The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-23

h!o poASoudl "reminiscences Oh Cne r lily
Mems club of the Park Avenue Con
gregational church, whenever he
showed the slightest inclination to
stop. He had promised to speak if
teen minutes. When he ceased he had
spoken an hour and forty minutes. Mr..
Lind was followed by Mayor D. P.
Jones, who spoke on Municipal Gov
eminent, Theoretical and. PRACTICAL
In spite of the inclemency Of the
weather the church was filed to the
doors. =. ~
, Samuel Johnson, formerly public ex-
gan his remarks by comparing the Fifty
eighth congress to previous congresses,
the Fifty-frst. Mr.. Lind
started his Congressional career in 1886.
Congress Has Deteriorated.
"When I began. to compare in my
own mind the personality of the last
congress and the congresses of former
years. said Mr.. Lind, ct at first
thought that perhaps I did not recog-
nize the great men because my per-
ceptive faculties were not as great as
formerly. I thought Of the homely com
after years as the pies mother used to
make. But, on long consideration, L
have come to the conclusion that con
gress has deteriorated. Outside of five
men on the republican side of the house,
and like number on the democratic
side, there are no men who rise above
the ordinary. I might mention for the
republicans, Dalzen of Pennsylvania,
Boutell of Chicago, and Stevens OF Min
nesota. For the democrats there IS
Burke Cochran of New York and Will
liams Of Mississippi. Such man as
Dalzell is hampered because he comes
from state governed by an oppressive
ring, and Cochran cannot do his best, as
he represents New York city.
HThere are several reasons why this
condition exists. There are Just as
great statesmen in the north and south
AS there ever were. In the south the
negro problem represses great men
One southern representative SAID TO me
that not only is the southern negro de,
teriorating mentally and physically, but
he is increasing in numbers. With su sue;
"a problem before the southern white
man. with the negro vote helping to
elect the representatives, it is a natural
result that the candidates who can rant
the most, who can shout the loudest,
and can make the most. noise, will be
elected. ) A.. somewhat similar. condition
exists in the north in the big cities.
The true qualifications of a man do, not
q nr,ear and the representatives are often
elected on a compr omis pr because they
are able to keep Themselves constantly
before the public. Z 80 - b.
- ~ AS to Reputation.
ga representative may have three
regulations: his reputation at home, ms
reputation in the newspapers, and ms
reputation among the members OF the
house. Strange as it may seem, ms
renntation among the members is the
cnly one, probably which .portrays his
reai character. Within three months
a new man finds his level in the house,
whether he attempts to speak or not.
With others, I believe there should be
rank in congress. This rank works IT.
self out by natural laws. A representa-
tive who attempts to speak on subject
upon which he is not thoroly familiar
wastes precious minutes and contributes
nothing. He finds his level at once and
it is not high one. Some men may
have a reputation in the newspapers of
amusing the house by their wit and
1uency. However, whether these men
are praised in the outside world or not,
unless they have something to say, they
amuse the house, but not In the way
they are supposed to do.
- Congress an Educator. .~
CT have always regretted that ]
could not finish my college education
but believe that to a young man 4
term in congress is an education. From
the Philippines on the west to the coast
Of Main on the east, from frigid Alaska
to the tropics, congress controls the
Il 49, NJ rhon HIM
people. No one man can grasp the lin
mensity of the work carried on. The
work on the floor does not compare with
the work done by the. committees
Mr.. Lind then explained how a bill
is passed by congress, how the house is
controlled by such a man as "Uncle
Joe Cannon, how poor chairman of q
committee can wreck a good bill, and
how an able man can obtain almost
anything within reason.
nAmong the bills that came up at
the last session. continued Mr.. Lind
care several' Of immense Importance
The railroad rate regulating bill dice
in the senate but will come up again
What considered to be of deep inter
est was the voting to build two new
battleships. While I voted in previous
congresses for the building Of every
snip InaC IOugnC IN Lne spanish war, j
did not vote for the new battleships al
the last session. My reasons were thai
| there are twelve battleships now in tn:
process of building. When these arc
completed the United States will stand
second in the list of the world s powers
on the sea. The two new ships viii
cost $16,0OO,0OO. There was deficit
in the report of the treasurer last yeal
of $50, 100000. Do you know that the
navy is hard to supply with mens Las
year there were over 5000 assertions
There are 81, 900 men in the navy. It viii
take 10000 new men to equip the new
ships, bringing the total number up tt
1000. This means that there. is some
| thing in the imperialistic policy after
all. There is another point. Why built
new ships when practically every bat
tleship must have new armament
When the guns were made they were
thoroly up to date, but they are .useles:
for modern smokeless powder, such a.
the Japanese are using. The battle
ships can be neither manned nor armed
efficiently.
Touched the Tariff.
Mr.. Lind closed with few words OF
Il