Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-11-30

Yr7ASHINGTON, D. c., Nov 25-During the
w early days of the Civil war when the Union
army was being organized here, local
paper solemnly printed the news that boy throw
ing stone at dog on Pennsylvania avenue mad
hit three brigadier generals
Washington, which was then really nothing but
a country town with the capital somewhat incon-
gruously superimposed upon its provincial qule-
tude, had never such gathering OF military
and political talent the great crisis brought TO-
gether. But the change which came over the ante
bellum capital of siXty-one was nothing to that
which has been wrought in the past year. If that
same urchin could cast his missile today and MT
nothing than u few brigadier generals, 1t
would be poor day for notables. He ought, at
the very least, to bag two or three titled commits
SlonerS from foreign countries, couple or al
mirals, with perhaps American millionaire and
famous writer thrown in for variety.
For the mighty of the earth have focked TO
Washington since war was declared in way that
has made it a veritable museum of greatness. or
course, there are the foreign missions, to begin
with, who have come for the most part on financial
business connected with our foreign loans. These
emissaries of international cooperation have added
a touch of variety to the Washington scene with
their strange uniforms, have made some excellent
speeches and given the society editors of the local
papers difficult stunts in spelling; but numer-
caly they nothing to the array of native talent
which has gathered here from all parts of the
country: 1t has long been favorite plant with
critics of system of government that it does
not bring to its service the really frsclass brains
OF the nation Congress, We have often been told
is merely a gathering of mediocrties-of lawyers
who didn't make good at the law-though we'll
qualified observer Uncle Joe" Cannon or
Illinois, has testified to the contrary that
a congressman demands unusual qualifications
In general, however, those who hold that the
of greatest ability prefer business to politics seeh
to have the argument. The organization OF
each succeeding administration has brought forth
the lament that men of larger caliber' could
be found for the cabinet portfolios and other posi-
tons upon which the destinies of the nation largely
depend.
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 its services to- the
government. Each committee, commission
and board that has been organized for 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
been referred to of the reasons why men of
capacity would not enter politics, apparently have
influence in the matter. Millonaires working
for dollar a year, other nominal sum,
with us literally in crowds and many of them
sit at unimportant desks. When the second Liberty
loan was being sold a committee went about the
government departments soliciting subscriptions
from all of the employees. A certain very minor
clerk was overlooked until the last because he had
such exceedingly modest position, and
equally modest mien It seemed shame to ask
this man, who probably struggling to support
wife and six children the stipend of clerk
ship, to invest his scant savings in bonds. But
fearing that he might feel injured if he was