The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-01
THE TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INTERPRETATIONS BUREAU
BY FREDERIC j. HAsKIN. Director.
Washington, d. @.
A GATHERING OF THE GREAT.

here a local paper solemnly printed
the news that a boy throwing stone
at a dog on Pennsylvania avenue had
hit three brigadier generals.
Washington, which was then really
nothing but a country town with the
capital somewhat anonymously sn-
perimposed upon its provincial Qui-
etude, had never seen such gather
ing Of military and political talent as
she great crisis brought together. But
the hange which came over the ante
belluIn capital of 81 was nothing to
that which has been wrought in the
past year. If that same urchin could
cast his missile today and hit nothing
more han a few brigadier generals,
it would be q poor day for notables.
He ought, at the very least, to bag
two or three titled commissioners
from foreign countries, a couple of
admlrals, with perhaps an American
millionaire and a famous writer
thrown in for variety.
A Museum of Greatness.
For the mighty of the earth have
flocked to Washington since war was
declared in a way that has made it
veritable museum of greatness. Of
course there are the foreign missions,
to begin with, who have come for the
most part on financial business con-
nected with our foreign loans. These
emissaries of international co-opera-
ton have added a touch of variety to
the Washington scene with their
strange uniforms, have made some ex-
cellent speeches and given the society
editors of the local papers some diff
ficult stunts in spelling; but numeri-
cally they are nothing to the array of
native talent which has gathered here
from all parts of the country. 1t has
long been a favorite plant with critics
of our system of government that it
does not bring to it's service the really
first class brains of the nation. Con-
gress, we have often been told, is
merely a gathering of mediocrities-of
lawyers who didn't make good at the
law-though SO well qualified an OBJ
server as Uncle Joe" Cannon of Illi-
nois has testified to the contrary that
success as a congressman demands
unusual qualifications In general,
however, those who hold that the
men of greatest ability prefer bust
ness to politics seem to have won the
argument. The organization of each
succeeding administration has brought
forth the lament that men of larger
caliber" could not be found for the
upon which the destinies of the nation
largely depend.
Every Variety of Talent.
Whatever of truth there may have
been in this contention in the past, it
has certainly lost all force now. Every
variety of talent, genius and distinc-
ton in the country has offered it's
services to the government. Each
new committee, commission and board
that has been organized for war work
has had an embarrassment of riches in
the way of proven ability from which
to choose. The small salaries paid by
the government, which have often
why men of capacity would not enter
politics, apparently have no influence
in the matter. Mi1lionaires working
for a dollar year, or some other
nominal sum, are with US literally in
crowds, and many of them sit at I'M
important desks When the second
liberty loan was being sold, a COM
mittee went about the government de-
partments soliciting subscriptions from
all of the employees. A certain very
minor clerk was overlooked until the
last because he had such an exceed
ingly modest position, and an equally
modest mien. 1t seemed shame to
ask this man, who probably strug-
Cling to support a wife and six chill
dren on the stipend of a c1erkship, to
invest his scant savings in bonds. But
fearing that he might feel injured if
he was overlooked entirely, one of the
committee finally approached him on
the matter.
What can you really afford, Bill?'
was his conciliating' question.
Dill LOOK OUT d Ddnk DOCK ana QlQ
a little figuring.
'I guess that can take three hun
little more later on" Bill explained.
Expense No Object
OF course the traditional seedy gov
eminent clerk is still with US, altho
his seediness has been somewhat nit
igated by raises of salary; but in
many of the wer-time Organizations
there is plenty of material evidence
that expense is no object" Such in
dispensable enterprises as the Red
Cross and others which have been or
ganized without aid from the regular
cially prosperous look. Nor are they
undermined. Even the corridors of
their establishments are crowded with
well gromed and industrious volunteer
workers. 1t might be added that nei-
ther are they underwomanned. The
seeker after information often finds
that the incumbent of some desk with
an imposing title is a member of the
more 1ntuitiye sex who keeps a sur
prising number of facts and ideas I'M
der a hat of the very latest style.
The part that big business is play
ing in the organization of America for
war is now well known. The public,
after momentary shock, has become
accustomed to the idea that one of
wall streets most spectacular plung-
ers is engaged in periodically corner
ing what the government needs in the
way of metals; that railroad presi-
dent trained in long warfare with the
interstate commerce commission is
now one of its most trusted allies in
solving the problems of traffic to
which the war has given rise; that
one of the greatest retail merchants
in America has placed his expert
judgment in the matter of unshrink-
able woolens at the disposal of the
president
The Cream of Journalism.
Less familiar is the extent to which
the artistic and intellectual classes
have rallied round the war standard.
One single war organization which
has for it's purpose to give the public
correct information about what the
government is doing and intends to
do has taken unto itself the cream of
the journalistic world man who