Evening star., 1943-09-15
Iowa Farm Woman
Reports on Washington
To the Editor of The Star:

All my life I'd wanted to 60 to Wash
ington-yes, really go and see our
Capital City. I'd wanted so sit in the
galleries and observe at first hand Just
how our Government functioned. I'd
really wanted to see our Senators and
Representatives in action; wanted to see
just how they performed; wanted to
ascertain If they were the real honest
to-goodness' people who just such
short time ago were besieging us con-
stituents here at home to intrust this
Government of ours to them and "all
would be we'll"
Yes, I've been to Washington-but
under wholly different circumstances
than the trip that my late husband and
had planned few short years ago. We
had worked hard on this Iowa farm
We had been young and strong and full
of hope. We would clear the mortgage
on these fertile acres-then we'd roam
around bit-take our one son with us
and really enjoy ourselves. But destiny
had planned otherwise. Yes, we had
been successful in modest sort of way
for success is not destination, but
journey" We'd been content on this
Iowa farm, raising the corn, pigs and
chickens-not to mention rearing this
fine young son.
The years passed-our dream was
about to be realized when my beloved
companion, almost without warning,
quietly slipped into eternity, leaving me
a son of whom any mother might be
proud, and beautiful memories to sus-
tain me in these trying days. In few
short weeks Uncle Sam called our son
into the service of his country.
The months slipped by Readjust-
ments were made. The farm work was
under Way-and I was off to visit cer-
tain Army camp and, incidentally, pay q
visit to our Nations Capital nearby.
I really hardly can separate my for
mer mental picture of Washington from
what really saw and heard I had
known of the warm climate and had ex-
pected to survive. Thanks to an air.
conditioned room after long, hot day
OF sightseeing, did I'd had the fore
sight to reserve room in advance. I
thought might be jostled off the side
walk, but nothing like that happened
I took care not to be out near the Pen
tagon Building when they shut up shop
for the day.
First, I visited the Lincoln Memorial
AS l gazed on the statue of the Great
Emancipator, I felt so humble, and I
wondered If I was doing my full share
to perpetuate our great Nation which
he had so fought to preserve. AS I
visited the Washington Monument I was
aware that but for him our Nation
might never have been born. I was
again conscious that it was a privilege
to be an American-it was privilege to
serve, and that feeling still fingered as
I travelled on out past the Jefferson Me-
morial-and his immortal words kept
ringing in my ears: Life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness
At Arlington Cemetery, where, known
only to God, the Unknown Soldier
rests among those who died for freedom,
I wondered what judgment they might
pass on US who are enjoying the fruits
OF their sacrifice, what they might think
of us who unthinkingy complain of
wartime restrictions.
Maybe we would blush in shame if we
were face to face with those MARTYRS who
seem now to be SO peacefully sleeping.
1 was conscious that my own son was
In a nearby Army camp preparing him.
self to serve where needed so as to per-
petuate that which they had earned for
us. had made the long train trip
under trying conditions to visit him-to
lend to him the counsel, the advlce-to
help bolster his morale--he who so soon
may be assigned to overseas service.
Travelling about the city I noted the
many white buildings, truly white
city or perhaps rather the verdant city
with its many parks and circles and its
multitude of trees. Dame Nature was in
all her grandeur. Somehow 1t hardly
seemed like a city with all its garden
spots.
Well, really did 60 to the Capitol
Building, called on the different ones
- AoAAA Wi oDoeC WIN 1cpI cSeIlI US. L IlTSL
called by phone the Senator's wife who
had formerly lived in our village. She
was III and could not see me. I went to
visit him in his office. The Senator had
had hard time to get himself elected.
My late husband, who had belonged in
different political camp, had believed
in him and had contributed in no small
way to his victory, for this particular
Senator had had to overcome the over
Whelming normal majority of his oppo-
nent. Well, he was courteous-he really
did not seem to have time to listen to
the things I had on my mind-but he
accompanied me over to the Senate GAL
lery, where he found a seat for me. He
pointed out some of the Senators whose
names are so frequently in the head
lines. Now, I never expect to occupy a
Senate seat or to be the wife of a Sena-
tor, but I could not help wondering to
myself If I were, how l might react to
one of my former friends and constitu-
entS If they unexpectedly would show up
in the Capital City
I stayed in the Senate chamber sew
eral hours and listened to some good
speakers and some not so good. An
other Senate visitor from our neigh
boring State of Illinois, who was sitting
as group were not too outstanding, but