The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-05-20

Warrington. D. C., May 1s.-with
the opening in the house once
building Of . gymnasium support
ed by personal contributions nom
40 congressmsn, tho physical cul-
tufe movement seems to have
struck Capitol Hill full forca
Perhaps the sudden interest OF
the congressman In their physicA
condition IL not hard to explain.
They have recently been holding
hearings in the committee on edu-
cation ON . bill to establish ma
uon-wide system Of physical cui-
ture, and the figures showing The
need for such . measure have been
truly alarming. They show that q
large percentage 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
DIP.
The CONGRESSMAN and senator are
the sedentary men par excellence
Sitting II their business. A con-
gressman'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 spends foul
hours debating letters. explaining
that tho garden seeds are all gone
and why he could not recommend
Is men for one postmastership.
Formerly oratory gave the legis.
lator all the exercise he needed
Men like Daniel Webster and Hen
~ Clay used to get up good swea1
every time they addressed the
house. Then they would take q
plunge in the Potomac and a rut
down, and 80 keep in the best 81
trim.
But the style in oratory ha.
changed. There Is not as much
swinging and hammering and wav'
ing as there used to be. Oratory
can no longer take the place OF the
setting up exercise. And member.
Of the house. especially, do not gel
the chance to talk often enough t.
keep them in really good trim. Thu
congressman says q few words anG
then extends his remarks in The
Record. The orations that tn,
home folks read are delivered only
to stenographers or even writer
with lead pencil
Hence the need for the congress
sional gymnasium which has re
Gently been opened on the first flool
Of the house Office building in :
space formerly occupied by tn
Democratic National committee.
A Fighting Congressman.
The idea is credited to Repre-
sentatives Britten Of Illinois ant
Reed of New York. After the bal
ance Of the 40 congressional ath
letes had signified their willingness
to take part in the plan, each wa!
assessed SO. With the money Rep
resentative Britten managed t!
obtain complete equipment for tn
gymnasium.
For the legislator who seeks di
version or exercise, there Is provid
ed a handball court, three rowinl
machines, two punching bags,
wrestling mat, horizontal bars, alb
dominal massage machines, q gym
nasium HORSE" and any numbe
of medicine balls. boxing gloves
chest weight pulleys, Indian clubs
dumb bells, fencing foils, masks
and breast plates. In addition, Their
are lockers, shower baths, a steau
room, rubbing tables, and an cleo
trio cabinet bath.
The gym" idea was conceive
during the last session of con
gress, and the money for the equip
ment collected. Every day Their
is spasmodic use Of the gymnasium
but it is planned now to hav
regular classes to whip congress
men into good trim. The two origi
majors of the plan with Represent
alive Newton, of Minnesota, ha,l
been named as a committee to &c
in touch with the athletic authOri
ties Of the navy, marine corps an
Georgetown university, with . vicy
to securing the services of the bes
athletic coaching available. 1t |
planned to hold this class in tn