Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-10-22
A PLAYGROUND FOR coNGREssMEN
by Frederic J. IIsskIn


washington, oct. 2f.--Omciai Wash
lngton In at last going 70 become nc
uuainted sll-round. Army chiefs are
going 10 hobnob with Congressman.
Secretaries Of Departments VIII chat
amicably with Senators Wives What
ls even more significant, Senators VIII
meet Representatives, and each VIII,
perhaps, learn something Of the
others work and his point of view.
Appreciation Is going to take the place
Of antagonism between the branches
Of Government.
This millenium-like situation is TO
be brought about by the Congregational
Country club which viii be opened
about the first Of December.
The need for such u club TO pro-
mote better acquaintance is real.
When congressional committees call
/ IN department officials 10 explain de-
partmental matters at hearings. the
atmosphere Is apt TO be slightly chilly.
The CONGRESSMAN. with his eye on the
Federal budget, suspects the depart
ment chief Of wanting more money
or clerks than is necessary. The offl-
cial testifying at the end Of the com
mittee table looks around and wishes
that these lawmakers would have to
run his organization for a week
They'd show more intelligence about
II II they did.
The Congressional Country Club
lis to break the tradation that different
branches OF Government speak diff
ferent languages. On the golf links
In the swimming pool, on horseback
or around the open fire, statesmen wis
have glared at each other may soor
be swapping experiences and jokes.
The new club is needed in Washing
ton from another point OF view. Tn
lCapital has fewer country clubs thai
almost any city Of its size. Waitin
lists Of the three large Clubs are al
ways long. It is said that the cit
could easily build up new club fron
these lists alone.
A Needed Club.
, The congressional club with 8,
prospective membership Of 500 wi
: partly relieve this tense situation
. All Congressman and their wives, Dc
partment heads, and accredited pres
representatives will be eligible. A fe'
hand-painted outsiders win also I
[. admitted on recommendation Of men
g bers. on the whole. though, II is
be a congressional club with on'
+ Congressman for it's officers and boai
?. Of directors.
e The Congressmen's new playgrour
0 consists Of more than 400 acres
valuable land nine miles out Of wasI
r ington. a big. fourteen-room COUNT
). home, now on the grounds, is to
r the clubhouse until o new one can
n built. Bungalows are to be construc
Is ed. too. on the property, for membe
y who may wish TO rent suburban hom
e and be close TO the golf course.
n One ailuring feature that is play
y up by the members who are startiI
n the club is the scenery. The privilel
|" OF looking out on the historic Potomi
and the Virginia hills is alone said
\ be worth the initiation fee. Moreove
;. the highway that runs by the groun,
q is the old Braddock Road on viii,
i Braddock is said to have march,
a with George Washington before q
B. Revolution.
y With this picturesque backgroun
D. the club hopes to develop it's proper
into an estate that will conpa
> favorably with the best country clu
~ anywhere.
. Golf enthusiasts have pronounc
y the prospects for golf course u
Y usual. Devereux Emmett. the W,
% known golf architect. may lay out I
'e course. When Mr.. Emmett was shoy
the grounds he was so impressed wi
= the golfing possibilities that he we
home and wrote the following, viii
= sounds like a testimonial, though
isn't meant for one.
y In all my experience" wrote \
~ 1mmet, II have never seen a fin
= property for the purpose, with such
variety Of contours"
The country club is one Of a numE
- OF projects which have been attempt
. to brighten the lives of Members
- Congress.
re Congressman Stay Here.
a A Congressman has to spend aim,
of all of his time in Washington now
he days. Once representative Of I
as people could be reasonably sure OF
as long session and a short session
set intervals. Now, extra sessions
he low so close on the heels OF adjoul
n ment that the lawnaker has time OF
L. to snatch a few days vacation.
BIC Getting back home is more a dl
lis s----------------.--.....-- -.
by