The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-04
THE HOUSE is NOW A MACHINE.

News comes from Washington that at
the close of his present term in the House
Representative Littlefeld, of Maine, will
retire to private life. Being one of the
ablest debaters in the House and man
of distinct ambition, this has caused much
said on good authority that he has de-
cided sto retire from public life and &C.
cept fattering offer to practice law in
Boston.
Mr.. Littlefeld speaks frankly Of his dis
appointment at the obstacles to be met in
the lower house by any sincere man who
attempts to work out any of the great
problems of legislation now before the
country. He regards the task of any lead
er who attempts to secure legislation for
the people as more a matter of political
manipulation than fair debate or the
merits.
This is a striking commentary upon the
character of what the trainers of the Con-
stitution meant to be the popular branch
of Congress. The change in the rules has
converted the House into a machine to
execute the will of the Speaker. He names
the committee on rules which absolutely
controls the House. No measure can
even be considered without their consent
and it requires political manipulation,
instead of fair debate on the merits to
secure legislation. 1t is no wonder that
man who believes more in fair debate"
than political manipulation chooses
continue career which offers no prom
Use of usefulness to man of Mr.. Little
fields parts.
The retirement from public service Of
men like Mr. Lttlefield is distinct loss
to the country staunch Republican, he
was courageous and independent. Upon
matters of party policy. he was loyal to
his partys declared tenets. but he de-
manded the right upon legislative mat
tiers to do his own thinking and to vote
as he pleased. When popular clamor
drove the almost solid Republican and
Democratic members to vote to refuse to
let Roberts take his seat, Mr. Littlefield
had the vision and the nerve to try to
stem the tide. He said that to refuse
man a seat upon the basis of such charges
would establish a most dangerous prece-
dent and he courageously and ably COM
batted the view of his party leaders. He
was no apologist for Mormonism. He was
standing for the principle that man
chosen By the people was entitled to take
his seat, and the proper remedy was to
expel him if he was a law breaker. He
was eternally right, and many who voted
to exclude Roberts have since regretted
casting a vote that established danger
Gus precedent.
There are not few members Of Con-
gress who fret under the methods of doing
business in the House. It Is the ideal sys-
TEN for men who can do more by ''manip-
ulation'' than by flair debate" and it is
the ideal system for registering the decree
OF speaker, and IHe eulCto VI paI ~ maH-
ayers or the administration. But the
House is no longer the forum where great
questions are debated and the truth ascer-
tanned by parliamentary discussion. 1t has
degenerated into a machine where great
men are repressed and the political
manipulator' given full play. There are
still great men in the House and upon oc-
casion the country hears from them, but
the rules are such as to discourage fair
debate" and it is not the place to at
tract the country's greatest debaters as
in times past.
Many folks will agree with Henry Grady
that cotton is a fool