The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-08-03
OUR AGENTS IN WASHINGTON.
Are They Working For Those Who
Elect Them or For Some Other In
terests?-Check Them Up.

| The Federal government at Wash
| ington is a delegated" government.
We employ 391 Representatives, go
Senator'S, a President, his Cabinet,
and a Federal Judiciary to be our
| agents; to act for us in matters which
affect us all; to be, in fact, our agents
or servants in our common political
concerns. Did these delegates" of
yours, as Senator Bourne terms them,
represent you during the past two
years?
For instance, did your Congress
man vote for Cannon-the keystone
Of Privilege in Congress? Did he join
in the merger Of regular Republicans
and Tammany Hall Democrats to
strengthen the grip of Cannon and
Privilege on the House through the
committee system by which legisla-
tion Is framed, the Pork Barrel" is
controlled, and the members Of the
House are converted into political
eunuchs? Did he unite with the In
surgents or cling to the old regime
in the vote over the Speakershlp in
the special session of 1909 and the
Norris resolution Of March II, 1910?
Did he represent you by his vote
on the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill and
the amendments offered thereto?
You don't know? But it is absolute
ly your business 70 know. What your
hired Congressman does controls your
life and your living-fixes the cost of
your food, clothing and shelter, and
many of the conditions Of your en-
ployment.
Privilege knows exactly how your
| Congressman votes. It lets slip no op-
portunity to impress its wants on
| him. Why? Because it knows where
| its profit lies. If you don't Now this
| is not to be a discussion Of the vir-
| tues Of Free Trade as against the
exactions Of Protection-that isn't
| the question before us. I am making
| an effort to convince you Of the ne
| cessity of watching out for your own
interests.
The railway question Is a far big
ger problem than determinations and
! rebates. 1t Is a problem Of restrain
ing a monopoly Of portentous proper
tions, whose activities, rates, charges,
and services under-lie our very civil
| ization. And the railways are in pol
itics, they seek to control Congress,
the courts. and the agencies of public
opinion. in order that they may do
| as they will with this power.
They have had delegates in Con-
gress ever since the Civil war-and
faithful ones, too. But did your "de1e-
gate" represent you in the votes on
the amendments to the Wickersham
| railway bill? Despite its many short
| comings, the bill is a step forward. If
your Congressman is up for re-elec-
ton, ask him If he voted to shelve the
clauses providing for a physical valu-
! alton of roads, and the supervision of
| stock and bond issues. If a new man
is up, ask him how he would have
voted on these points. This railroad
| issue, like the poor, is with us always.
The express companies, parasites OF
the railways and often owned by the
men who control the railways, are
among the easiest money makers in
the country The express companies
do not believe in the parcels post;
| and because of their influence with
your hired men in Congress, you are
denied it.
| All these evils I have enumerated
all these expressions that the Priv
ileged Interests lay up~a, us-are part
Of the cost Of delegated" govern
ment, Of which Senator Bourne spoke:
His remedy Is direct government. But
that Is not what we have. The ques-
| tion for us is: Can our delegated"
government be converted into "popu-
| lar" government? I think it can. A
| start has been made in the Sixty-first
Congress. But much remains to be
| done, and the voters must do it.
There are nearly 100000 voters
| in America. They do all the voting.
For Privilege does not go to the polls.
This vote is what the scientist calls
| potential force" Some day it will
| become "kinetic." Then it will be
| sovereign the sovereignty of the
| whole people.-Frederic c.. Howe in