Evening star., 1923-03-25
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL r. KENNEDY.
BY WILL r. KENNEDY.


| been the so-called patronage" sys-
tenn, tho slogan that ITO tho victor
belongs the spoils." Nothing has 80
much robbed young America Of its
lbirthright---the strengthening effect
of Individual initiative-than that
mess of pottage, getting a soft snap
on Uncle Sans pay roll. The most
discouraging aspect OF this whole
business is to see 80 many trying to
get something out OF their govern
nent instead Of striving TO gee what
of individual helpfulness they can put
into their government.
Tho late Representative W. Bourke
Cochran had pulled himself up from
the humble beginnings by self-erort
and persistence He gave his best
and used his unusual talents to fur
ther the best interests Of this govern
mont as he saw them.
In the years TO como schoolboys
may we'll select for defamation that
farewell message, spoken from
knowledge born and bred in bitter
personal experience by Representa-
tive Cochran IN tho House the night
before he died:
I'VE are struggling a way back now
whether the world will succeed in
freeing itself from the calamities that
are multiplying around IL and the
dangers that arc conetantly increas-
ing IN its pathway. But II It is to
escape. it can be by one way only.
and that Is by the employment OF
every pair OF human hands in active
industry on the soil or some product
OF the soil. You cannot induce the
employment Of human hands in In
n 81 yr1.t 1acy aynSn -
man the peaceful and secure enjoy
ment Of all that he produces.
When the day dawns that any
number OF citizens are taught to be-
lieve that there is moro rapid road
to prosperity, to wealth. to the pos
session OF capital, than the employ
ment Of Industry and the exercise Of
celf-denial. and that a more rapid way
Is through the treasury by the com
plaisance or the connivance OF poll
ticians. then the knell OF this coun-
try's prosperity is sounded"
X
Representative Richard y. Elliott Of
Indiana, who has just completed eight
years IN the House. tells an amusing
story Of how he got his first suit
with q frock coat and thereby won
| lifelong friendship. When he was.
thirteen years old his father took
sick and was in bed for five years
had to begin scratching around for
himself. In the summer when he
was fifteen froCk coats were Just COM
ing into style in his neighborhood,
and Dick" wanted to be in style.
But he hadn't any money. So lie got
| himself a job shocking wheat. That
was work with capital letters). he
declares For sig days Of back
breaking work he got 50 and thought
he had enough for his new suit.
He hitched up an old nag and drove
the the emporium Of one Mi. uoIberg.
After much inspection he found a
suit marked ss.ss that he decided
would do. II had frock coat and
'everything" just as he had visioned
20 few" Holberg down 70 50. But
Holberg was obdurate. Finally he
said: What's the reason you won't
pay that eS cents? You like the
| suit" And Dick Elliott promptly
and frankly replied: Because 1
"Al, right. III trust you." said Hol-
bere, and the dea! went through.
Dick" Elliott went proudly home
with his new suit, but he didn't feel
all paid for. SO the next day he pick
ed d bushel OF Wild blackberries and
took them to town. where he sold
them at 8 cents Il quart and paid Milt
Holberg the IS cents that was COM
ing to him.
That was the beginning OF a friend
ship that lasted for thirty years.
= < =
What has Massachusetts to offer Of
interest to members OF Congress?
Congressman like to get something
laudatory about their home district
into the Congressional Record. but II
remained for Representative Charles
L. Cnderhill, after "bawling out" his
colleagues because they had prevent
ed the passage of the Cape Cod canal
bill and other measures in which the
Bay state delegation was particularly
interested, to invite them, one and all
to visit him and indulge their eyes
! and minds with the glories OF the first
} colony
Come up from south or ives, via
the Cape Cod canal" he said; make
4 tour Of quaint, delightful Cape Cod: I:
visit Plymouth and the rock OF your
liberties: see Boston harbor and the
Commonweaith piers. upon which the
state has spent over s10.ooo,ooo: look
over the wonderful plant OF the Bos-
ton navy yard and put your feet on
the deck OF the Constitution "old
lronstdes"; get tho thrill Of Concord,
lexington Lex @ and Bunker Hill, Fanueii
Old North and Old South 0e ehyrches; @sas ;
visit the beautiful and historic Deer.
| field valley and the Berkshtres: look
over quaint old Provincetown, Mar
blehead and Gloucester. There is no
end to the pleasure and sightseeing
New England. 1t Is the nations
playground in the summer time
Every part of the state is accessible
by excellent roads or highways
bile trip anywhere within its con-
fines is delight to the tourists. The
people are not OF the cold. austere
type. but truly hospitable. Come up
| bors'
BEHIND the cold stone OF the statue
| OF Lincoln in the rotunda of the Capi-
| tol is story Of Lncoln's gracious
\ condescension to help along an ambi-
tious and needy young woman of tai
ent which puts life and warmth and
| a humanness into that statue for
those who have heard the story.
| Incidentally. this will correct the
false statement in speeches in Con-
| gress. in committee reports and in
printed articles that the Lot F1annery
statue OF Lincoln recently restored to
it's original site in front OF the court
house here was the only one Of the
! martyred President carved by one who
! knew him.
Lincoln posed for Winnie Reara, who
made the statue which now stands in
! the rotunda OF the Capitol. At first
the President refused her request,
but, upon learning that she was q
poor, struggling young scuIptress,
| consented to sit as her model. After
the death OF Lincoln Congress decided