The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-11

1
67th congress is now three months
| old SO tar as its active work Is
concerned. New members to the
number of 122-a record crop OF
.Saby" congresSmen-are by now
we'll started on the road to tht
knowledge that there is tremen'
dous difference between State
street back home and Pennsylva'
MIA avenue in Washington. The1l
importance in their own eyes has
steadily shrunk since their advent
here. They have not reformed the
government, restored Liberty bonds
to par, shaken the capitol dome
with fiery oratory, or accomplished
any other of their many dreams
One excellent reason is that the
congressional system does not per
nit it, and they have not had a
chance.
A famous New York editor. when
asked some years ago what COM
pensation a senator received. re-
piled, Five thousand dollars a
year and the privilege of member
ship in the greatest club in the
world" House membership has
never been defined so concisely
1t might wen be compared to the
public schools of England. The
new boy has to go through many
soul crushing experiences before
he finds his proper level
Trace the career of new mem
Der. He has come successfully
through hot campaign on top of
a successful primary fight. He is
the big man-~of his. community.
The fates have put upon his Shout
ders the responsibility of leaping
to the quarterback of the ship of
state, wrestling the wheel from the
incompetent hands which have held
it, and guiding the vessel safely
away from the perilous shoals
which threaten.
The president has called a spe-
Cial session of congress. The
rookie, who ordinarily would bask
in the sunshine of hometown adu-
lation for more than a year before
coming to Washington, packs up
his belongings and prepares to go
to the capital to put the govern
ment on it's feet again.
The boys parade to the station, |
bearing their standard bearer aloft |
on their shoulders. Banners and !
a brass band go before, and wor- /
constituents follow. He !
makes a speech-the last one he |
will make for many months. He t
is wildly cheered and is presented i
with a floral horseshoe, paid for |
jointly by the John @. Smith March /
ing club. the volunteer fire depart !
nent and the gentleman who ex
poets to be appointed postmaster.
The trip to Washington endureS |
90 long for this statesman to keep |
lis identity secret. In the smoking
'oom or the dining car he finds Oc-
;asion to tell one or more-prefer-
ably more-of his casual train &C
Iuaintances that he is a member
If congress on his way to Wash
ngton. Polite interest is aroused.
Perhaps he is told what congress
ought to do about the tariff, and
he gets a lot of advice
bout taxes from gentlemen whose
My knowledge of taxation is what
hey have to pay on the 18th day of
Iarch each year and quarterly
hereafter
The prideful young man alights
/ the Union station in Washington. |
With a lordly air he indicates tot
n approaching red cap porter that
e will permit him to carry his bag. |
he porter appears to be making
Or him, respect and subservience
vident on his ebony features. He
oes right on by, though, and Gag
rly snatches two suitcases from
fat shoe drummer who makes
Washington twice a month, and is
lways good for a quarter tip. This I
the first tiny pin-prick in the
alloon of pride. |;
Eventually securing a porter our !
ero emerges from the station and
Jews for the first time the inspiring [
ONE of the capitol, the scene of his s
lboTs henceforth, the particular
-elkin designed for ringing to the {
ratory bubbling within him. Re |
he withdraws his gaze,
onors the perspiring porter with a |
ell-worn dime for which he~gets {
can't acknowledgment, and starts
way to a hotel.
Where We're the RepOrters7 &
At the hotel he gets scant atten-
on. He manages to let the room {
ERIK know that he is a congress I
an. The clerk merely looks bored '
a room is assigned to r
I'M. All evening the rookie repre-
remains in the lobby or a
his room. He wants to be ac- Z
,ssible TO the reporters. a a
Now comes his first real Jolt. Not [
lily do the reporters somehow fail O