The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-09-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.

their effort to prevent the adoption
of the democratic tariff bill, and un-
able to block consideration of the
currency question, the republicans
have conferred their efforts in criti-
cism of the democratic caucus. In
fact, it has been announced that the
republicans will center their fire in
the coming campaign on what they
describe as the ubiquitous caucus
system" How much bunk and bon
combe there is in this agitation has
been pointed out by several of the
democratic leaders. No more effec-
tive speech against this pose on the
part of the minority in congress was
made than that of Congressman Pep
per of the second Iowa district, who
as secretary of the democratic con-
gressional committee has assumed a
position of leadership in the house.
! CONGRESSMAN Pepper opened his
remarks by assailing the 'insincerity
and demagogy in this attack on the
democratic caucus
Il venture the prediction that ii
either the progressives or republic
cans were suddenly placed in power
in this house and charged with the
responsibility for legislation the first
thing they would do would be to call
caucus of their members he said.
'It would be the natural and the
sensible thing to do. 1t would be the
only way they could accomplish re-
suits; and after all, the people are
principally interested in results. 1t
| is results that the democratic party
is interested in.
1.-THE democratic, party to be held
justly responsible for legislation
have power as party to perfect and
! execute it's legislative duties. In or
der to have that necessary power it
must not only have adequate num-
bers, but it must have cohesion and
solidarity. In order to have cohesion
and solidarity it must meet and con-
fer. 1t must thresh out its difficult
ties and it's differences and be able
to act as party in fact as we'll as IN
name. Hence, the necessity and adj
visibility of the caucus.
1--WE have been commissioned by
the people to relieve them from the
burden of exorbitant and unjust tar
if; to reform and perfect the cur
rency system; to eradicate the OPP
preston of trusts and illegal combin-
atoms; to, solve the intricate and
complex problems involved in trans
portation, and as to all of these and
other questions we have accepted in
good faith, as party, our full mea-
sure of responsibility.
$50 l say in spite of all that may
be said against party caucus, secret
or otherwise, the old saying remains
as true as ever BY their fruits We
shall know them
"The fruits of the democratic
caucus thus far have been a tariff
bill which will lift from the backs of
the American people an enormous
and heavy load of taxation. A bill
so good that it received in the house
the support of number of progress
sive republicans and in the senate
received the vote of the entire pro-
gressive party in that body, together
with the vote of distinguished and
recent republican candidate for
president, Senator LaFollette.
"In addition to our splendid tariff
bill, the caucus has brought forth a
banking and currency bill that is adj
mittedly the best bill upon the sub
ject ever written; bill that has
thus far received more general and
widespread support than any SINH
lar measure ever before congress. 1t
has stood the severe test of public de-
bate and critical examination and
bids fair soon to become law 1t
is bill written in the interest of all
the people,. 1t extends no special
privileges to anyone, and hence is
unjust to no one. 1t is a solution of
the most difficult and perplexing
problems that has ever been present.
&c tt: the American congress.
And so I say to our republican
and progressive critics, judged by the
standard of results, our Legislative
procedure here is abundantly justi--
fed. We are engaged in the laud-
able and praiseworthy enterprise of
carrying out the peoples will. We
expect to continue in the good work.
In the years to come we will appeal
with confident assurance to the de-
liberate judgment of the American
people as to our stewardship.
| Among the democratic congress-
men who are serving their first terms
none has made more favorable i'm
preston than Congressman Maurice
Connolly of the third district Mr..
connolly, WIFI ueSFecS from UCCu
Cornell and Heidleburg universities,
is one of the best educated men in
congress. He has been a student,
too, for years of public questions and
he was able to enter into debate and
into committee activities from the
first He is skilled in debate and
logical in his arguments. In the
currency discussions in caucus his
amendment for an extension of the
period of farm loan mortgages pro-
vided by the bill was made the basis
of recommendation that is expect
ed TO result in provisions being made
for long term farm loans at low in
terest rates in rural credit measure
to come before congress at the next
session. Congressman Connolly is
looked upon as one of the coming
leaders as he combines brains with
youth and untiring energy. From
the bulky mail he receives daily from
his district it is plain that his con-
stituents appreciate the effort he is
making to be of real service to the
people of his district.