The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-04-06
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. c.. March Is, 1907.


WASHINGTON. D. c.. March IS, 1909.
On: of the stock complaints now made
against the House Of Representatives is
that it is no longer representative BODY;
that it is controlled by few who have ac
quired undue power. During Hender-
sons term as speaker it was alleged that
the House was ruled by triumverate
composed of Henderson. Grosvenir and
Dalzell. 1t is said that the triumverats is
still the prevailing system of House gov
eminent, but the personnel thereof ha.
been changed, being composed at present
of Cannon. Hemenway and Tawney The
Committee on Rules is nominally the
source of authority. and at present that
Committee hasA five members, viz: The
speaker. Mr.. Cannon, Mr.. Dalzell, Mr..
Grosvenir. Mr.. Williams and Mr.. De-
Almond. While the methods adopted TO
preserve party discipline and to expedite
the work OF Congress may at times appear
arbitrary andl despotic, the fact remains
that no material results can be secured by
a body of three hundred eighty-six men
with independent and perhaps divergent
views and often with discordant interests
without strong and efficient system of
rules by which it may be regulated The
rights of individual opinion and freedom
of speech are sacred. and their impair
ment is blow to human liberty Not.
withstanding this fact there are evidently
times and places where it would be i'm
practicable to assert these rights. Were
there norestrictions placed upon freedom
OF speech on the part of members there
could be ne adjournment of Congress- and
the channels Of legislation would be con-
gested and obstructed by needless verbos-
ity. While power and authority are al
ways susceptablestol arbitrariness and des-
potism it is preferable to trust within
reasonable bounds to the II straining force
of public sentiment and moral influence
than to sacrifice the efficacy of the legis-
lative organizations. relaxing the rules
which keep clsar and open the avenue of
progression. In view of the large mum.
Der of congressman the impract;cability of
any great measure of freedom is readily
apprehended.
1t has been charged that Americans are
a commercial people, and that nothing
appeals to them SO forceably as the chink
of gold and the sight of bank notes; that
they are nation of shop keepers" and
lack the ''artistic temperament, and the
love of music. literature and art. 1t is
needless to say that this delusion exists
mainly in the minds of foreigners who
make flying trip through some of the
smoke-begrimed and uncleanly CONNER
cial centers of our country. While COM
mercialism is one of the dominant traits
of the America Of today, Harvard, Chica-
go and Michigan testify that learning is
not decadent here, and the artist and mu-
sician do not anguish on our shores eth
er for want of material and inspiration or
fraternal companionship. visit to the
Corcoran Art Gallery at this place can
but add to our pride in the native artistic
! talents Turner has rival in George
1nnes; and what xmarine painter could
more faithfully depict the illimitable gran
deur OF waves sand rock than Richards.
And then there..is Whistler, Story, and a
host OF others. However much we po=-
sess in this regard there is no discredit in
seeking ideas abroad. and in fact the art
of a country should not be provincial and
of limited scope. The art treasures of
Greece and RomeSare as legitimately the
heritage OF America as they are of Ger
many or France. With this idea in mind
and for the purpose OF developing and en-
couraglpg the art OF America the Senate
passed bill this week to incorporate a
body in Washington to be known as the
American Academy in Rome for the pur-
pose of Establishing and maintaining an
institution to promote the study and prac.
tice of the fine arts and to aid and stinu-
late the education and training of arch-
tects painters. sculptors and other art
lists, to enable such citizens of the United
States as shall besseectel by competition
from among those who have passed with
honor through leading technical schools,
or have been equally we'll qualified by pri
vate instruction or study to develope their
powers and complete their training under
the most favorable surroundings. This
is in the direction of neutralizing what
ever truth there may be in the charge of
"sordid commercialism" which is made
against the United States.
Several Of the Iowa members are in
Iowa at this time. Judge Smith and Judge
Thomas are both at home. Judge Conner
left here on Sunday morning to