The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-21
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC j. HASKIN, Director,
Washington, d. C.
CONGRESSIONAL CALIsTHENICs.

seems to have struck Capitol Hill full
force.
Perhaps the sudden interest of the
congressman in their physical condi-
ton is not hard to explain. They
have recently been holding hearings
in the committee on education on
| bill to establish a-nation wide system
of physical culture, and the figures
showing the need fov such measure
have been truly alarming. They show
that a large percentage of American
men are physically unfit, and that
among sedentary workers, lack of ex-
ercise 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 sedentary men par excellence. Sit
ting is their business. A congressman's
reputation depends partly on how
much time he spends sitting in the
house, and when he leaves there he
goes to his office and sits down and
explaining that the garden seeds are
all gone and why he could not recon-
mend Is men for one postmastership.
Formerly oratory gave the legisla-
tor 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 a plunge in the Po-
tomac and rub down, and so keep
in the best of trim.
But the style in oratory has
changed. There is not as much swing
ing and hammering and waving as
there used to be. Oratory can no
longer take the place of the setting
up exercise. And members of the
house, especially, do not get the
chance to talk often enough to keep
them in really good trim. The con-
gresham says a few words and then
extends his remarks in the Record.
The orations that the home folks read
are delivered only to stenographers or
even written with a lead pencil.
Hence the need for the congress
sional gymnasium which has recently
been opened on the first floor of the
house office building in space for
merly occupied by the Democratic ma
tional committee.
A Fighting Congressman.
The idea is credited to Representa-
tives Britten of Illinois and Reed of
New York. After the balance of the
140 congressional athletes had signi-
fled their Willingness to take part in
the plan, each was assessed $40. With
this money Representative Britten
managed to obtain complete equip
ment for the gymnasium.
For the legislator who seeks diver
sion or exercise, there is provided a
handball court three rowing ma
d
mat, horizontal bars, abdominal mas
sage machines, a gymnasium horse,
and any number of medicine balls,
boxing gloves, chest weight pulleys,
Indian clubs dumb bells, fencing foils,
masks, and breast plates. In addition,
there are lockers, shower baths, a
steam room, rubbing tables, and an
electric cabinet bath.
The gym" idea was conceived dur
ing the last session of congress, and
the money for the equipment collected.
Every day there is spasmodic use of
the gymnasium, but it is planned now
to have regular classes to whip con-
gressmen into good trim The two
originators of the plan with Represen-
tative Newton, of Minnesota, have been
named as a committee to get in touch
with the athletic authorities or the
navy, marine corps. and Georgetown
university. with a view to securing the
services of the best athletic coaching
available 1t is planned to hold this
class in the morning, due to the en-
barrassment which might result from
a roll call interrupting an afternoon
class, dragging nearly naked states
men from their violent physical exer-
lions, forcing them to dress hurriedly,
dash over to the capitol, and answer
to their names.
1t is not expected that the full 140
subscribers to the fund for the equip
tent OIL the gymnasium Will take aQ-
vantage of the opportunity a coached
class in physical culture \ will
offer them. Some of the older MEM
bers will not attend, and many of the
house leaders contributed with no idea
of being able to devote a definite
fraction of their time to being put into
good bodily trim.
Captain John Craige, of the marine
corps, will have general supervision of
the physical work of the statesmen
when the class is formed. He is an
overseas veteran, and now. in addi-
ton to being one of the aides to Ma
jor General Lejeune, commandant of
the marine corps, is athletic officer
of the corps. He intends to detail
properly qualified enlisted men of the
organization if they are found to be
available.
A Famous Coach.
Captain Craige entered the marine
corps during the late war. His Prov
ess as an amateur boxer is well known.
In addition to attaining laurels in
this field, he assisted in training of
three middleweight champions of the
world
Boxing bids fair to take a prominent
part in the activities of the house
gymnasium devotees. One of the orig
inators of the gymnasium plan, Repre-
sentative Britten, has an enviable rec
ord as an amateur boxer, broad
Jumper, ana Spflnler. he SI1li Keeps
himself in first class Shape all the
time. doing considerable amount of
handball playing and boxing.
Mr.. Britten and Colonel Theodore
Roosevelt, new assistant secretary of
the navy. have agreed to a friendly
bout with the gloves at the house
gym. Colonel Roosevelt by the way,
is the only man outside the member
ship of the house who has been ad-
mitted to membership in the gymna-
SUM. Only the fixing of a time con-
venient to Secretary Roosevelt re-
mains in the way of these men COM
ing together.
Secretary Roosevelt has led the
strenuous life" advocated by his dis
tinguished father, and has engaged in
great manS glove encounters with
the late ex-president However, in
tack1ing Representative Britten. he
will have his hands uncomfortab1y full.
altho he, will have the advantage of