The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-06
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC J. HAsKN, Director.
. Washington, d. @.
NEW MEN IN CONGRESS.

Washington, ID. @.
NEW MEN IN CONGRESS.
Washington, D. c., July S.-The
Sixty-seventh congress is now three
months old SO far as its active work
is concerned. New members to the
number of 122-a record crop of
| baby congressmen-are by now well
started on the road to the knowledge
| that there is a tremendous difference
| between State street back home and
! Pennsylvania avenue in Washington.
Their 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 ex-
cellent reason is that the congressional
| system does not permit it, and they
| have not had a chance.
| A famous New York editor, when
asked some years ago what compensa-
/ ton a senator received, replied, Five
| thousand dollars a year and the pR1Vl-
lege of membership in the greatest
| club in the world" House member
| ship has never been defined so con-
ciseIy. It might well be compared to
the public schools of England. The
new boy has to go thru many soul
crushing experiences before he finds
his proper level.
| Trace the career of a new member.
He has come successfully thru a hot
campaign on top of a successful pri-
mary fight. He is the big man of his
| community The fates have put upon
his shoulders 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 special
session of congress. The rookie. VINO
/ ordinarily would bask in the sunshine
of hometown aduIation 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.
On tho Way to Glory.
The boys parade to the station,
bearing their standard bearer aloft on
their shoulders. Banners and a brass
band go before, and worshiping con-
stituents follow. He makes speech
the last one he will make for many
months. He is wildly cheered, and is
presented with a floral horseshoe,
paid for Jointly by the John @. Smith
Marching club, the volunteer fire de-
partment, and the gentleman who ex-
poets to be appointed postmaster.
The trip to Washington endures too
long for this statesman to keep his
| identity secret. In the smoking
room or the dining car he finds occa-
sion to tell one or INDEPENDENTLY
| more-of his casual train acquaint-
ances that he is a member of congress
, on his way to Washington. Polite in
| terest is aroused. Perhaps he is told
what congress ought to do about the
tariff, and certainly he gets lot of
advice about taxes from gentlemen
| whose only knowledge of taxation is
what they have to pay on the fif-
teenth day of March each year, and
| quarterly thereafter.
The prideful young man alights at
the union station in Washington.
With a lordly air he indicates to an
! approaching Red Cap porter that he
will permit him to carry MS bag. The
porter appears to be making for him,
| respect and subservience evident on
his ebony features. He goes right on
by, tho, and eagerly snatches two suit
cases from a fat shoe drummer who
makes Washington twice a month,
| and is always good for a quarter tip.
This is the first tiny pin-prick in the
balloon of pride.
Eventually securing a porter our
hero energies from the station and
views for the first time the inspiring
dome of the capitol, the scene of his
labors henceforth. the particular
we1kin designed for ringing to the
oratory bubbling within him. Re-
lluctantIy he WithdraWs his gaze, hon
ors the perspiring porter with a we'll
worn dime for which he gets scant
acknowledgment and starts away to a
hotel.
Where Were the Reporters.
At the hotel he gets scant attention.
He manages to let the room clerk
know that he is a congressman. The
clerk merely looks bored. Eventually
a room is assigned to him. All evening
the rookie representative remains in
the lobby or in his room. He wants to
be accessible to the reporters.
Now comes his first real jolt. Not
only do the reporters somehow fail to
find him. but there is not even a line
in the morning, newspaper noting his
arrival. Everyone has not been so
been persuaded to give his ideas of the
problems with which congress must
wrestle. The floor leaders, views on
the legislative program are set forth.
|, The chairman of the ways and means
committee has had something to say
about revision OF the tariff and tax
alton.
The tyro legislator spends his first
day in Washington trying to find a
boarding house. The tired-1ooking
women to whom he applies do not bow
down and worship at his feet when
, the new man acquaints them with the
fact that he is one of the members of
; the Sixty-seventh congress. The only
result is boost in the price the land
lady was about to quote.
The formalities of the opening OF
congress over, the presidents mes
sage received, and the members
sworn in, this particular new member
attends a party caucus. Bottled up in
him, and ready to burst forth is his