The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1932-05-14
SACRIFICE OF CLERKS STANDARD OF LIVING SEEN BY GREE
The Making of an American
JOHN NANCE GARNER

His life as speaker Of the House
is as plain as that Of any Federal
clerk. Palmer, in fact, than most
of them.
The girl who took his hand on
that long ago day is with him yet,
end the program they made for
themselves in that first little five
room cottage is still being followed.
They've made a million dollars,
more or less. They've boosted
themselves into the seats of the
And perhaps they'll be
running this country in a few
more months. But that five.room
cottage program is still being fol.
lowed
Because they think that'sthe
way that folks should live.
AS frontier youngsters they
earned to know danger when they
see it coming. Indians, cyclones,
bad men shooting up towns, wild
cattle running loco-no wise per-
son tangled with these.
They still know danger when
they see it coming!
And they realize, to the depths
Of their canny, healthy souls that
money and place are more danger
obs to human beings than all the
Indians, bad men and loco cattle
that ever stal peded on frontier.
So they live simply because they
know that is the only safe way to
live.
Do No Partying
They have no car. They do no
partying aroond. At $50, when
dawn is breaking over the big
white dome, you'll see them walk
ing together up the long avenue
going to work. All day long he
drudges at his desk. All day long
she types in an office near him.
At noon she warns him up a
snack, on an electric plate. When
the shadows lengthen, she still is
sitting there-bending over the
Feys.
The corridors empty. The vast.
white halls grow still. The sun
slips down through the darkening
files of trees. Below the stately
steps the last light lies in a
flaming pool.
From a side door, two plain peo-
pie step. For a moment they
stand, resting in the twilight. A
breeze stirs. The man straight
ems his heavy shoulders. The
woman passes her hand across
her face as though to brush away
a film of WEAKNESS.
Beyond the trees, a bugle calls,
fold upon fold. great
flag falls. The man and the
woman watch that flag. Are they
seeing the 35 years Of life they
have given to it's service? Some
thing burns deeply in their eyes
but they do not speak. They have
never had words for things like
that. Perhaps they do not think
that thinos like that need words.
Suddenly through the shadows
the lights bloom white. A linn W.
sine rolls by-ermine, diamonds, q
Cabinet officer in evening clothes.
Quietly the man and woman
move down the road. walking in
step, her shoulder touching his
sleeve.
They pass through a door. They
nod with q friendly smile to some
old neighbors. They wash their
hands. They eat. Sit resting
for an hour. Presently they go
to their room.
With Bulldog Jaw
Outside, Washington laughs and
dances.
But the Carriers sleep.
When the dancers fall to yawn-
ing. they will be working again.
You wondered what he was
like?
He is like that.
Red faced and plain
A scrapper and a go-getter-
With a permanent grin
Over a bull dog jaw
A humdinger for work
Also for poker
Baseball playing
Steer RAISING
And all the he sports
In general.
Hates frills and frillerS-
DeSpiSes trick oratory
And loves to make a monkey
Of trick orators.
He isn't lady's man,
Nor even a gentleman'S man
(Theyn never make a movie