The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-01-10


fidence should be impaired in those
who enact the laws and 1t is for TINS
reason that the duty devolves upon the
lawmakers not to allow the integrity
of their motives to be lightly QuoS-
toned.
I'VE may be sure that no legislative
body will be respected by the people
unless it respects itself.
Doubtless in the congress are some
times found unfit and dishonest men.
but l believe that with few exceptions
the body is composed of men OF IN
tegrity, whose vote is determined not
by fear of the police, but by an honest
regard for the public service. If the
time should ever come when a ma.
jority of the chosen representatives OF
the American people were SO unfit for
their trust that their votes were con
trolled by a craven fear of the de-
lection of their crimes then surely the
republic will have come upon evil
days and the failure of popular govern
ment will be demonstrated.
"The people of this country have
sent their representatives to the con.
gress. Many of them have for long
years been reelected at the polls OF
by legislatures We do not believe
that popular government and univers.
al sugrage are such lamentable fall
ures that dishonest, c0wardly or un-
fit men are chosen to continue in Of
flee. In this matter we stand not only
for our views but for those who sent
us here. The Impeachment of those
who are chosen is to Impeachment OF
those who choose.
"The president says that no one
holds the dignity of the congress or
the United States in the higher regard
than he does 1t would therefore be
la thing to be dep1ored, if as a result
of any unfortunate inadvertence OK
language, any untoward combination
of words, expressions should remain
in his message which might be inter-
preted by the people as lessening the
dignity and thereby weakening the au'
thority of the congress.
"It is said in the message that GRIM
inals should be prosecuted II found
in the legislative branch of the gov
eminent and with this we wholly
agree. But the president adds, If this
is not considered desirable a special
exception could be made in the law
prohibiting the use of secret service
officers in investigating members OF
congress- In other words, it is sug-
gested that we pass law which will
facilitate the exposure of other Grim
inals but will protect ourselves. If a
majority of the congress stand for the
exposure of their own misdeeds, they
would be ready 10 vote for such law,
but such is not the case, and against
it, we must protest. If congress lis
tens tamely and timidly to reflections
upon the character of its members and
its honesty of purpose, it will de-
serve and it will certainly receive the
contempt of the public. We feel tho
suggestions in the presidents mes.
sage, the congress should refuse to
meekly receive and mildly to consider
"The congress of the United States
today exists as a result of centuries
of struggle for popular government
Let every man who is member oil
it vote on this question in the manner
which seems to him most worthy oil
the traditions of which we are the
heirs, of the institutions of which we
are the protectors, and Of the people
of whom we are the representatives.
AS was the case when he first spoke
on the question before the holidays
Mr.. Perkins was frequently interrupt
ed by applause Upon the conclusion
of his remarks he submitted the com
mittee report, which, after quoting
from the presidents message, was al
follows:
Understanding this language to be
a reflection on the integrity of It'll
membership and aware of its own con
stitutional duty as to its membership
the house In respectful terms called
) on the president for any information
. that would Justify the language of the
!, message or assist it in it's constitu
tional duty to purge itself of corrup
, ton.
, 1.-THE president in his message o.
January 4 denies that the paragraph
of the annual message casts reflec
[ lions on the integrity Of the house; at
{ tributes to the house an entire failure
{ to understand my message declares
: that he has made no charge of cor
ruption against any members of thi.
( house, and by Implication states tina
{ he has no proof of corruption on thu
{ part of any member of this house.
Whether the house in its resolution
t of December II. 1908. correctly inter
D preted the meaning of the words uset
). by the president In his annual mes
, sage or whether 1t misunderstood tina
t language 40 the president implies. vii
q be judged now and in the future &C
. cording to the accepted Interpretation
' Of the English language. This house
: charged only with its responsibility t
|. the people of the United States ant
. | it's obligation to transmit unimpaire'
. to the future the representative inst
!. tutions inherited from the past AM
20 preserve its own dignity, must In
t sist on its own capacity to understand
e the import of the presidents language
D We consider the language Of the presl
= dent in his message of December 4
; 1908, untustified and without basis O
. fact and that 1t constitutes breacl
Of the privileges Of the house; there
8 fore, be it
r Resolved. That the house in the e,
I ercise Of its constitutional prerogs
!. tives declines to consider Amy CON
} munication from any source which /
}. not in it's own judgment respectful