Evening star., 1940-01-28
Capital SideIights
By WHl P. Kennedy

The House was treated last Thursday
to one Of the most enjoyable hours in
recent years. The subject was Civil
Service-the All-American Cause" The
speech was delivered by Representative
T. v. Smith of Illinois, Texan by birth,
college professor, former soldier and
editor of the International journal of
Ethics. 1t was travesty on representa-
tivism and House procedure, with bits
of eloQuence and f1ippant interludes. 1t
was entertainment and preachment in
the same breath, given in pleasant
spirit Of magnanimity which provoked
merriment and much applause. 1t eased
the strain of bitter partisan debate. The
gospel was the Ranspeck bill for extern
sion Of the merit system through the
classified civil service. It quoted the
rival platforms of the two great political
parties-"cold in print but warm in
promise" The speaker put himself on
a firm footing by declaring: Il am for
Righteousness and am overwhelmingly
for national unity, for patriotism-and
for mother and home and heaven He
voiced his one self f-indulgence-"com-
plant against my country because this
reputedly efficient Nation is losing its
pride in the job, the humble jobs that
men and women are doing. The ancient
instinct of workmanship is on the de-
cline. We cannot legislate skill" The
orator was honored by Speaker Bank
head, who interrupted him to announce
(after his allotted time had expired), :,
Without objection, the gentleman from
Illinois will be allowed to complete his
remarks"
DR.. Charles E. Fairman, patron of the
arts, who for nearly two-score years has
been curator of art works in the Capitol,
was honor guest and speaker for the
34th consecutive year at the 135th annual
exhibit of the Pennsylvania Academy
of Fine Arts in Philadelphia last night.
This 86-year-old authority on art was
accompanied by his bride of two weeks,
who says that "for eight years have
called him My Confucius.'"
~ ~
Representative Charles A. Plumley,
Republican, of Vermont, former COL
lege president-one of whose favorite
pupils, the popular Bill" Hassett, is now
secretary to the President-answered in
the Congressional Record constituents
inquiry. Should any President serve
third term?" He quoted from Jefferson
and emphasized that "the tradition
established by Washington, followed by
jefferson, jackson, johnson, Grant and
others should be emulated." His quo
tation from Jefferson was as follows:
THAT should lay down my charge at
a proper period is as much duty as to
have borne it faithfully. If some termi-
nation to the services of the Chief
Magistrate be not fixed by the Consti-
tuition, or supplied by practice, his Office.
nominally four years, will in fact become
for life, and history shows how easily
that degenerates into an inheritance.
Believing that representative govern
ment, responsible at short periods of
election, is that which produces the
greatest sum of happiness to mankind,
I feel it duty to do no act which shall
essentially impair that principle, and I
should unwillingly be the person who.
disregarding the sound precedent set by
an illustrious predecessor, should fur
nish the first example of prolongation
beyond second term Of of1ice."
There is streak of superstition, or
fatalism, in some members of Congress.
Such members have been warning their
colleagues whose names are mentioned
as possible candidates for the presidency
to beware the calends of November"
In the present instance history supports
their warning, and they quote names
and dates to prove it. They are pointing
out that the record shows that during
the past century every President elected
each 20 years has died in ofice. The
roster is as follows: william Henry
Harrison, 1840; Abraham Lincoln, 1860;
James A. Garfield, 1880; william McKin-
ley, 1900. and Warren G. Harding, 1920.
The coming election would bring in q
President in 1910, and some Of the party
leaders are disturbed. However, none