Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-21

WY ASHINGTON, D. c., May 19.-With
| wv the opening in the house office build
ing of gymnasium, supported by
personal contributions from 40 congressman,
the physical culture movement seems to have
struck Capitol hill full force
| Perhaps the sudden interest of the congress
men in the their physical condition is not
| hard to explain. They have recently been
holding hearings in the committee on educa-
| ton on bill to establish a nationwide system
| of physical culture, and the figures showing
the need for such measure have been truly
alarming. They show that large percent
| age of American men are physically unfit, and
that among sedentary workers, lack of exer-
| else and of fresh air are the big causes. We
| have conquered germs only to let our livers
and hearts and other vital organs degenerate
| for lack of an occasional shaking up.
| The congressman and senator are the sed-
entary men par excellence. Sitting is their
! business. A congressman's reputation de-
| ponds partly on how much time he spends sit
| ting in the house, and when he leaves there
he goes to his office and sits down and spends
four hours debating letters, explaining that
| the garden seeds all gone and why he
could not recommend fifteen men for one
| DOStmaSterShip.
| Formerly oratory gave the legislator all the
| exercise he needed. Men like Daniel Webster
and Henry Clay used to get up a good sweat
every time they addressed the house. Then
| they would take plunge in the Potomac and
a rundown, and so keep in the best of trim.
| But the style of oratory has changed. There
| is not as much swinging and hammering and
waving as there used to be. Oratory can no
| longer take the place of the setting up exer-
| else. And members of the house. especially,
| do not get the chance to talk often enough to
keep them in really good trim. The congress-
man says few words and then extends his
remarks in the Record. The oratons that
the home folks read are delivered only to
| stenographers or even written with lead
pencil
Hence the need for the congressional gym
nasium, which has recently been opened on
the first floor of the house office building
in space formerly occupied by the Demo
| cratic national committee.
Fighting Congressman
The idea is credited to Representative Brit
ten, of Illinois, and Reed, of New York. Aft
er the balance of the 140 congressional ath-
letes had signified their willingness to take
part in the plan, each was assessed $40. With
this money Representative Britten managed
to obtain complete equipment for the gym
| nasium.
For the legislator who seeks diversion OF
exercise, there is provided handbaH court
| three rowing machines, two punching bags
wrestling mat, horizontal bars abdomina
massage machines, gymnasium "horse," and
any number of medicine balls, fencing foils
masks and breast plates. In addition, there
are lockers, shower baths, a steam room, rub
bling tables, and an electric cabinet bath.
The gym" idea was conceived during the
last session of congress, and the money FOL
the euuipment collected. Every day there 1
spasmodic use of the gymnasium, but 1t Il
planned now to have regular classes to WhlI
congressmen into good trim. The two origin
ators of the plan with Representative New
ton, of Minnesota have been named as com
mittee to get in touch with the athletic au
thorities of the navy, marine corps, ana
GEORGETOWN university, with view to secur
ing the services of the best athletic coaching
available. It is planed to hold this class II
the morning, due to the embarrassment Whlcf
might result from roll call interruptlng al
afternoon class, dragging nearly naked states
men from their violent physical eXertlons
forcing them to dress hurriedly, dash over tt
the Capitol and answer to their names.
It is not expected that the full lao sub
scribers to the fund for the equipment o
the gymnasium will take advantage OF tn
opportunity a coached class in physical cul
ture will offer them. Some of the older mem
bers will not attend, and many of the hous
leaders contributed with no idea Of being
: able to devote a definite fraction of thel
time to being put into good bodily trim.
Captain John Craige, of the marine corps
! will have general supervision of the physica
Il work of the statesmen when the class il
formed. He is an overseas veteran, and now
in addition to being one of the aides to Ma
= ior General Lojeune, ccInmandant Of the ma
irine corps, is athletic officer of the corps. He