The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-09-17
AnderSOn:S Attack on lu
The Caucus System

that some good things have been
done even under the caucus system.
The bills passed by that unofiiciai
body have contained things for which
would be glad TO vote. Yet the same
reasoning which now attempts TO JUS
tify q caucus would justify despot-
ism. | cannot believe In despOtism
because know that despots have
done some good In the world. Nor
does the right OF representation seem
less precious because II Is denied by
this benevolent beast, the caucus"
The Minnesota Congressman then
showed how the caucus holds the
same place in legislation that the
holding company does In high finance.
The holding company" said ne,
enables few men to control the
policy OF great corporations by the IN
vestment OF a small amount OF CAPT.
tai. The caucus enables few men
to control the policy of legislation by
the exercise of limited amount or
power. A fnancier who wishes to
4 second corporation or holding COM
pany to hold the controlling interest
In the stock OF the first He then con.
trolls majority of the stock In the
holding company. Thus he reduces
the amount Of capital necessary 10
control the policy OF the corporation
from one-half OF the aggregate CAPT.
tai OF the corporation to one-fourth
Or less II the stock Ia widely dts
tributed. Under this benevolent
scheme the minority stockholder has
no real voice in determining the pol.
icy Of the corporation. The real con-
troll is not vested in a majority of the
capital of the corporation, but In a
minority owned by those who control
a MARTY of the stock Of the holding
company. 1t is all very simple and
very effective
Carrying out the analogy. Anderson
said: The few men who desire TO
control the policy of legislation in the
house, organize the members Of the
majority party into holding CON
pany, the caucus. Under a rule, writ.
ten or unwritten, majority vote oil
the holding company--the caucus
binds the whole membership OF thy
caucus to vote as unit In the hou
Thus q minority of the membersY
OF the house controls the legislat4
policy of the whole house In the Y
tual making of legislation, and reI
ders ineffective the service, industr
and ability of the minority. II is
very simple and very effective
After showing that members frorl
fourteen southern states hold every
important craftsmanship Of committee
except one in the house, and DISCUSS
ing the power of chairman to pre-
vent or defeat legislation, Anderson
demonstrated by figures that one hum
dred Democrats whose sectional Or
other interests were the same could
absolutely control legislation In the
house. He said that IL business
concern exhibited the same reluct.
ance to establish new and modern
methods Of the conduct Of business
as the House of Representatives does,
ii would be forced out of business In
no time.
do the people of the country won.
der why the great economic problems
involved in the adjustment Of the re-
lations between labor and capita.
production and consumption, the en-.
largement of the scope Of our insti.
tutions, remain unsolved and the de-
mand of the people for popular gov
eminent remain ungranted?" he ask
ed Some day the people will come
to understand that the methods OF
| legislation must themselves be re-
formed before they can yield REFORM