Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-22
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

washington Is the great national
center from which Christmas and New
Year greetings Of good will and inter-
national amity are going forth into
every State in the Union, the outlying
dependencies and to the nations of the
world far and wide.
With all of the more important ma
tons Of the world maintaining en-
baSsies and legations in the National
Capital, the seasons greetings of peace
on earth, Esod will toward men, are
going forth in every tongue and ac-
cordinG to the peculiar traditions and
customs Of the various nations.
With the population Of Washington
garnered from every State in the IN
ion, and with each Of the Government
on1c1als having wide circles Of political
ana personal friends by the thousands,
even by the millions, Christmas greet
ing cards are being sent throughout
the forty-eight States.
But 1t Is at the Capitol Building that
the real broadcasting station for Christ
mas greetings Is established. For more
than three weeks the post ONCE of the
National House Of Representatives has
been working day and night to keep
abreast with the deluge Of Christmas
mail. Frank W. Collier, the postmaster,
Is unable to make any estimates of the
number of Christmas cards that his
ONCE IL handling, but they run into
many millions. An average of is sacks
Of mail every hour Il shipped through
this one small post ONCE, and by keep
ing the force at work until 10 o'clock
each night he has been able to keep
cleaned up to the minute on getting
the mail out and making deliveries of
incoming mail. The members OF Con-
gress are the only people in Washing
ton who are to have a mail delivery on
Christmas day. With AIS members of
the House and SO members Of the Sen
ate, each one of whom has several office
employees, 1t is easy to realize that the
Christmas mail for Congress reaches
staggering quantities.
Probably the largest number Of cards
sent out by any single member of Con-
gress Is $4,000, which are being mailed
by Representative Robert Bacon Of New
York. Most members Of Congress each
year specialize on an illustration which
shows some one Of the most attractive
views In the National Capital. This
season Mr.. Bacon'S card Is an unusually
good picture Of the Washington Monu-
ment.
AS usual, the most elaborate of the
Christmas cards from the Capitol, and
the one on which most thought has
been expended, Is being sent out by Ed
mund F. Erik, secretary to Representa-
tive Stephen Porter Of Pennsylvania
and clerk to the House committee on
foreign affairs. These cards cost APP
proximately 81 apiece and Mr.. Erik is
mailing more than $4,000 of them.
This Is about the average number that
he mails annually. Each year Mr.. Erk's
card, which Is really a beautifully en-
graved booklet, emphasizes some impor-
tant feature OF our national life. Two
years ago 1t contained reproductions of
the fundamental documents Of our Gov
eminent. Last year 1t emphasized
home. as the corner stone Of the Gov
eminent. This year Mr.. Erik realized
that greater StrtdeS toward peace on
earth, good will toward men, had been
made during the past year than during
the preceding so years in our national
life, and that the United States Gov
eminent has taken leadership toward
international peace. He thought it
would be q good idea to tell the people
about this. and so he has gotten out a
beautiful booklet that Is both historical
and educational as well as an example
of beautiful photoengraving work. In
this booklet he points out that more
than 20 treaties have been signed with
Latin American countries, some of
which have been under consideration
for scores Of years. He calls attention
also to the epochal flight of Col. Charles
Lindbergh as international ambassador
Of good will and to the Hoover good will
trip to South American countries. Con-
siderable space is devoted to reproduc-
tons Of the Kellogg Briand multilateral
treaty. He calls attention oIcn fh0f tho
forthcoming conference in London, the
Dawes plan and the debt-funding legis-
lation are all distinct efforts toward the
promotion of international peace.
Speaker Longworth is sending out
from his ONCE ! 100 engraved cards
bearing his personal signature and one
Of the most attractive views of the
Capitol Building. In addition to this
he is mailing at least as many more
personal greeting cards to his intimate
friends.
Representative John B. Clarke of
New York Is sending out at least 1000
cards which carry q silhouette of him
self.
Representative Harry A. Estep Of
Pittsburgh is sending out 5000 Christ
mas greeting cards.
Representative Allen T. Treadway Of
Stockbridge. Mass, dean Of the Massa-
chuSettS delegation in the House, has
mailed approximately 1000 cards. Last
year Mr.. Treadway'S Christmas greet
ing card carried q colonial New Eng
land picture OF the Elms, his home in
Stockbridge. Mass. This year his card
bears q picture of the Capitol Building.
The majority room In the House Of
flee Building, through which most of
the members get out the documents and
circulars which they send in large num-
bers throughout their districts, Is this
year handling more than 150, 900 Christ
mas greeting cards, according to N. w
Pickering. who is in charge of this
work. Mr.. Pickering's own greeting
card, which Is being sent to every living
former member OF Congress and to
hundreds Of his friends in official life
throughout the 48 States, carries an
actual photograph of the Lincoln
Memorial.
Another interesting Christmas greet
ing. which Is also artiStically beautiful.
Is being sent out by the hundreds by
Robert H. Alcorn, chairman of the
joint conference on civil service retire
ment, REPRESENTING the various organi-
cations OF Government employees. It
reads as follows:
1929.
My Christmas WISH r1r You.
May the bells on Christmas
Morning hiring v0l1 hapni,oaeo