Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-01-23

big matter, it nevertheless is exceed
ingly big in the minds of some mem
bers of congress. Men who are op-
posed to government ownership propo-
sitions think that they find in the
recommendation of the p~ostotiice com
mittee the starting point OF govern
ment ownership and operation of the
railroads. No one can tell yet of
curse whether there is any basis for
this fear of the conservative ones of
the different parties, but it is a fact
that Washington expects n OF the
bitterest contests of the winter will
come over this seemingly minor provi-
sion of al appropriation bill which is
intended to allow Uncle Sam to buy
a few mail cars for the use of the post
office service.
The average Of opposition to govern
ment ownership is just as great In the
Democratic party, as it is represented
in congress-, as it is in the ranks OF the
Republicans. The Democrats are put
ting through what they consider pro-
gressive legislation. but man of them
are casting their votes with the feel
ings of men who are being driven to
do things they do not want to do.
When the postoffice and post roads
committee was considering the propo-
sition to buy the cars outright there
was a debate in the committee room
which for warmth equaled the temper
ature of any recent debate in the
open house. The majority in favor or
the proposition was a bare one. 1t IL
expected that the minority committee
men will voice their objection to the
bill from the floor, and it is possible
they may get enough support from
their own and from the Republican
ranks to negative the committees rec
concentration.
! Reused by Whitacre's Charges.
Members Of congress have been
pretty well stirred up over the re-
marks made by Representative J. J.
Whitacre CT Ohio, in a speech which
he made in Canton, O., not long ago.
Mr.. Whitacre was reported as having
said that the man who wants to be
intellectually honest has not business
in congress-"
What Mr.. Whitacre meant unques-
tionably was that congressman ire
quently are compelled, because Oh
party pressure, or because of pressure
from their constituents, to vote on
measures against their convictions
and 1t may be that he meant some OF
them actually are compelled by the
same kim of pressure to vote against
their consciences. Mr.. Whitacre is
said to have declared that he would
,~t ,,,r fDr rorncS aonir hnrpISa he
could not make the service square
with intellectual honesty.
Whether or not Mr.. Whitacre made
the statement in exactly the words re-
ported makes little difference In the
application of his reported words to
the condition in congress. One OF the
broad criticisms of h actions OF in
dividuals in congress when the Tune
comes to vote, has been hat a mem
Der. ee1ns to think that he represents
first his district and second the coun-
try at large.
District Versus Country.
In standing by the needs of his con-
%stituents against the seeming needs
of his country, is a member intellectu-
ally dishonest? That is, is he intel
| lectually dishonest if his wv convic-
tons lead him to vote for the good
| of the country, while his desire to
serve his immediate constituents, and
perhaps his desire to be reelected
make him cast his vote for the inter
ests of the specific locality rather than
for the interests of all his countrymen
outside Of a small circumscribed dis
trict?
1t can be said that more and more
congressman are coming to vote for
the entire country rather than for
their constituents. This was shown
to be true when the last tariff bill was
put through. Men from lumber dis
tricts voted to put lumber on the free
list and some men from sheep dis
tricts voted for free wool. Now 1t
might be said that these men voted
seemingly against the good of their
immediate constituents because they
thought their SO voting would be good
for the entire country.
What Other Members Say.
Representative Charles Y. Burke ct
South Dakota is quoted as saying on
this matter Of intellectual honesty:
my fourteen years experience in the
house has impressed me that n con-
trary of Mr.. Whitacre's statement is
true. AS a rule, members of congress
are high-minded men, actuated in their
public actions by what they believe 10
| for the good of all. There is no rea-
| son why a man should not assert his
| individuality in congress just as he
would exert it outside of congress-"
Representative Richard Bartholdt Of
| Missouri, who Don is to quit congress
after twenty-five years of service al
though it is said he could be reelected
easily If he so chose, said on this mat
ter of intellectual honesty: Whether
a man is dishonest or not Is simply a
proposition of Individuality. He can
be honest in congress if be is SO in
clined just as easily as he can be hon.
est outside OF congress-. No man is UNI
der %compulsion to do wrong in his
public acts"