Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-10
BUSINESS OF
MAKING WAR
Congressman Have to Take a
Back Seat While the Depart
ments Organize the Coun-
try for Conflict
By JAMES NJ. BENNETT
Evening Ledger star Correspondent

WASHINGTON, July 10.
UNHE nations capital in the time Of war |!
i with the crushing Of Prussianism and
the placing Of democracy on the throne OF
world affairs as their object thousands
upon thousands OF Americans are here In
the city Of the seat OF the Government
True. many come in search Of the dirty,
delusive dollar" but the majority Amer
leans all, are in Washington to show their
patriotism
The crank and the job-seeker are here
in horde5. but they get little attention.
Washington is too busy. Americans are
going in for the bigger and the better things
that the world has to offer.
old King Booze is topping on his throne
and a sober, thinking, strong, working
force Of Americans is crowding in to help
the country in its tlme'of need
Soldiers and sailors are everywhere
There's no class distinction in ;he big
hotels, the fashionable restaurants and the
theatres The enlisted man rubs elbows
with the officer Of high rank and all men,
Of all arms Of the service, are regarded
as equals.
The Flag Is Everywhere
And the Flag-"your Flag and my Flag :"
1t floats over the Capitol and 1t flies from
the homes Of the rich and It waves proudly
from the windows Of the novels in the alleys
in the poorer sections Of the city that is
throbbing with the rush of war
Never in its long, long history has
Washington been so busy. II you have
business here, prepare yourself for stay
OF several days II you want to see
any one Of Importance i'm the admnistra-
ton of public affairs And the higher up
the individual with whom you have bust
ness the more clothing you are advised
to pack into your grip. for you will be
here several days If you are determined
to get the ear of the heads Of depart
ments
In many instances appointments are made
days ahead and then It happens they are
postponed If the pressure Of immediate
business is too great
Folks back home" have traditional
belief that "Our Congressman" has that
mysterious thing called pull" and can do
wonderful things when it comes to putting
matters over" and inducing heads of de-
partments and chiefs of bureaus to listen
with an attentive and needing ear to their
plans, which include everything from de-
vices TO crush the U-boat menace to pro-
vding n new style of washer for Gov
ernment automobiles.
Our Congressman" has lost much Of
his drag" He's as suave as ever His
hand is eager 10 grasp the fist of a friend
from the Eleventh Ward" but when II
comes to the real work OF making the
higher-ups do things" our Congressman"
occupies a back seat. The President, his
Cabinet the various boards are running the
war.
our Congressman" gets his opportunity
to vote on various bills. He still has the
right TO make speeches and have them
printed In the Congressional Record He's
busy writing letters to Cabinet chiefs and
even to the President The typewriters of
the secretaries to the Congressman click
merrily as these men write something like
this: Il have the honor to introduce Mr..
-, one Of our leading citizens and
party workers He wants -" Then fol-
lows what the constituent wants" But
does he get It? He has about as much
chance as the Belgian army had Of stop
ping the Germans.
Patronage Letters Unopened
7 was in the office of a high official a
day or two ago when ne pointed to a pile
OF letters on table. They were tied with
nice red tape They were from "our Con-
gressman" from all parts Of the country
Not one had been opened.
why said the official, 'If 1 opened all
the letters that came from Congressman
would have to hire a couple more secre-
taries." And so, Our Congressman" true
patriot that he is, doesn't "cut much ice"
War is taxing the nerves Of newspaper
men and giving them the battle of their
lives right here in Washington Secrecy
necessary to the safety of American forces
has tested their patriotism. And they have
not been found wanting.
News is difficult to obtain Hours often
pass while newspaper correspondents cool
their heels in outside offices and some
times chat with stenographers while they
walt for interviews with high officials.
What are the fruits il. many cases Of
these long hours OF waiting and tests of
patience? Often they are rewarded" with
curt nod Of the head sometimes with A
loud mo" and occasionally with I'm sorry,
but can't talk about that"
Rival News Bureaus
Then the newspaper men are "on the
firing line" OF war" between some of
the departments-George Creel's comnit
tee on public information doesn't hand
out" all the dope" There's a tangle with
the State Department-Secretary Lansing
passes out his own information to the
writer's. Secretaries Daniels and Baker
continue to work with the Committee on
Public Information, but it's all like a Ger
man trench in France-"no one knows how
long it will hold"
And in all the hurly-burly comes the lob
seeker. The Government needs throngs and
throngs Of workers, but many who think
Uncle Sam can't get along without them
come here, stay few DAYS, or in a word
they blow in, blow up and blow out" (;
broke, It is true, but "sadder and wiser
men.
What of the wealthy men who have
dropped their big affairs and hastened Ia
Washington 10 help their country? Hun.
dreds of them are here, earning nothing
asking but one thing-a chance to place
their wealth, their time and their talents al
the service Of the nation. These are the
men who have needed Americas call and
remembered that
High and low all must go!
Hark to the shout or war!