Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-01-06

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. did you ever
w some to Washington in search OF lob;
contract or some information? Did
you ever wander in the bewildering corridors
of its numerous and scattered buildingSi DID
YOU ever sit patiently in the ante-roomS of its
offcialdom? Were you ever passed, Ike the
prov erbial buck, from one Dreoccupied gen
tlerlan to another, each of whom thought the
other fellow was just the man you were look
ing for?
If so, you will be interested in little item
which the United States government has pub
lished in its own newspaper, the United States
Bulletin, entitled, like this brochure, "Doing
Businesses in Washington and bearing the
subhead Find Out Who Does Things"
That is indeed a suggestive line The weary
body does things. Each individual whom he
approaches. on given matter loudly protests
his complete innocence of it, and suggests that
somebody else is the right man.
This piece, in which the government explains
how it should be approached, goes on to
say: ain order to accomplish things IN Wash
ing;on, it is necessary to know only few
people. These must be The right poop and
you must know them we'll"
1t is encouraging to know that you dc not
require an extensive acquaintance in the capital
in order to accomplish anything there, but the
second requirement is a bit of damper. You
must know the right people and know them
we'll In a word you must have good friends
in high places At least that seems to be the
implication. 1t is rather more than suggested
that what you need is small but efficient
pull.
The item goes on to say that cabinet mem
berS and bureau chiefs are the keys to the
departments, and that If you know them, and
presumably know them we'll, you are all right.
The keys to the mysteries of congress are the
committee chairman, it says. Cultivate them
and win their love, and you can do business
with congress.
"The Way to the White House," it crypt
cally adds, 'is to form an acquaintance or
friendship with one of the cabinet members
This is all very we'll and to some extent
true. But how many of us have time or op-
portunity to cultivate these undeniably useful
connections with parsons in high places? The
inventor who comes to Washington with
model, the manufacturer WHO wants some in
formation, about his business, the newspaper
or magazine man looking for story, the chap
who wants a job or contract or a bulletin
or a tulip bulb, cannJt always get on billiard
playing, firSt-name-uSing terms with cabinet OF
ficerS and committee chairmen. The visitor
may not have time for one thing. And what
if the cabinet member who is vital to his pur-
pose does not happen to like him socially, and
refuses to play dominos with him, or to go
out to lunch with him
"The way o form friendship with a bureau
chief" continues his compendium of inside
dope, "iS to do something for him, make your
self of service to him.
inns is Illuminating, out again a tflIIe ulS-
rouraging. 1t suggests that the government
departments are run on the well-known priilll;;
ciple that if you scratch my back, / will
scratch yours A bureau chief 1t is rather
more than implied, will do something for you
if you will do something for him. You may be
fully entitled. as an American citizen, to what
you want, but the sure way to get it is to
make yourself useful to the bureau chief.
1t must be admitted that this is a method
which often works in and out of the capital,
p,14 VxLSfh Nr1xy FoStt da IN
spare, going to make himself useful to bu-
reau chief? What for example, would bu-
reau chief appreciate in the way of service?
To the average mortal the tastes and predlec-
tons of bureau chiefs are bit obscure. Should
one send him a pair OF silk socks, offer him a
cigar, or take him for ride around the speed
way? Surely, it would be unethical for seek
er after legitimate business or information to
offer bureau chief anything very substantial
suggestive of personal IN olument, for the dis
charge of official duty, otherwise known as
graft. How then, is tn bureau chief to be
served and tickled without compromising him