The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1906-07-12


but the sum and substance was to tn,
effect that the ant was n prudent ant
industrious insect and in the summe
prepared for the winter, while thu
grasshopper sang the summer ava!
and was unprepared for the colS
weather. Congress works on the plar
of the grasshopper, except that 1t fools
the winter away and then works like
Il Turk in the sultry days of summer
to make up for lost time. What coult
be sillier than for 800 grownup mel
! to take two weeks holiday at Christ
mas time, knowing full well that II
they do their duties will keep them In
July, when it is hot enough in this de
lectable city to make the skin slip Off
almost? But they do II just the same
| The truth Is that congressional elec
tions ought to be held the last Monday
In August and congress should con
| vene the first Monday in October-the
most delightful season of the year on
| the Potomac, And the representatives
| elected in August should be the ones
to meet In October. 1t is preposterous
to have a session of congress in which
| from OnefOurth to one-half of the
members have been defeated for re-
election, as we have now. The theory
of the two year term for representa-
tiyes is that they should be fresh from
the people. Nevertheless we cling to
the bad habit Of retaining for the short
session the members rejected by the
people. The reason why the meeting
OF congress was set for the first Mon
day in December was that that date
gave the farmer members time to har-
vest and sell their crops and to make
the long slow journey to the seat OF
government. The trip took months
then where it requires days now. The
reason having failed, the date for the
convening of congress should be set
back to the first Monday in October.
Then congress could do its work and
get out of Washington before the sum
mer solStice-a consummation devout-
ly to be wished. BY electing representa-
tives the last Monday In Augustine
ldlest portion of the year-and having
congress convene on the first Monday
In October would allow FIVE weeks in
which to ascertain the results in even
the closest districts-ample time In this
day of railroads, telegraphs and tele-
phones. But the Wis inertia In human
nature is nowhere more In evidence
than in the congress of the United
States, which we fondly and proudly
call 'the most august legislative body
on EARTH"
This congress has been no exception
in the matter of fooling away the
cold, inyigorating days of winter and
spring and then working like galley
slaves while the perspiration flowed
freely. The three weeks before Christ
mas were squandered in debating"
the presidents message, an utterly fu-
tile performance. Words, words, words
merely that and nothing more Then
followed the two weeks of Christmas
holidays, running the total up to five
weeks before we even settled to work
The upshot was that during the last
two weeks of the session everything
was done In rush, slapbang style, and
bills of the most far reaching conse-
quences We're rammed through with
out adequate debate or without any
debate at all under whip and spur of
the house machine-the committee on
rules. III evil comes of it the Repub-
lican house machine will be entirely to
blame for 1t, for while we have put up
a game fight whenever fight was justi-
fable they, with their beastly majority
of 112, could generally outvote us.
AS the president made many recon-
mepdatiOns 1t would have been strange |
II several of them had not been enact |
ed into law, as his party has an almost |
two thirds majority in each house of |
congress. but he has met with three |
pronounced defeats-tirst, on the state |
hood bill; second, on the Payne Philip.
pine tarihP bill; third. on the Santo Do
mingo treaty. on course the house had
nothing TO do with the treaty. The
house passed the Payne Philippine tar
IN bill, but only by the aid OF the bulk
VI the Democratic votes, II all the
Democrats had lined up against Ii, II
would have been defeated by seven
votes. SO even that was a defeat for
The house Republican machine In the
statehood matter, however, both the
and the Republican
house machine We're severely rolled by
The Democratic minority, aided and
lbetted by the Republican insurgents.
70 the Democrats, led IN the house by
Hon. John Sharp Williams and in the
senate by Hon, Joseph Weldon Bailey,
10 the people OF Oklahoma and the In
Han Territory owe II that they are to
% blessed With immediate statehood.
The people OF Arizona and New Mex.
co also owe the Democrats IN con-
Iress perpetual debt OF gratitude for
he long and heroic aud successful fight
made TO prevent their being forced
ato AN unnatural and uneongenlal un-
on. ON the whole, the conduct OF the
Democratic minortles Ia house and
enate has strengthened the party for
be impending congressional elections
nd for the greater contest OF 1908.
we have much cause for
ope and self congratulatlon.
HuaaIa and kha Ia,.ta