Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-27
Congress of United States Has Failed of Duty

corporations have grown to mountains
of iniquity. Yet the congress has sat
supinely inert. a corporation control
led senator ''bossing" the great and
dignified senate. and dictatorial. ty-
rannfcal, reactionary congressman has
headed a coterie of half dozen who.
following his commands as speaker.
have literally owned the house.
Movement For Reform.
A great movement began. accentuated
here by one man, perhaps Bryan:
there by another, perhaps La Toilette
or Folk or a Cummins or Hughes.
and the people through them voiced
their demand for curing of the abuses.
1t was not spasmodic reform wave.
but tidal wave. and it threw politi-
cal wrecks high on the beach in New
York. Missouri, Oregon. in dozen
other states. Even some of the ships
Of the national political feet were
caught In the onrushing waters and
hurled high and dry among the shore
i rocks.
| Yet the congress failed adequately to
| realize the, significance of passing
events. 1t dallied: it sneered: 1t laugh
| ed Some men of the members wore
oountenances wherein was lined con-
Germ, appreciation of what might fol-
| low. -
Into the White House went a man Of
force. of purpose Of political skill be-
yond that possessed by others of his
period His was an admixture Of ex-
cellences with deplorable qualities.
and one of. the latter was a disposi-
ton to win any fight regardless of the
methods employed. $40 +
/ 1t was not q far cry. from the ethics
of such concept to that Of the imagi-
nary modern who said to his son:
/, my boy. get money. Get it honest
ly If you can, but get it, $50.
MY SON." might have said this
strong man in the seat of Washing
ton, Jefferson and Lincoln, win po-
litical fights. Win them honestly II
| you can. but win them"
He knew the people had lost conf
dence in the ruling powers of the con-
gress. and likewise he knew that he
could win In any contest Of words
with the house or senate-win SO far
rs the people were concerned-and that
they would applaud him for his deeds.
| A Cheap lnsinuation.
Let it not be inferred from this that
I am discounting the average inteIli-
gence of the masses. They are nearer
right than any one class Of them. high
or low In education. social training or
worldly goods.
| Nevertheless, taking advantage of
the fact that not all of the people could
know all Of the facts in the case. this
militant dweller in the white mansion
In message to the congress flung q
cheap insinuation at the honor Of the
legislators. HIS language was such
as to convey the impression that he
meant to impugn the honor of the ma.
1ority Of the members.
What are the facts? That the pres.
ident really designed ding at the
small group Of men the house has per.
mitted to rule 1t, likewise the senate.
| Can the house justly. complain? Has
| it not permitted half dozen men to
dictate? Has 1t not degenerated' into
a thing no longer vigilant Of the peo
PIES needs? Have not members whose
hearts were right and lives clean sat
by while forces of the interests" In
simulated themselves into places Of
power and defied the people? Have moi
senators by silence agreed to the dom
nation Of these "interests?"
Last year the Aldrtch-vreeland cur
lrency bill was forced through the
house with scarce a reason given II
public speech why It should become
flaw. 1t went to the senate. where Nei
son w. Aldrich. gloating In his power
| saw senator's shrink into corners. walh
1.-THE corridors all but wringing theil
hands In despair. yet well, let us turr
for the moment to blur old Tom sIsaw
son Of Boston and study his lIterar,