Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1914-02-04

and means which was discussing
the tarfn schedules and huttonholed
every member of congress who went
in or out. holding him until there had
been time to plead for the retention
OF high duty on a certain line OF i'm
ported goods. No representative OF
big business. whether he be a former
member of congress or not. will stand
this year at committee room doors to
ply his insidious calling.
Rooseveit's Way Effective.
Theodore Roosevelt came pretty
near putting pernicious lobbying out
or business, and he succeeded in do
Ing II without ordering lobby in
vestigation." When he learned that
lobbyists We're at work he would put
forth some presidential pronounce
ment which would bring the country
instantly TO the support of the meas
ure which was involved. and in put
ting II forth he invariably had some
thing to say about malefactors of
great wealth who knew what they
wanted and who took nefarious means
to get It.
The result OF the Roosevelt method
was that congressman. hearing from
home. did not dare pay heed to the
opportunities OF those who had come
10 Washington for the purpose of
thwarting the endeavors of the presi-
dent of the United States. The lobby
lists found that their occupation was
still there. but that II was all work
without pay.
Must Find New Issues.
The present intention OF the Dem
| ocrauc members in congress is TO
bring about an adjournment in
June. Within a month or six weeks
thereafter the congressional cam
paigns are fought out as a rule
on the issues which entered into the
last preceding presidential campaign.
| What are the Republican and the Pro
gressive candidates going to talk
about in order to arouse the enthusi-
asm of the voters and to secure their
support?
This question is before the Repub
lican and Progressive congressional
committees for an answer today. They
must find the answer. or better, the
answers, within the next few months.
Two years ago the Republicans
/ pledged themselves to antitrust and
banking and currency legislation.
| They favored the establishment OF a
parcel post, liberal policy toward
Alaska, plans for flood protection and
many other things. The Democrats
have dealt with all these matters and.
| apparently to their own satisfaction.
have settled them.
1t Is perfectly true that the high
| hope of the Progressives is simply
! that the party can increase its mem
| bership in the next house OF repre-
sentatives. The leaders of the new
party have little or no thought. so far
as one can determine, that they can
secure a sweeping victory IN the cleo
tions OF next November. They do be-
lieve, however. that they can gain ad-
ditional members in Is or 20 districts
now represented by either Democrats
or Republicans.
Must Find New Issues.
The Republicans, as has been init
mated. must look for new issues I'm
! the next congressional campaign, be-
| cause the Democrats have taken a
good many OF their issues away from
| them. Now, of course. II the legisla.
| ton passed by the Democrats, and
which they have intended as a set
Element of these issues, shall fail OF
its purpose. the Republicans can go TO
the country on the basis OF their OPP
! ponents' failure. The laws. however.
which the Democrats propose to enact
or which they already have enacted
do not go into effect in some instances
for a considerable time to come In
the cases of the laws which have gone
into effect, It will take a long time to
! prove whether they are efficacious or
not So IL would seem that the Demo
| cratic party is fairly safe until some
! time after the next congressional cleo
| ton
! The Pregresslves seemingly are q
! little better of than the Republicans
/ IN the matter OF issues. They say
! that tn Democratic legislation shows
| an origin I'm the Progressive party. and
| that Mr.. Wilson and the congress dom.
! mated by his party have been steal
! ing the Progressive material The
! Progressives, however. will not sim.
| ply cry Thief" for they have a dis
! unet issue in their plank which called
/ for an interstate trade commission.
with plenty OF power to regulate the
| trusts Of the country.
The Democrats have prepared a bill
establishing an interstate trade com
| mission. but il is given nothing like
the authority which the Progressives
think should be given to such a body
] The Democratic effort apparently is
to restore competitive conditions OF
many years ago. The Progressives
say that failure TO do this is inevita-
BILE and some Of the Republicans
agree with them.