Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1913-09-26
Our Washington Letter.

and unable to block consideration Oh
the currency question, the Republicans
have centered their efforts in criticism
If the Democratic caucus. In fact, 1t
has been announced that the Republic
ans will center their fire in the coming
campaign on what they describe as the
..;ninuitous caucus system" How
much bunk and buncombe there is IN
this agitation has been pointed out oy
several of the Democratic leaders.
No more effective speech against this
nose on the part of the minority IN
Congress was made than that OF Con-
gresham Pepper, of the second Iowa
district, who opened his remarks py
agsailing the 'insincerity and dema-
popy in this attack on the Democratic
caucus. :, :.
II venture the prediction that II
either the Progressives or Republicans
were suddenly placed in power IN 1nls
House and charged with the respon'
sibility for legislation the first thing
thew would do would be to call caucus
of their members, he said. 1T would
he the natural and sensible thing to 90.
Il would be the. only way they could
accomplish results; and after all, the
people are principally interested IN re-
suits. 1t is results that the democrat
ic party is interested in. -,
s.The Democratic party to be ne'o
Justly responsible for legislation must
have power as a party to perfect and
execute it's legislative duties. In order
to have that necessary power it must
not only have adequate nu" oers' Out
It must have cohesion and solidarity.
In order to have cohesion and solidarity
It must meet and confer. 1t must
thresh out it's differences and be aoie
to act as party in fact as well as IN
name. Hence, the necessity and the
ACCESSIBILITY of the caucus.
1--WE have been commissioned bY the
people to relieve them from the burden
of exorbitant and unjust tariff tax
alton: to reform and perfect the
currency system; to eradicate the
oppression of trusts and illegal com,
binations; to solve the intricate anu
complex problems involved in trans,
portation, and as to all OF these anu
other questions we have accepted IN
good faith, as party, our full measure
of responsibility.
$50 say in spite of all that may oe
said against party caucus, secret OF
otherwise, the old saying remains as
true as ever, BY their fruits We shall
know them
'The fruits of Democratic caucus
thus far have been tariff bill which
will lift from the backs of the American
people an enormous and heavy load OF
taxation. A bill so good that 1t
received IN the House the support OF a
number of Progressive Republicans
and in the Senate received the vote OF
the entire Progressive party in that
body, together with the vote OF q
distinguished and recent Republican
candidate for President, Senator
LaFollette.
sIn addition to our splendid tariff
bill, the caucus has brought forth
banking and currency bill that is admit
tedly the best bill upon the subject
ever written; bill that has thus fal
received more general and widespread
support than any similar measure eve'
before Congress. 1t has stood the
severe test of public debate and critic
al examination and bids fair soon tt
become law. 1t is. a bill written ii
the interest of all the people. 1t ex
tends no special privileges to anyone
and hence is unjust to no one. 1t is
solution of the most difficult and per
picking problem that has ever beer
presented to the American Congress.
"And SO say to our Republican ane
Progressive critics, judged by the
standard of results, our legislative pro
cedure here is abundantly justified.
We are engaged in the laudable anc
praiseworthy enterprise of carrying
out the peoples will. We expect tt
continue in the good work. In thu
years to come we will appeal with con
fident assurance to the deliberate judg
ment of the American people as to oul
stewardship.
Among the Democratic Congressmer
who are serving their first terms none
has made a more favorable impression
than Congressman Maurice Connolly
of the third district. Mr.. Connolly
with degrees from both Cornell ant
Heidleburg Universities, is one of tn
best educated men in Congress. HI
has been q student, too, for years Of
public questions and he was able tt
enter into debate and into committee
activities from the first. He is skillfu
- dnha%o sod 1o0;cal in hia sr0nmanfa