Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-04
HIS LAST LECTURE.
PROF. WILSON TALKS TO A LARGE
AUDIENCE AT THE COLLEGE.
A HIGHLY INTELLECTUAL DISCOURSE.
The Organization and Powers Of
Congress Discussed In Most In
hut Not the Fault of Congressman.

4
Professor Woodrow Wilson, whose eio-
quent lectures on constitutional govern
ment have afforded so much pleasure to
the large audiences which have gathered
In the chapel at Richmond College to
hear him, closed the series last night.
with most logical and highly interesting
discourse on the organization and powers
of Congress.
The audience which greeted him was
| the largest assembled during the series,
and many were turned away from the
doors Of the chapel for lack Of room. Mr..
Wilson was in excellent voice, and spoke
| about an hour, interspersing his lecture
with considerable wit and many humorous
thrusts at well known politicians.
Professor Charles H. Winston presented
the distinguished lecturer to the audience,
and in doing so referred TO the great sat
isfaction that the lectures had given, as
sorting that they had been gratifying, In
structive, and pleasing in the highest de-
gree. Mr. Wilson then advanced 10 the
'front.' OF the platform, and In conyersa-
tional tones addressed his auditors, many
of whom were ladies.
MOTIVE POWER OF THE GOVERN
MENT.
After few preliminary remarks the
lecturer referred to Congress as the mo-
tive power of the government, and then
told several very amusing anecdotes,
among them, one concerning an Irishman,
who, while purchasing clock, was shown
one Tor which the charge was So.
Upon his remarking that the cost was ex-
cessiye, he was told that the clock would
run eight days without winding. Faith.
and is that true" said Pat, land how
long will 1t run If / wind it,"
This story Mr.. Wilson used to illustrate
the point that Congress runs only wncn
wound. There is to be discovered in
the organization" he continued, IA
spring; there is to be discovered in ii a
hand referring to the Speaker), and with
out him the wheels of the body Will
not move" The fact that the work of
Congress is national, and not local. was
emphasized by the speaker, who called
attention to the fact that many of the
subjects treated of by Parliament and
other like bodies in other countries. are
similar to those which are disposed of
by State Legislatures in this country, anu
which Congress never thinks of consider
ing.
THE WORK ILL DONE.
Mr.. Wilson asserted ii as his belief thdl
the work of Congress was i'll done, but
this fact he did not attribute to the Cou-
gressmen themselves. at is not the fault
of the character of the representatives"
he said. Our representatives are what
we make them, and if we condemn them
We condemn ourselves. Remember that
our representatives will be just as good
as we require them TO be, and no better.
l have no tolerance for the man who
does not vote himself and who says the
other man voted wrong He is like the
man who doesn't handle the pillow, out
who stands by and says the furrow his
neighbor ploughed is crooked. | used to
abuse congressman myself until l found
out how much more they know about put
lie questions than / do. 1t is very
easy 10 stand off at a distance and crIu-
else your representative; to say what
you would do if in his position, when you
know you are not likely to be in mis-
position. If you thought there was any
likelihood Of your being placed in his post
ton you would be very quiet, indeed"
Mr.. Wilson spoke OF the constitutional
plan OF government, saying that, while
we have lived up to the letter of the
law as laid down by our fathers, we have
not lived up to the spirit Of it.
THE PRESIDENTS POWER.
Speaking of the powers of the Presi-
dent, the speaker said he could write
messages to Congress, but, for that mat
ter, so could any citizen, and Congress
would act upon the suggestions contained
in the one about as soon as those contain
ed in the other. The only advantage the
President had over the citizen was that
his message would be read in monoto-
nous tone and spread on the minutes,
while the citizens would not.
Coming down TO the subject of the lee
ture, Mr. Wilson said that the first springs
Of action in Congress were the com
mittees, and he commented on the power
which was concentrated in these COM
mittees. He then compared the dignity
Of the Senate with the lack Of dignity of
the House, and made some humorous allu-
siOns to the individuality which charac-
terized the proceedings of the higher
body The House, he said, is bringing it's
individuality TO head, and just al pres
ent, Mr.. Wilson said, that happens to be
n very big head. He referred to Speaker
Reed and paid special attention to the
power which is concentrated in the
Speaker of the House Of Representatives.
THE SPEAKERS PARTIALLY.
Adverting to the power of committees
to control legislation, the lecturer called
attention TO the fact that while the Sem
ate elected its committees, the Speaker
appOined those in the House, and, natu-
rally, as the business of the House was
done through it's committees, the right to
appoint these bodies gave great power to
the Speaker. In all other parliamentary
bodies, Mr.. Wilson said, the fundamental
was the impartiality of its pre-
siding officer. but in the House, the funda-
mental principle was the Partially of its
presiding officer He then gave a review
of how the work of the House was DONE |
and said that TO get a bill through the |
House was a problem OF friendship and |
1t all rested upon the ability ]
of the member Interested. to get the floor |
and it was optional with the Speaker |
whether he should have recognition or !
not. The Speaker, Mr. Wilson thought |
had more power than the President. The |
Chief Executive, he continued. had album |
dance of influence during the first year of /
his term, but thereafter his influence was |
lessened. Whether this was due to the |
fact that nearly all OF his patronage was |
in the first year or not, he was |
not prepared TO say.
THANKS TO HIS AUDIENCES.
After emphasizing this point and elabo- |
rating il at some length, the lecturer |
brought his address TO a close with an |
expression OF his thanks for the large |
and increasing audiences which had greet
ed him and for the manifest interest dis
played by those who had sat before him.
I..fe