The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-09-11
WASHINGTON BECOMES HEADQUARTERS FOR
NATIONAL ORGANIC ATIONS AND SOCIETIES

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11.-This city
has become the headquarters of more
national organizations and associa-
nons than any other city in the coun-
try. This is evidence of the growth
Of Washington as a great national
center, but it is even more indicative
of the manner in which the federal
government touches upon and affects
every activity and every interest of
the American people.
A recent compilation, admittedly in
complete, lists almost 800 of these or
CARNATIONS. They run the gamut of
human aetiyities-commerc pro-
fessional, political, patriotic, indus
trial, social, artistic, educational, fra
ternal, scientific, financial, religious,
philanthropic and what not Their es-
adjustments range from modest quar-
ters in office buildings to magnificent
edifiees that represent investments
running into the millions. They give
employment to thousands of men and
women. They expend millions of dol
lars annually.
They represent the se1fishness and
unselfishness, the achievements and
undertakings, the aspirations and
dreams, of a great people. They seek
to do everything from rehabilitating
conviSts to immortalizing the nations
great, from lobbying bills through con-
gresS to scotching the demon rum,
from practicing practical politics to
intoxicating high ideals of citizenship,
from preaching peace to preparing for
war, from encouraging art to control
ling world affairs, and from advanc-
ing the cause of labor to protecting
the interests of capital
Some are constructive, some de-
structive. Some are boosters, some
are knockers and all are propaganda
lists.
Some do their work to an accom-
paniment of brass bands and invite
the whole world to know what they
are doing. Others are secretiVe and
like Providence work in mysterious
way their wonders to perform.
Most of these organizations are here
to influence legislation or govern
mental action of one kind or another.
1t is not to be inferred that their ef-
forts in this direction are anything
but legitimate, as they represen
people and interests that have right
to be heard in matters of that kind.
Members of congress sometimes grow
FESTIVE under the pressure and impor-
tunings to which they are subjected,
but they recognize the fact that in
the long run they receive valuable in
formation and assistance in their law
making.
Secret of Their Success
The secret of the success of these
organizations is that administrations
and congresses come and go but they
stay on forever and keep everlastingly
at whatever they set out to accom-
plish- Take the Anti-Saloon League,
for example 1t has been in Washing
ton for many long years and the pro
hibition amendment and the Volstead
law are the evidences of its triumph
Then there are the women who fought
early and late for suffrage. The Nine,
teenth Amendment would not have
been added to the constitution if it
had not been for the campaign Waged
in and from Washington
In the contests over prohibition and
woman's suffrage there were organi-
cations on both sides and the result
in each instance is perhaps significant
of the fact that affirmative propa
ganda is more successful than mega
get something done than it is to pre-
vent its being done. Those who are
seeking a modification of the Volstea6
law so as to permit the manufacture
and sale of beer and light wines see g
say of hope because they have now
put the Anti-Saloon League and the
friends of prohibition on the defensive
Similarly the advocates of the sol
s,diers' bonus believe that they have
the better of the fight because the,
are on the aggressive and campaign
ing for a bill while their opponent!
are against it.
No one kind of legislation brings a!
many organizations into action al
does tariff bill, and here again ex
perience would seem to indicate tina
those who want something fare bet
ter than those who merely oppose
Perhaps it is because proponents o
a measure or one of its specific pro
visions are usually more vitality inter
ested than the opponents, which is an
other way of saying that as a ruli
selfishness brings home the bacon. A
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