Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-07-11
By Robert T. Barry

GONE day, perhaps, some newspaper
man In Washington will tire OF
the pork, pifle and politics which con-
etitute the basic elements in news
from the capital.
He will sicken Of rewriting depart
mental Handouts" and lose his temper
over new plans for development Of tho
Balkan States in Europe, and the
Trinity River in Texas; of export en-.
bargoes on knitting needles to the
South Sea islands; of translating
speeches of congressman into English.
He will give his typewriter the
chance to spell Truth, and we will get
answer to many questions that long
have vexed the public mind. We will
learn many things. Among them may
be the name of the Congressman who
collects cigar stubs from Capitol cor.
ridors to smoke In his corncob pipe,
and Of the gossip which cabinet ladies'
exchange over their teacups.
We may learn something Of Presi.
dent Wilson'S golf score; of Senator
'Jtm" Reeds cordial dislike for Her.
bert Hoover and who wins the money
tn the senatorial poker games. We
may be informed as to the cause OF
Josephus Daniels's belief that greater
vice stalks abroad in Philadelphia than
ever shamed the halls Of the ancient
rulers. Tho mystery Of Colonel House
ma be solved to the satisfaction even
Of readers Of the Sunday supplement.
The next day that reporter viii be
fred. ,..
Having neither funds nor pride he
viii become q magazine writer, and
his downward career from the high es.
tate OF the press gallery will begin with
q real story Of your capital, your
Washington. His first effort doubtless
will be a protest against the suhservi-
ence Of the published word to real
estate interests which have dominated
your capital from the day they gobbled
the property that George Washington
intended for the city proper and forced
development to proceed from the back
door of the Capitol instead Of to the
east, where armed freedom might gaze
upon It from her watchtower On the
Rreat white dome.
City Of Lost Hopes
He win tell you a story Of a city Of
loneliness, Of shattered hopes and
dreams, of lost ambitions and broken
lives, Of fortunes that were never
made, Of silly shams and foolish
castles.
Go with him to Union Station, where
Christopher Columbus is memorialized
because he had no ambition to "go to
Washington" being content with Sal
yador.
lnside the ooncourse Of tn, terminal
he will show you W women. One is
pretty-they have to be in such stories
land young and altogether attractive
IN her read7.made suit and new tan
uxfords. She might be saleslady, show
GIRL or normal school graduate: Gree
Or Amaryllis or Anita Stewart. Her
cheeks are flushed; her eyes bright:
her whole bearing expressive Of con-
tdhtment. The road she views ahea1
- strewn with the blossoms Of hope
ana q career.
The other Is old. The picture Is not
90 pretty. She might well be well-bred.
but reduced by poverty to s~habbiness.
Annie Russell could do her fne in a
play. Her shoes, like her illusions, are
d down at the heels. The light in
her eyes fickers with the sad brilliance
of 1 gas jet In the hall Of q cheap
rooming house. Her cheeks are sal.
low and carry the lines inscribed by
the parents Of age-time and a
The road she faces IL short. II there
IS roses there they are dead and with
cred. Only briars remain.
Then the reporter will tell you that
M pretty girl has just arrived In
washington to accept q position a. Q
xoyernment clerk. The other has just
Iost one. Ono cherishes . telegram
from the civil service commission m.
nouncing her appointment; the other
1uufbles a notice Of dismissal. One
atnnds ct the smtrance 70 federal en-
pjoyment; the other has just emerged
frurp the back door.
HArhaps, your informant VIII ten