The Penn's Grove record., 1911-03-03

Is possible that by threatening suoA
action President Taft may dragon
the Republican senate into acting
on his reciprocity plan. And that IS
in all probability the reason Tor ais
hint at an extra session.
Short Session Folly.
Four matters confront this congress
that are important:
/. The Canadian reciprocity treaty
q. The general appropriation bills.
8. Ship subsidy legislation.
4. Senate resolution for direct cleo
ton of senators.
OF course there are others, but
these four are at this writing the ones
which engage most the attention OF
either the legislators or the PUBIC.
And the former have but little time
left to satisfy the public. Whether
they can do 1t or not is a very doubt
full question.
1t would not be a bad thing If some
congress would take up the utter folly
of the short neutrality-suspicious. by
the constitution. Meeting the hrst
week in December, it adjourns over
the holidays, nothing doing thus ar.
Reassembling the first week in Janu-
airy it wastes day after day on triv-
ialities and adjourns March 4. Moth
ing will come out Of this congress
that has been even reasonably dis
cussed, even in committee.
If one congress would take up vigor-
ously the question of 80 amending the
constitution that the short session
could be abolished or heightened, ma
king the new congress elected In NO
vember go into service within 60 days,
and perhaps changing the date of the
presidential Inauguration, it would
be something worth while.
The first proposition is mere bust
ness. To pay members of congress a
salary of $500 a year with perquis-
ties which bring 1t up to $4,000, and
let them work through a three months
term, with two-week holidays at
Christmas, doesn't seem like real busi-
ness. But that is what we do and
they take advantage Of 1t. | was luck
less enough to stay through the last
holiday session in Washington and
there we're not enough congressman
there to fill a jury If called upon.
Defeated Congressman Still LegisIate.
Moreover, this short session is made
up of lame ducks" of the repudiated
of the former dominant party. Out
of men owing little to their constttu-
encies, men beaten for reelection,
what can be hoped for in the way of
progressive legislation? Those with
whom l have talked have been either
sardonic, cynical or Indifferent. And
yet this present majority, turned by
tie late election into pitiful minority,
has, even after its reputation, the pow
er to enact a reciprocity law, pass all
the great appropriation bills, conduct
the affairs of the District of Columbia,
enact-or defeat bills for ship subsidy,
or for the election Of senators by d.
rect vote of the people. All this they
may do by the 4th of March. They
can be beaten only by the ~ilibuster,
and ilibustering 1t not popular with
the people. Meanwhile the Demo
Gratis, who won an overwhelming vic
tory last November, must wait until
next December to perform the duty
imposed upon them by the people.
Is 1t fair? 1t is good government?
Where Shall Conventions Be Held?
OF course it is rather early to begin
discussion of the location of the next
national conventions of the two great
parties. Usually that matter is settled
in the December preceding the presi-
dental year and doubtless will be so
determined this yea But politicians
in Washington are discussing 1t now,
and 1t seems no more than fair that
a mere looker-on might comment on
their views.
Sentiment Against Chicago.
On the Democratic side there have
been thus far only four cities serious
ly discussed-Chicago, Louisville.
Baltimore and New York. The con
sensus of opinion seems to be against
Chicago this time. although everybody
admits the prominence of that city
as a convention town both because of
it's central location and it's u%nrivalled
hotel accommodations. Today Chi
cago is better fitted to care for a great
national convention than 1t has ever
been before. But the Democrats are
shy of it for political aso They
are distrustful of a certain dominat-
ing influence in the present national
committee and do not purpose to have
a national convention held in his home
town where he could man the doors
satellites and shouters. Personally 1
think this rather an e~xaggeration Of
the Importance of power of that sort.
l recall very well coming back to
town in an L train from the go con-
vention, held in Chicago, which nomi-
mated Bryan, in company with John P.
Hopkins, once Democratic mayor of
Chicago, later the head of the boiling
gold Democratic party, and at all
times the political and business part
ner of Roger Sullivan. A nan across
the car leaned over and In a whisper
so confidential that 1t could be heard
by all, said: Say, John, I was on the
x door. l flung out a lot of them sill
yer cranks what had tickets. But I
let in all our boys whether they had
tickets or not"
The incident was typical of political
methods in Chicago, but it further
illustrates my point that the control
of the machinery Of a convention In
not a dominating force.
Much Talk Of Louisville.
Louisville? Well, there is talk of
that happy home of Democracy and
the mint julep. Geographically it is
central. Politically 1t is Democratic.
But climatically it is hot in the con
vention months, and as for hotel &C
commodations it is deplorably def
cient. Yet %curiously enough there is
more talk here about Louisville than
= 49, ~-xx1-&so- -4- mt