Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-11-14

heaven and demands another Hercules
at Washington.
The members of congress went hon
estly TO work TO fulfill the pledge OF
the party. They made al honest ef-
fort. That they we're not more sue
cessful in their efforts is entirely the
fault of d republican president who
thought more Of making political cap
ital and of serving the corporations
who elected him. than of giving relief
to an oppressed and overwhelmed
people.
They did another thing down at
Washington that l want TO mention
especially. for the reason that the ex-
ample should he followed in Illinois.
For years. at Springfield and at
Washington. we have heard of gag
rule" and of "one man power: how
the speaker of the house of representa-
tives frequently had more influence
than the will of the people or the ma
jority of members. That power rested
in the speaker for the reason that, in
the system of patronage and Of spells
that has grown up and been fOstered
I
was permitted to name the members
who were 10 serve on all the commit
tees. and that the rules, once made,
could not be amended from the floor
of the house without two-thirdS
vote. Through the system, majority
rule" was abolished. The speaker at
Washington ard at Springfield could
defeat any piece of legislation, good or
bad. that they desired 20 defeat. With
the great. power that they were given,
they could frequently influence the
passag Of Legislation that was not
really desired by a majority. BY the
influence Of patronage in committee
appointments, If he could not get he
solid support Of his own party, he
could form bipartisan" alliances and
secure the result. The power is too
great to be vested by anybody in one
man. It is dangerous and undemo-
cratic. 1t is not in conformity with
true republican form of government.
The democrats promised TO abolish
this and they kept their word. They
did away with the zone man power
by the passing of rule that provided
for the selection OF all the committees
from the body of the house through a
special committee elected by vote OF
the members.
With this new rule the house a.
Washington has done away with gag
rule" and one man" power.
The same rule should be adopted by
the Illinois legislature and its adoption
would see the passing of the sensa-
ii is 81. ..F
zion that have been so prevalent in
recent years. We do not believe that
the new rule would make all men
honest. but II would stop the schem-
Ing and the plots OF those who know
best how TO work IN the dark. Under
it. bipartisan alliances" would cease
and We believe that the charges Of
rule by Jack pot" methods would be
a thing Of the past. We hope TO see
the democrats OF Illinois pledge them
selves to such reform and then be
given the power 10 carry It out.
With a confidence that We would in
spire In the great masses Of the voters
that We are IN earnest. and that we
will carry out the measures Of relief
that we pledge We should sweep the
country al the next election. the or
gsnization for which We can not com
mence too soon.
Gentlemen, the situation reminds me
Of the warfare Of ancient times, when
one nation or part OF the country would
go TO war against another. The de 4.
fensive army would be driven back
into the walled city or castle until it
was intrenched behind the walls o.
granite and the offensive army would
begin siege and batter away a. the
walls until a breach was effected when
the besieging army would center all I.
its energies for the attack and try 20
enter the breach and capture the city
or the castle and it's forces II was
rarely that they found the breach IN .
defended and they needed all their ,