The Caucasian., 1913-11-11

Indirect Pressure Often Brought
to Bear on Candidates.
PRESENT FOR MISS WILSON

Discussion and Attained Much No.
toriety by His Resolution; Also He
Opened Door For Another and Much
Needed Reform.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, Nov. 11.-[Special.]-
Executive interference with the leg
islative branch of the government is an
old. but ever recurring subject of dis
cussion. Ever since the establishment
of the government, according to stu
dents of our legislative history, the
president has exerted in one way or
another influence upon congress to Sc
cure the legislation he desired.
About the most earnest opponent of
executive interference in these days
Is Senator Cummins The Iowa sen
ator carried his opposition into the
New Jersey campaign with severe crit,
icism of President Wilson, for which
he was "called down" by the robust
MARITIME who never fails to come for
ward and support the president. The
discussion that followed in the SEN
ate was interesting. but proved nothing
save that Senator Williams came for
ward with a fiat footed denial that the
president used patronage to influence
legislation.
The lnA;rnn& ln{3,,anc>
OF course no one could prove that
patronage is used by the president to
secure votes for measures. but we
know that the indirect influence Of
patronage has great weight.
Get in line with the president" is
what the fellows. back home seeking
Offices keep saying. Perhaps they use
that somewhat silly expression up
hold the hands of the president" which
creates an absurd mind picture. Bet
ter to say. "stand fn" with the presi-
dent At all events politicians know
that members OF the presidents party,
in congress who oppose the policies of
the president are not likely to find
many political plunis for their hungry
supporters at homie Hence the man
who opposes the president finds him
self In trouble with his constituents.
Executive Usurpation.
A number of years ago when the
Democrats were criticising the ''execu-
tive usurpation of Roosevelt just as
the Republicans are now talking about
Wilson. Senator Spooner came forward
with the statement that the only time
the liberties of the country were ever
in danger by the encroachment Of one
branch upon another was in the other
direction. the legislative branch usurp-
ing and overcoming the executive by
methods now considered very question
able He referred to the time when
the two-thirds majority in Congress
hamstrung the administration OF An
drew johnson.
Contributions For Presents.
Congressman Gray Of Indiana OBJ
tanned considerable notoriety out of his
opposition to Congressional subscrip-
ton for the White House, bride. And
there are some who believe that persons
who are not invited to a wedding
snould not send presents.
However. what wanted to use this
present episode for was to point out
a system which prevails in the gov
ernment departments when subordi-
mates are called upon to "chip In for
presents to a chief A "toady" to the
chief starts it. and. going in fear of
reprisais. men and women who can ill
afford to contribute are compelled to
come forward with money which is
needed for other purposes. Congress
man Gray could do good work if he
would stop this practice.
Wanted Tammany to Win.
There is not a machine politician in
Washington who would not have been
secretly pleased to have had Tammany
win in the recent New York election.
And that is the case whenever reform
ers and fusionists fight an organized
political party.
Missionary Owen.
once knew politician who spoke
Of other politicians as 'missionarying
around when they were out looking
after their interests. That is what
Senator Owen has been doing around
the senate. The complexities OF the
currency situation have compelled him
to go among senators and see what he
could do in the way of support.
Every chairman of a committee in
charge OF an important bill has been
compelled to do some 'missionaryina
around" unless 1t has been Oscar Un-
derwood The chairman of the ways
and means committee of the house also
had the selection OF members of all the
other committees, and he made mem.
bers come to him instead of seeking
them.
| Roads or Fences.
When the congressman who have
been absent return to real work they