Evening star., 1933-12-10
Capital Sidelights

Representative Everett n. Dirksen Of
Illinois ID one Of the new members Of
Congress who started on by making
Q good impression for hard work well
done with q smile on his lips and Joke
on his tongue even during most trying
moments In the Legislative .hallE. In
his brief career he has done most
everything that an, eager young man
willing to earn his living could md to
do. In the closing hours Of the last
session his colleagues pushed him up
on table. where he kept the sleepy
house and galleries In roars Of laugh
entertaining stories.
He has q deep appreciation Of the
human kindness and sympathy In the
ordinary run Of his fellow beings. He
has the utmost faith In America and
American institutions and Is really Just
q big boy at heart. While being inter-
viewed the other day his replies ran
about like this:
"The corn-tassel is my favorite flower
] read poetry out loud with gestures
! do not understand Einstein. When ]
was Q sophomore In the university ]
felt that knew everything about every
thing that was at all worthwhile. Today
! confess that know very little about
anything, which, as ! understand, Is
the f1rst qualification Of an expert. In
spite Of Sinclair Lewis, Mr.. Mencken
and some Of the other cynical literary
gentry, there Is more sympathy along
Main street In this depression than IN
the vaunted big-shot cities Of the
Nation. II It were not for the fact
that the milk Of human kindness d
still sweet and fluid along the Main
streets Of America. the country would
have gone to hell before now.
tte tdealists. appreciate that this q
high treason, coming from Q Repub-
dcan, and, as Patrick Henry said to
George the Third. Tn sorry Whitman
Is my favorite poet. We need q bit OF
Whitman's vast magniflcance as tonic
Sail forth-steer for the deep waters
only,
Reckless, o Saul, exploring, I with
thee and thou with me.
For we are bound where mariner has
not yet dared to 60,
And we will risk the ship. ourselves
and all.
Thoreau is my favorite philosopher and
Lincoln is my hero.
Lincoln Is my neighbor. In fact, he
represented the very district In Con-
gress In 1647 that ] do, and spent most
Of his life Just so miles south Of my
nome town. Polk was President then
Illinois was represented in Congress
curing that session by six Democrats
and one Republican. Lincoln was tht
lone Republican.
Apparently 1t Is not customary fol
one to have hero In this.day Of smarI
cracking and cynicism. The many ref.
erences that have made to Lincoln al
one time or another has provoked those
who still respond to the instincts of thu
yokel TO utter the inference that I an
conceited enough to compare myself Il
Lincoln. Such inferences mark tht
height Of yokelry and Stiffness. All the
same, shall continue to commune with
my old neighbor, Abraham Lincoln, ir
the hope that from that communion
might come q deeper insight into ths
problems that distress the people q
this Nation today.
If We can find work for the MANI
unemployed and restore them to Q gain
full occupation at q wage level that per.
living standard, such things as tech
nocracy and the dire prophecies Of the
destruction of our present economic sys-
tenn VIII soon 60 into limbo along with
nah jong, Carrie Nation. candles, rufiie
and high-whee1ed bicycles"
Representative Matthew A. Dunr
Of Pittsburgh, Pa. is blind and caml
out of q newsboys' home to make
his way to Congress in q session
| that has been consecrated to lifting
the oul-torturing burden of the un.
| employed. He has CROPPED his way oul
| Of q perpetual blindness 50 hopeful,
| that he has been able to spread ths
gospel Of courage to those fellow mer
sloughing along In the dark days o.
the worst depression America has eve
known. He has given himself tirelessl!
as an apostle Of cheer. When q bo.
| he sold newspapers, and at the age O
| IL, through q street accident, lost thu
sight Of his left eye. At the age o.
! 20, while wrestling, he lost the visior
Of the other eye. This happened whill
| he was In the Newshoys' Home in Pitts
| the Pittsburgh and Overlook (Phila
| delphia) Schools for the Blind, gradu
ating from the latter In 1909. Aftel
| leaving school he again became new
dealer and also q fire insurance broke
and is still an agent for the sam'
company. Meanwhile he had servet
two terms in the State Legislator,
where he sponsored bills for penSionI
for the aged, widows and blind; pro
| hibiting the employment Of persons fo
more than six hours a day or NOR
! than i've days q week; workmens In
law and others In the same category