The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-03-11
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

The general public seem to have very
little conception of what the leaders Of
the refOrmatory element are in reality
doing in national affairs.
Along with the exclusion from many
other privileges, reporters of the reform
press, as well as women are refused adj
mission to the press galleries of congress.
Add to this the fact that a good repor-
ter can always make more money on the
other side, and You have a partial solu-
ton of the inability of the Reform press
to render even a fair measure of justice
to their representative leaders. More
formidable still, perhaps is the jealousy
and suspicion, which since the dawn of
history, seems to have trailed serpent
like across the path of all reforms.
On the other hand the monied press
equipped with every advantage, Sits all
matter of everything that can alarm or
arouse the people to their own interest
and makes demigods of men like Sher-
man, Reed, ct. su.., while it malicious
ly misrepresents Populism and its lead
ers. 10 more striking illustrations Of
this point could be offered than the re-
port of the Associated Press concerning
the illness of Congressman Howard of
Alabama, feeling that he must be in
the House, to vote against the Bond bill;
arose from sick bed, where he had
been taken with pneumonia and went in
carriage to the House. While waiting
for the vote to be taken, he grew so
rapidly worse, that friends sent him
home. The Press sent out word that he
had been taken home drunk.
He is now lying so ill., that his friends
wait with much anxiety for his recovery
But no other explanation has been given
10 the public.
No Popu.ist has ever been found drunk
on the floor of either House but, as much
can not be said of other parties.
This incident is but typical of the in
justice and discouragements, the rep
resentatives of the common people have
ever met. Much however, as they de-
serve recognition and encouragement,
the people themselves have been the
principal loser.
They who at home, wait in patient
silence for some relief, most need en-
cOuragement and cheer.
Men are nothing only so far as they
represent the truth OF the principles of
human progress; not men, but the COM
mOnwealth today hangs in the balance.
! 1t took Rome longer to fight her way
| to the ocean-less than thirty miles
| than it did to conquer the rest of the
world, and it has taken Populism longer
| to gain recognition as national politi-
| cal entity than it will to restore true
| Americanism.
Never in the history of American poll
| tics has any movement grown so rap
| idly.
| First introduced in 1890, amid shame
| less misrepresentation and ridicule the
| various representatives have commanded
not only for themselves but the party a
position that can no longer be ques,
| toned.
| A recognized political entity they are
no longer addressed as "hayseeds,' but
Our PopM.ist friends" Neither are
they longer ignored in either House,
In the Senate, holding the balance of
power, they not only receive just recog-
| milton on committees and ON the floor
but are often able to dictate terms.
During the Fifty-second Congress
Congressman O'Neil, of Philadelphia, the
oldest member of the House, said in con-
versation with another member: Dur
| ing my thirty years in Congress l have
never seen members gain in influence
SO rapidly as Baker, Simpson and Wat
son. While in and about Washington
l have repeatedly heard similar expires
/
| the delegation as whole.
| Morally, no class of men in political
life in Washington stand so high. Intel
lectually few are so much feared in either
| House, and the ridicule so often turned
upon them is but the last weapon of de-
tense against uncomfortable truths toe
fOrcibly aimed. On financial and other
leading questions of the day, congress
| cannot SurpaSS if it can elsewhere eQua
the ability of some of the Populist Sena.
tors, more than one of whom with the
people behind him. is capable Ct rising
to almost any emergency the dangers Of
the hour can produce.
For some years both of the old parties
in congress have notably pursued the
do Nothing Policy" each blocking leg
| islation when the other was in power
let the victorious enemy receive some
credit for doing something in the inter
ests of the people. In paid Legislation
alone, wher the interests of large cor
porations were at stake has there beer
any definite exception to this rule?
In tracing the congressional records
however, we find that the Populistic del
egations have talked, worked and votet
in the interests of the people, regardless
of whom should receive tn credit.
Any important direct legislation is, o
course. impossible, but much of vicious
character has been prevented. To then
is due the recent defeat of the bond bill
in the senate, but for them this con
gress. as planned by the money power
would have retired the greenbachs, O
which the Secretary of the Treasur,
now has locked up 10 millions ant
which Cleveland wishes to burn. B,
| them also has been defeated in the senat
the tariff BILL which, involving a tax o
S44 100000 upon the people, passed tn
House on two and one-half hours consid
Grafton Last session was due to them tn
defeat of the railroad pooling bill, de
signed to practically annul the Inter
state Commerce law, held, indeed by on
man--as it was adroity brought III
when all the delegation but Senate
PETER were absent
In like manner Ex-Congressman Har
ris of Kansas killed in the House tn
funding BILL which asked for the re
funding in bonds of the Union Pacifi
railway debt of 40 to $50 millions
These two incidents show that eve
one loyal man of ability to stand for tn
: cause of the common people is wort
more than it costs in money and labo
to elect the entire delegation.
, Less obvious, but of no less import
ance. has been the subtle force of disin
tegrat:on which has gone steadily O
until both the old parties tremble upo
their foundation, and some of the me
whose work may not so much appear O