The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-09-28
Observations
Capital Ready
For Resumption
of Business
BY Helen Esssry

WAShiN1 ON-l ne Cdplldl
the United States is looking Nigh
ty fine this late September IT.
shining with the good intentions o
the lawmakers plus a gallon or tw'
or three Of brass and window
polish.
A strong current OF clear air II
blowing through the corridors. Thu
returning legislators brought l
with them from that recent re
fresher course they had back II
their districts.
The capital is a pleasanter place
TO go nowadays than 1t was the
hot, stale days OF July before Con
gress adjourned for the recess
Also you can tell by the look in the
legislative eye that the lawmak
ers have returned TO Washington
recharged for good works.
They have taken on an extra
muscle. too. Some OF them have
been saving wood-not entirely
political wood. either The MAORI
~ leader in the Senate, Alben
Barley. got a moving blade and
an axe and a hammer and saw and
some nails" and went TO work on
he meadows, the woods and the
'ences OF his old Kentucky home.
lie filed in for the hired man now
zone 10 war He said he had a
nard time getting timber down
here where he came from. You
lad II wait for the cypress 10 grow
ID into sizesble trees before you
could cut il down.
Senator Barley told a good
story The other day when somebody
ASKED him for. an opinion on sne
foreign policy OF the Republican
party. lie said he'd have to give All
answer that was about as definite
as the sermon OF parson down
homo. The parson didn't want TO
hurt his Congregations feelings by
being too sharp so he said, Il im'
plore sou to change your ways-in
a measure. Refrain from shining
TO a certain extent. Or you'll be
damncd-as it t'were."
Alben Barley is a capable and
conscientious lawmaker who, as
President Roosevelt's spokesman
in the Senate, has had to dodge
many a missile aimed at the White
House without knowing exactly
how the White House wanted him
TO dodge.
Another popular southern law
maker, Senator Sam Rayburn. is
back briskly tending to the adj
ministration business in the CAPT.
toll. The gentleman from Texas cut
a pink and blue birthday cake the
other day in celebration OF his third
year as speaker of the house. |
said ~ Mr.. Sam, as they call him
down III the Fourth district:
You're certainly a man Of ability
and integrity, but there must be
other reasons for your long success
in public life" The speaker was
in the Texas legislature when he
barely was out OF his teens.
We'll" said Mr.. Sam. picking
his words carefully, 81 always be-
lieve Ia people. I trust people and
they never let me down. When
campaign time comes around, l
don't make a lot OF false, high
fal1tin promises. / just say I'll do
the best / can. And / keep my
word. Now looking back a little,
IL You'll permit me, for the 80
years since ! FIRST came to Wash
ingtou the House OF Representa-
tives has been my whole life"
A pice life to have, l thought.
Nice IN many ways. A life of pow
err AMI national accomplishment.
Ths capitol Is a happy place to
work in, too. The Offices OF the
speaker are a particularly agree
able shop.
There are many agreeable ofices
In the capitol They give you
feeling OF permanence. Make you
know that the American world is
going we'll. No wonder the men,
bers OF Congress like to come back
year after year to such workshops.
The White Isuse Is a pleasant
place. too. It's also one OF the
finest boarding houses in the world.
I'd Ike TO live In thUse lovely
rooms ana be waited on by all
those attentive people.
Unexpected incidents break the
routine OF the capitol nowadays. A
sightseeing crowd paused one day
In the corridor outside a closed
door just across from the Senate
lunch room 10 hear the sounds OF
the gospel hymn, 81 Want TO Be
Ready Lord. A luncheon flavor ed
with religion was in progress be-
hind the door. Every so often a
waiter hurried In with a big tray
OF food. Then the singing would
stop.
Soon an intelligent young man.
George S. Kendall. came out to
explain the gathering TO me. He
is a theological student but Is
about to go of to war The sing
iLg luncheon was his idea. he said.
alt occurred TO him that many peo-
4 pie must be looking for some spirit
ual Inspiration to stir into their
daily food.
Kendall sent out inquiries to var
ious district organizations. mem
bers III Congress and to capitol en-
ployes He got Homer Rodeheav-
err. WHO used to be with Evangelist
Billy Sunday, TO lead the singing