The Washington times., 1922-07-03
FORDNEY RAPS
SMOKING FAD
AMONG WOMEN
Veteran Legislator, About to
Retire, Voices His Views
on U. s. Outlook.
By wINIFRED VAN DUZER.

By WINIFRED VAN DUZER.
"Men are trying to live off
other men. and exploitation is al
ways a dangerous thing. Others
are attempting to live without
working at all.
This attitude toward employ
ment is the chief cause for the
unrest which continues to sweep
our country"
Talks of Unrest.
1t was early morning, and long,
golden shadows fell across the
grounds outside the Capitol building.
Congressman Joseph w. Fordney
swung round from his crowded desk
as he answered my question; his fine
old head. held high. was silhoueted
against summer skies beyond the
window.
But in his eyes was an autumn
weariness; look as II all the disap-
pointments of his twenty-five years
service suddenly had piled together,
rearing a structure of futility.
The truth is that the chairman OF
the all.important Ways and Means
Certain characteristics which our po-
litical system has taken on in recent
years are the flavor Of that bitter.
ness.
1t is hinted the willingness Of va.
rious legislators to adopt the political
expedient rather than to be guided by
the experience of veteran lawmakers
adds to his discomfort.
His ultimate gesture Of dis
approval was the quiet announce
ment that when his term is up
next March he will terminate his
quarter of a century of service.
He spoke further of unrest:
Look at the trouble out in
Illinois. 1t should have been
stamped out. l don't know local
conditions there. but no know
there is a remedy for all such
lack Of repose.
mo. this country is in no
danger. For the most p1rr our
people are satisfied and reliable.
About Women.
] asked how mucn our women con
tribute to the upset. A New York
judge had told me that womsn ar.
sending their husbands to bank.
r1ptcy and to Jail by their CT aze for
good clothes and amusement
Divorce. supposed to be waiting
round the corner from nearly every
American home, also is accused Cf
dragging the country toward the
dogs.
And the flapper isn't considered
by some reformers. 60 be all that she
Right in the way of uplifting in
fluence.
The blue eyes twinkled at me and
lost some of their WEAKNESS when hr
considered my questions. He said:
Women spending too much on
clothes and amusements? Why.
women don't get half what they de.
serve. however expensive their
clothes may be. l say let us give
them more ii is only right.
I'VE needn't worry about the dan.
ger of divorce. Perhaps l ndver'r
thought as much about 1t as som,
appear to. You see, l have wife
and nine children and they are my
nost absorbing interest and nv
dearest possession.
But l don't think divorce in this
country is increasing at any alarm.
ing rate. II it is increasing, So are
marriages and families,
And what is a 'flapper'?" he uuer.
Led.
Upon being told that she Is the
steen-year girl of sophistication
and the cigarette habitShe swept the
woman who smokes into the unlaw-
full place where anarchism and rx.
Dloitation are. She is evidence OF
shameful conditions prevailing in the
United States. Nor would he ad
init that there is no moral or ethical
difference between smoking for
women and for men. He went on:
II can't name any tangible moral
difference. But 1t is there. am re.
minded of the story of the mother
who begged a physician to give her
something to stop daughter srnok.
ing. She said she feared it would
injure the girls brain. But the doc.
tor said II wouldn't. He said any
girl who smokes has no brain!
My opinion is that the girl who
uses cigarettes goes just as far as
she can and remain a nice girl"