The Mankato free press., 1916-11-24
America ReveIing in Vast
Wealth and Luxury
WHAT MAY BE RESULT
Likely to See "The Handwriting
On WaII";; Social Life In
Washington
From Fridays Daily.

That congress is about to face the
most serious situation that has evel
confronted this nation since the Civil
war was a declaration made by Con-
gressman F. F. Ellsworth in an ad-
dress last evening at a public meet
ing held at the congregational
church under the auspices of the
Mems Friendly group of that con-
gregation.
Mr.. Ellsworth ikened the situa-
ton of the American people now ia
that OF King Belshazzar, reveling in
his prosperity, just before his fall. He
feared that, Americans, now reyel-
ing in wealth and luxury, would soon
see some Handwriting on the WALL
he spoke OF the great wealth of
America, and the comparative pow
erty of the nation of Europe at pres
ent engaged in the life and death
struggle. These peoples, whose liv-
ing wants were reduced to the barest
necessities of keeping life going,
would commence a commercial in
vasion of America at the close of the
war. All would seek to obtain part
of Americas wealth.
cies of the American government
would be of the most tremendous i'm
portance. The congressman would be
face to face with the perplexing
problem of guarding the American
people and at the same time doing
what was right to make it possible
for the nations on the other side of
the water to work out their saliva
tlon. In the midst of such problems.
he said, the congressman would be
deeply appreciative of the assistance
and cooperation of their constitu-
ents.
Speaking Of the richness of Ameri-
ca, Mr.. Ellsworth declared that in
America alone, with it's one hundred
millions of people, there were more
automobiles than in all of the rest of
the world combined. This was the
only country in the world, where the
common people could afford to have
their own private cars.
Social Life in Washington.
Mr.. Ellsworth spoke at some
length on the social life in Washing
ton. He said that one feature that
pleased him especially was the fact
that wealth made no difference in the
social standing of any person 1t
was based upon merit, on character
and on accomplishment.
He told of the Congressional club,
a social body, whose membership in
cluded wives of congressman, wives
of senators, wives of judges of the
supreme court and wives of members
of the presidents cabinet. This body
frequently gave receptions at which
they entertained men in official life
at Washington. Sometimes army and
navy officers were invited. He de-
clared that a reception to the Off
GERS of the army and navy was most
beautiful and inspiring affair.
Mr.. Ellsworth said these Washing
ton receptions to officials were high
ly thought of by the wealthiest fam
lilies of New York and elsewhere.
An invitation to White House So
cial event was highly priced by the
greatest multimillionaires of the
country and never turned down by
them.
The congressman spoke of the
strange stories that are sometimes
printed in the large newspapers of
the country about odd doings in con-
gress that either never happened, or
the accounts of which were grossly
distorted and exaggerated He spoke
particularly of a recent article in The
Washington Post, describing "pan-
demonium in the house of represen-
tatives' and telling how members
Jumped up on their desks" when
really the desks for members
been dispensed with.
Some SoIons Bide Their Time.
Mr. Ellsworth divided the con-
gressmen into two classes, those
who pushed themselves forward and
those who bided their time, and let
their influence gradually grow. Those
new members who pushed them
selves forward quickly lost caste and
those who bided their time had the
satisfaction of seeing their influence
grow steadily from day to day. Con-
gressmen were gradually promoted
in the various committees to which
they belonged, at in time, an old
member would be likely to be made
chairman of the committee in which
he had had his experience, if his
party dominated the house.
The speaker told of the practical
difficulties in getting bills passed and
of the vast number that went to
sleep in committees and were for
gotten.
He called attention to the fact that
there was not now much lobbying in
congress, as there used to be. Great
business interests, who had certain
propositions which they wished to
push in congress, now appealed more
directly to the voters. Literature was
being sent to bankers, school men
and other men of influence in each
congressional district by the cor
porations who desired certain things,
and attempts were thus made to
bring pressure to bear upon congress
through the voting citizens them
selves.
There Is Subsidized Press.
He said that the charge of sub
sidized press was not without foun-
dation. There certainly was sub
sidizede press. He said he understood
that as many as 1873 great newspap-
ers of the country were paid for
boosting the cause of preparedness
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