The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-05-10
REED GREATEST SPEAKER

1
REED GREATEST SPEAKER
Retiring Member Says Publicity Keep,
Lawmakers Straight and Mentality
Standard Is High.
Senator Theodore z. Burton. Of Ohio
has announced that after q Congressional
| career OF more than twenty years, he VIII
retire from public life next March. The
following nine questions were submitted
to Senator Burton. and the Senator re,
piled at length In one of the most unusual
declarations ever made by Q retiring
statesman:
]. Do you believe from your experience
that the overwhelming number Of Con-
gressmen are personally honest and sin
cere in legislative matters?
q Did you ever know Of case where
the vote OF q Congressman was bought!
3 What other sinister influences, IL any.
surround a Congressman in addition to
possible attempts at bribery?
T. What percentage Of the votes on leg
islative matters 10 Influenced by motives Of
personal political advantage rather than
the merits Of the subject under considers
ton?
6. Taken as q whole. how does the
mental equipment Of members of Con-
gress compare with the average equip
ment of men out OF public life engaged
In such professions a. the law and medi-
cine?
6. What Of the modern tendency to
place the greater share Of responsibility
| fn he ShanlHers nj the
ecutive? What effect is this tendency
having upon the work Of members Of
Congress? Does 1t decrease the attrac-
tiveness Of being q member Of the ma
tional legislative body?
Z. Who in your opinion was the great
est Speaker during your term OF service
and why?
g. Should secret sessions of the Senate
be abolished together with the party eau
Gus? Would such a course result in bet
ter legislation?
O. What has been your greatest JOY
and your greatest disappointment as
member OF the American Congress?
The Senator'S Replies.
The Senator'S replies follow:
You ask me a number of questions re-
lating to my experiences in Congress and
I will try to answer them in order.
!. l believe that the overwhelming
majority Of Congressman and Senators,
in fact practically all. are personally hon
orable and sincere in legislative matters.
and that votes are at no time influenced
by brides. In the first place the moral
standard of the men who compose the
membership OF the House and Senate Is
high. In the next place they are under
the fierce light of publicity. Their views
on pending questions are well known
from what they have said before and
after election.
3 There is a tendency in public life
arising from social affiliations and occa-
sionally. though very rarely. from busi-
ness interests o. members, though think
these two influences very rarely influence
the action of Congress. That which is
much more dangerous Is the tendency
to yield to insistent selfish demands from
individuals or localities, coming from
large bodies Of the voters who insist upon
legislation In their immediate interest.
II requires a courageous man to stand up
against these demands because he knows
that those who make them often care
little for the general welfare and will, il
he does not comply. turn against him.
5. Men in legislative positions are prone
to become political weathervanes. re-
spending to every gust of passion or
popular agitation. A well organized per-
sonal or local interest demanding legis-
lation in its behalf has often been much
more influential with Congress than the
deliberate Judgment of those who are
patriotic and unselfish. This is because
the latter are not heard from when leg
islation Is pending and oftentimes are
careless In weighing the stand Of their
public events.
4 The advocates OF special favors though
the great mass of people. Those who wish
an appropriation for a local benefit can
by their unity and persistence secure the
expenditure of public money for an OBJ
ject which Is not of national concern.
The present unrest and the atmosphere
of suspicion have their basis in actual
evils which have existed and are REIN
forced by dishonesty and oppression
which have been proven: but this does
not mean that We should regard the
whole fabric as unsound. do not be-
lieve there has ever been a time when
the general standard of honesty in bust
ness and public life has been as high as.
now.
Mentality High.
s. I would say that the average
mental equipment OF members OF Con-
gress is high. II compares most
favorable with those engaged in the
and other occupations out
side.
s. The question of imposing great
er share of power and responsibility
upon the Executive as compared with
Congress depends very much upon the
II he is forceful man and
the confidence of the people,
they will follow his policies. Generally
speaking, ! would say that the tend
ency has been toward an increase in
the power and authority of the Presi-
dent and a decrease in that of Con-
gress.
Z. You ask me who was the great
est Speaker during my term of service.
He was Thomas B. Reed. In intellect.
do not think I have ever known his
superior. He had the essential quail
ties of a master mind, a wonderful men,
DRY, a ready command of facts, terseness
and force Of expression, ability to sep
arate the material from the immaterial.
and remarkable reasoning powers.
9. Taken as a whole l have every
reason for the pleasantest impressions of
more than twenty years in public life. I
remember most pleasantly the phenome-
nal majorities which ] received the last
Ave times when l was elected to Con- |
Nnag I