Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-02-19
[By oliver Owen Kuhn.]

Ever heard Of it? 1t has no consti-
tutional foundation, neither is i. de-
scribed in great educational works on
the American government. But it has
existed almost from the time the great
national legislative body was estab-
lished. 1t is more powerful today than
at any time in the history of the ma
ton. The American people deal with
it more directly than they do with the
regularly prescribed house and senate.
It's acts are felt in the remotest corners
Of the land. 1t never fails 1t is con-
stantly at the beck and call of every
citizen. 1t never betrays trust. It's
watchword Is efficiency. It's pleasure
is to please
It is composed of that little army Of
men and women who act as secretaries
to the members of the house Of repre-
sentatives and the senate.
It is the secretary to a congressman
who not infrequently is the congress-
man: 1t is he whose acts often times
ELECT his employer as in eight cases
out of every ten he cares for 60 per
cent of his employers business. The
secretary becomes an astute politician,
a man who can handle men and letters
with an almost uncanny intuitive
knowledge of what is right and what
is wrong and what would be to the adj
vantage or disadvantage of thes one
who signs himself NJ. G. or senator. He
must be diplomat of the first water.
Industry must ever be his first consid-'
Grafton. =.
During every session of congress, it
can be safely stated one third of the
members of the house and senate give
their secretaries free rein in handling
details of state and district business
with the national government which in
realty form about two-thirds of any
legislators responsibilities. The de-
mands from ''home folks" are multi
tudinous. Were the individual con-
gresham or senator to handle every
minor detail, they would have time
for nothing else but these matters.
Some of them, however, follow just
this course of procedure. But the ideal
secretary, the one who is part of this
great third house" is the man with
initiative, one who can care for such
matters as come to the office of his
employer without distracting the lat
ter's attention from more important at
fairs; he is the man who without con-
sulting member of congress-he gen.
orally knowing full we'll the views and
opinions of his employer on almost all
subjects-can take up and successfully
handle almost any details with ex
ecutive departments of the govern
ment that might arise. no matter how
far-reaching their ramifications or i'm
portant successful action might bear
on the standing Of a congressman or
senator in his state. The good secre-
tary is a man who is able to peruse the
newspapers of his" district or state
and not only successfully analyze the
trend Of current political events at
home, but who has enterprise and abil-
ity enough to either personally weigh
them and act accordingly, or. who can
act in the role of an adviser to his
employer. He. must greet and enter
tain constituents from home He Is
shrewd enough to keep propagandists
and others from occupying too much Of
his employers time.
The secretary's position in it's rela-
ton to the average senator or con-
gresham Is as the governor on an en-
CINE. He regulates the speed with
which things are accomplished. HI
keeps things running smoothly, much
Of the time at the dictation of his en-
ployer. more of the time on his own
initiative.
A congressman was passing thru the
corridors OF the capitol one day when
hailed by a constituent from "back
home"
congressman" he said, II want to
take this occasion to personally thank
you for your very great assistance in
getting the rural route tangle straight
ened out over at Berrytown. The farm
ers are very much pleased with your
work in the case"
"Oh, yes" the national solon replied,
just a little puzzled. "We-hm-hm-
that is. I. had some difficulty in get
ting it arranged, but hope the mat
ter is all adjusted satisfactorily to
every one" X 4s.ss d. /. ,,-8s, !.
When that congressman got back to
his office he turned to his secretary
and asked:
Say. Bob, what about that rural
route matter over in Kendall county.
Did we fix it up? And, by the way
what was it?'
"Oh yes" responded the secretary,
Il went to the department and got it
fixed, per demand, they not liking the
present schedules and wanting star
route in one section. Thought you
would not want to be bothered"
This is but one instance of the way a
secretary cares for the interest of his
employer. While in this case it was a
rural route squabble, petty probably
from a congressman's standpoint, there