Evening star., 1935-12-22
Capital Sidelights
By Viii P. Kennedy.

4
There's new show room in the Capt.
tol-the Speakers private office, just
across the corridor from the House
chamber. This room has always been
more or less of a mecca for tourists.
but now it shines with increased splendor
like a fiery sunset. A few years ago
some close personal friends of Speaker
LongWorth took advantage of a brief
absence from his Office to install therein
two large red leather lounging chairs.
While Speaker Byrns was absent on
his recent trip to witness the inaugura-
ton of the new government in the
Philippines. his Office was entirely re-
fitted-most artistically. 1t is a gorgeous
dream in red but the artistry is entirely
domestic, and the product OF the turnl-
ture repair shop at the Capitol under
the direction of William F. Ochsenrelter,
property custodian in the Office OF the
clerk of the House. The handsome rug
of rich and deep coloring is Oriental in
design, but American made. The fur
niture was designed and made under
Mr. Ochsenreiter supervision. consisting
of seven chairs, davenport, screen,
wardrobe and bookcase. The uphol-
Stery is done with hand buffed steer hide
with a Spanish finish. The very edec-
tive drapes. Of a bergundy coloring TO
blend in with the furniture, are also
Capitol workshop product.
His Office staff and a group Of veteran
House officials gave the Speaker a sur
prise party in his refurbished Office on
his return to the Capitol.
Page Mr.. Plato-he's wanted in the
present emergency.
Directing attention to Plato's synopsis
of civilization: States and constitutions
and much evil and much good a Massa-
chusetts scholar in politics, formerly a
brakeman on a small New England rail-
road, who worked his way to be Assist
ant Attorney General of the United
States, George r. Farnum, who was in
charge Of settling multi-million claims
against the United States after the World
War, finds Plato much more dependable
than the modern Brain Trusters.'
He points a way Of escape" says
Farnum, ito a world whose nerves are
gravely disordered whose thinking is
highly emotional and whose actions are
largely inspired by passion, in the posi-
bilities of an individual and community
life based on reason. In such a life,
practically conceived, the ideals are a
drastic self-discipline. the conquest of
fear, the cultivation of serenity and mod
Grafton in place of what has been well
characterized as our hurry and confu-
sion and moroseneSs, and general mode
of living based on an apprehension of
the fact that society exists for the COM
mon good and exacts commensurate sac
rifices from its members" Plato finally
reminds us of the Importance of the
inner life of the individual of which the
modern world-So engroSsed in a ma
terialistic philosophy-is fast losing its
interest, preaching, as it has been shortly
put, certain organic Identification be-
tween the inner life of the soul and the
outward order of society"
The serene, reasonable and unpreiu-
diced manner in which Plato faced the
catastrophe events of his day" con-
cludes Mr.. Farnum, land applied his
intelligence to dispasSionate study of
the fundamental social influences and
political causes at work, makes him the
prototype Of the men we need today. OF
all the peoples, Goethe declared, the
Greeks dreamed the dream of life the
best.
**x
Edmund F. Erik of Washington and
Pittsburgh again greets his legion OF
friends for Christmas In the inunda7
ton of Christmas greeting cards in and
out of the Capitol at this season, the
message of ed" Erik has for years been
outstanding-in character of the message,
its elaborateneSs and in the thousands
of copies which he mails. OF course.
this wear. because most of the members
of Congress are not in Washington, the
House and Senate post Offices are not
quite as busy as usual with Christmas
cards and packages.
This wear Erk'S card is dedicated to a
sentiment of "home"-his theme being
that "the strength of the Nation is
forged under the smoke that rises from
its industrial and happy household fires" !"
His metaphor is tribute to his native
city of Pittsburgh. Erik was for many
years clerk of the House Committee on
Foreign Affairs. and then succeeded as
a member of the House the late Repre-
sentative Stephen Porter, who was chair
man of that committee.
Several years ago Erik made real con-
tribution to American historical bibli-
ography by compiling into one neat
booklet for distribution to his friends
and to countless schools the "f1rst-born
documents of popular constitutional lib
erty." Included in that booklet are:
"The Mayflower Compact" THE Log
of the Mayflower, Declaration and Re-
solve of the First Continental Congress"
virginia Bill of Rights" THE Decla-
ration of independence" ARTICLES OF
Confederation, !" THE Constitution of the
United StsAes," "Washingtons Farewell