Evening star., 1933-06-18
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

Leaders OF pubic tnougnt ana euoft
are coming to appreciate that most i'm
portant changes in our national affairs
come in cycles, and that in times Of
unemployment and financial
stringency it does not do much good to
add mental aggravation by thinking too
intensely on temporary troubles. For
example, some Of the legislative Moseses
of the present day ere decrying CEN
tralization of government, business, or
what have you. They do not know that
the same sort Of cry has been going up
for 10 these many years" with not
much Of anything done to change the
natural laws of attraction, adhesion
and cohesion, which brings business
governmental as well as private) as well
as peoples closer together as our Ma
tion grows.
Even the present crush and jam, pull
ing and hauling for political appoint
ments and for Government jobs, pat
tionment of civil service jobs-the hue
and cry against Wall Street, "the House
of Morgan" and the money marts-all
these are old stories, history repeating
itself to those who refresh themselves
now and then by reading the record
of the past.
One of our bright young men in pub
lie life and in Republican party activi-
ties, Robert @. simmons Of Nebraska,
while in the House was much exercised
time and again over some Of these con-
ditions. AS q member Of the House
Appropriations Committee he sought to
correct some Of Observation-Disclosures
looked like big menace to him. Re
Gently he has been doing some research
work in the Library of Congress and
came across an interesting 4th of July
grafton by Charles Francis Adams, jr.,
on July S, 1869, the 93d anniversary
of the Declaration of American Inde-
pendence. after having served as Lin
coins Minister to England. That
Adams was the son of John Quincy
Adams and grandson of John Adams, a
"signer" He made that speech when
his namesake, the recent Secretary of
the Navy was years old. In his speech
made "a years ago his voice echoed
down the corridors Of time to Bob
Simmons and other statesmen Of today
insinuatingly-that time changes such
conditions as they crate about-very
little. Here Is striking quotation:
Capitalization Is the order Of the
Ody, dllu DIeGQS COETup-
ton and abuse" he declared.
go to Washington and what do you
nnd-a city Of office seekers, a mob
like wolves around the President and
the heads Of departments and snap
like hungry hounds at each others
bones, while they disgrace our age and
our country by system Of Government
founded on what is known as 'rota-
ton in office and illustrated by such
maxims as to the victor belongs the
spoils.' Where now Is heard that noble
utterance Of Jefferson's-'We are all
Republicans-we are all Federalists?'-
1t is not heard in the White House-it
is not heard in the customs house
more frequently it appears in another
rendering, to the effect that an asso-
ciated thief Is better than an opposing
angel.
go to New York"-that evangel OF
historic family suggests-"New York
so rapidly becoming at once the heart
and brains and the cancer spot Of the
continent. What do we find there as
indicative Of the results of centraliza-
ton? Is the tone Of the market place
and Of the exchanges the character
of the city government-are the morals
Of the peoples the elevation Of pub
lice opinion-greater or better than
heretofore or elswhere? We all know
1t Is not. The sad story need not be
retold. Every one knows the history OF
fraud, Of depravity and Of corruption
which is forever recorded against the
first city Of the continent; every one
knows Of the morals Of the gold board
and stock exchange, where gambling Is
recognized pursuit. every one knows
the history Of those bubble frauds and
vast swindling enterprises which seem
in their very magnitude to be peculiar
to our own time"
And while the swing of times wheel
throws before us in cycles the same
pictures, and while a perusal of some
of these speeches Of statesmen of elder
days shows how futile were their de-
nunciations and spasmodic outcries
against abuses of their day that grew
out Of the avarice and selflshness of hu-
man nature-emphasizing how little
change the leaders could effect, how
impotent they were against the laws
OF nature and human nature-what q
comforting feeling there Is in the
wholesome thought that:
In spite Of all recurrent evils and
their growth, in spite of leaders OF
false leaders, in spite of avarice and
greed, in spite Of the distressing condi-
tions brought about by individuals or
groups-this country Just keeps plug
gtng ahead, growing greater-and all as
the result Of the right thinking, right
living, patriotic feeling, devotion and
sacrifice OF the great mass Of American
citizens.
That grand old man Of the National
House OF Representatives-Re
tive Edward w. Pou of North Carolina
the dean Of the House, now in his
10th year, serving his thirty-third con-
secutive year In Congress-was given
extraordinary acclaim in the closing
hour OF the special session. Usually the
Speaker and majority and minority
leaders are extolled. They were again
this time in the midnight morning hour
OF Friday just before adjournment. But
to Mr.. Pou went the unusual distinction
OF being lauded by as many speakers as
could get ecognition-House Leader
Byrns, Minority Leader Snell,' Repre-
sentatiyes Cox Of Georgia, and O'Con-
nor of New York-the latter two serving
under the Craftsmanship Of Mr. Pou on
the Rules Committee.
Representative Cox paid tribute to
Mr.. Pou as "the sweetest, the gentlest,
the finest man I know"
Minority Leader Smell emphasized the
distinction that his own college-Am-
herst-is paying to his fellow alumnus,
Speaker Rainey, on the latters fiftieth
anniversary of graduation, "honoring it
self by honoring our Speaker, in giving
him the degree Of doctor of laws"
The House leader, Representative
Joseph w. Byrns of Tennessee, was
lauded because "he has led by persua-
sion, by kindness, and as a result of the
confidence his colleagues have had in
him it has been easy for him to lead"
OF Minority Leader Smell, Majority
Leader Byrns said: Il want to express
my appreciation for the kindness and
courtesy which he has shown me. We
have worked together during this ses-
sion with a splendid co-operaton and
interest in the great legislation which
has been passed during these 3h
OF President Roosevelt, Mr.. Byrns
said: Washington, when President, was
knOwy, the fe{hcr of