The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-07-20

iIett lIlS IS the most oIIecISe way
the union can accomplish its purposes.
If they would supplement this by
having an intelligent committee here
during the seSOnS of Congress it
would add much to strengthen their
influence.
I have already referred to some of
the difficulties which prevent the pas
sage of bills Favorable to the interests
of the great common people. We
nave a bill day here on which every
one can introduce a bill that chooses
to do so. All these bills are put in a
basket at the Speakers stand. He
looks ove these bills and refers them
to various committees which he has
appointed. While he is expected to
appoint members from both parties
on these committees he is careful that
a majority Of them are his friends.
SO the bills go to the various COM
mittees for consideration to be re-
ported pack either faEOrably OF un-
fayorably, or, as is often the case, not
to be reported Jack at all. Now,
every interest in the country but the
~ar1ne seems to be represented here,
by committees. lawyers or profess
sional lobbyists, mostly the latter.
These men so before the committees
and present the very best reasons
they can IN urging it's passage. Not
only that, but they work constantly
with Congressman and Senators in an
effort to obtain their support OF the
measure. | leave it to YOU to say
whether the mea used to obtain
this support is always fair to the peo-
pie.
For illustration . I shall in
troduce a bill to suppress the buying
and selling futures except where the
stuff is actually delivered, that is when
the contract is for the real thing. |
would take this bill up and put it
With the others. The Speaker would
likely refer it to the Jud ciary Com
Inittee, as that is the largest grave
yard in Washington. / wait a month
or two and the bill is not reported
back. | go to the committee and they
put me off With some trivial excuse.
| wa another month or two and
again go to the committee and meet
with the same failure as before.
Now l know you are wondering if
there is no You are ready
to ask if 1 can't call that bill from
the hands of the by a vote
of the House? Yes, but | must have
the unanimous consent to do SO,
which practically means the death Of
every b1l which the committee don't
want to report back. These are the
rules which govern the action Of the
House. II seven-eightS Of the mem
bers Of the House desire the passage
Of a bill the Speaker of the committee
it has ben referred to. and, one or two
members in their seats prevent its
passage for a whole session. That's
how the people rule in this glorious
free government Of yours. You have
no idea. Sile. what a farce Congress
is under the rules which at present
govern it. ] honestly believe that if
the American people knew what was
going or here and who were behind
the powers that be- they would
rise up and wipe the Capitol from the
face of the earth.
You know that I was raised on a
farm. I left it in early manhood be-
cause / had an ambition for what 1
then foolishly thought a higher call
ing. There is no higher calling, and
one of my brightest dreams is to
some day own and live on a farm. I
am goin~ to do what I can here for
the farmers. I am glad your union
has hit upon this writing to your rep
resentatives. I believe it is the only
thing that will "kiver the situation
I believe 1t would be we'll to inaug-
urate ! letter crusade, and then fol-
low it up vigorously at the polls if
several thousand letters are sufficient
to make those old timers turn pale
with fear for the future. Now, old
friend. I must close. Give all ~1e boys
my regards and tell them I shall do
the best I can. There is some way
u I1Adh0 dICSS OIO uIOSS-UdChA hI1O"
'"There is a God in Israel" aad we
must find it out and go after them
Yours respectfully,
r OLDHAM.
Daisy folded the letter, placed it in
the envelope and handed it to her
father.
pretty good letter." he exclaimed,
as he knocked the aches out Of his
pipe.
Daisy waited a moment. and OBJ
serving that her father was in deep
thought passed noiselessly back into
the house. The girl was young but
she was beginning to realize that there
was a great work to accomplish, and
that her father would be conspicuous
in it.