness for the table or OF the rae
that the business of congress mas
WAYS sadly suffered from this cause
not less than on the men. Is tn ~
sort Of thing tax on their wives ~
TO certain point. the women as lut.
enjoy washington life. Many a MAJ
,s kept in congress not because he
cares to stay but because his wiie IN.
sists. But on the other hand. the we
of prominent public men IN "ashins
ton an rule find the NECESSARY
mands on them trying and IN some ~
stances unbearable. The list OF nei.
vons breakdowns in any season 0''-
the near breakdowns is long one.