New-York tribune., 1909-01-09
FIND ONLY ONE MEANING.

| of Congressman could have been induced by
ment from fear that If he voted no the Secret
! Service might ferret out his secret sins.
| Nor does II seem that statements made IN
! 1909 even by a newspaper reporter are convinc-
| ing evidence of the motive which actuated Con
gressmen IN their votes IN 1903. The state
ments made in newspapers are sometimes ques-
| toned even at the White House
| The statement contained in the message that
| the chief argument in favor of the provision
| was that the Congressman did not themselves
wish to be investigated" can have but one mean
| ing. It means that Congress voted for the
| measure from improper motive. ANY Con
| gressman whose vote he determined by un-
| willingness to have his conduct investi-
| gated by Secret Service men, by any other
| men. must surely be in fear of the law. If II
| was believed that majority of this body were
in fear that their acts might he investigated and
| their crimes discovered the respect of the peo-
pie. which it is important for the Republic that
| Congress should possess. would be impaired. If
| not destroyed.
| It is dangerous to the Republic that large
| portion of our people should have their conf
| dence shaken in the judges who interpret the
| law: il is equally dangerous that their conf
| dence should be impaired in those who enact the
| laws and il is for this reason that the duty de-
| wolves upon the lawmakers not TO allow the in
| tegr1ty OF their motives to be lightly questioned
| We may be sure that no legislative body Will ne
respected by the people unless 1t respects itself
/ We are Jealous of the honor of the nation; we
should he equally Jealous of the honor or our IN
! stitutions.
| Doubtless in the Congress are sometimes
/ found unfit and dishonest men, but believe that
/ with few exceptions the body is composed OF
| men Of integrity, whose vote is determined not
/ by fear of the police but by honest regard
/ for the public service. If the time should ever
! come when majority Of the chosen representa-
! tives Of the American people were SO unfit for
/ their trust that their votes were controlled by
/ craven fear of the detection Of their crimes
then surely the Republic will have come upon
evil days and the failure of popular government
viii he demonstrated.
NO MEEKNESS OR MILDNESS.
The people Of this country have sent their
representatives to the Congress. Many of them
have for long years been reelected at the polls
or hy legislatures I do not believe that popular
government and universal suffrage such
lamentable failures that dishonest, Cowardly or
unfit men are chosen To continue in office In
/ this matter stand only for ourselves but
for those who sent us here. The impeachment
/ Of those who are chosen is the impeachment Of
I those who chose.
The President says that no one holds the dig
nifty OF the Congress Of the United states in
/ higher regard than he does, II would therefore
he thing TO he deplored H. as result OF any
/ unfortunate inadvertenCe of language, any un-
toward combination Of words. expressions
should remain in his message which might he
Interpreted by the people lesseninE the dig
nifty and thereby weakening the authority of
the Congress
II is said in the message that criminals should
he prosecuted II found in the legislative branch
Of the government. and with this We wholly
considered desirable, special exception could
he made IN the law prohibiting tho use OF Secret
Service officers in investigating members Of Con
sress." In other words. II Is suggested that We
pass law which will facilitate the exposure Of
other criminals but will protect ourselves II a
majority Of the Congress stand IN favor OF the
exposure Of their own nisdeeds they would he
ready 20 vote for such a law but such Is not the
case and against il we must protest. II Con
gress listens tameIy and timidlv to reflections
upon the character Of its members and its hon
esty Of purpose II viii deserve and II will Ger
tainly receive the contempt of the public, We
feel that the suggestions IN the Presidents mes
sage the Congress should refuse meekly to re
ceive and mildly to consider.
During long centuries our English speaking
ancestors struggled and bled that representa-
tive government might be established among
English people. Our revolutionary forefathers.
more than a century ago. struggled and had
that our government should be repre- sentative
government that the laws Of the American peo-
rle should he passed hy the representatives
chosen by the American people Tho Congress
of the United States to-day exists result of
centuries of struggle for popular government
Let every man who Is member ~ - vote on
this question in the manner which seems 10 him
most worthy Of 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
MR. DENBY'S CRITICISM
Nj Perkins yielded time 70 his colleague on
the committee. Mr.. DENLY who said the House
was confronted with the most painful duty that
had fallen 70 its lot since he had been mem
ber L was greatly to be regretted that the
President should have seen ft mention ny
name in his message certain members OF the
Committee on Appropriations not with view
them for their official action in their legislative
capacity" The President. he declared. did not
agree with the committee hut surely he said.
he could not claim the right to hold to public
ridicule in state paper every member whose
views did not exactly accord with his own. As
: matter Of fact" he said. whether always
right or sometimes wrong in their recoumen-
dations. I think voice the general view wheE
I say that the chairman and members of the
Committee Appropriations, bearing. they
do untainted and undsputed credentials from
intelligent and patriotic communities have won
and have desired the respect Of the American
people
To-day" he continued. your special com
nittee offers a resolution intended 10 make clear
the attitude of the House of Representatives
toward the President when in the exercise Of
constitutional privilege he strayed from the path
Of recommendation and just criticism into thu
realm Of personal abuse. suspicion and innuendo"
iudicrous interruption Of the debate occurred
Just as Mr. DENLY closed when a doorkeeper an
nounced. Mr.. Speaker message from the
President of the United States"
The House, led by the Democratic side. burst
into laughter as it beheld Mr. Latta, assistant
secretary the President. standing in the centre
aisle with document in his hand Speaker
Cannon could not restore order for a full minute
to recognize Mr.. Latta. For minute after the
receipt of the messag ges-fOr there were three of
them-the House seemed stunned. The debate |
was resumed when il learned that all the |
communications related to routine matters.
MR. BENNETT DEFENDS THE PRESIDENT. |
Representative Bennett. of New York pre-
diCted that action of the House the resolu- |
ton would play more part in the record Of |