Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-04
HOW THE SOUTH SHOWS
IT'S POLITICAL SAGACITY
Control of Congressional Committees
Methodically Sought and Won.
Kitchin, of North Carolina, Sure TO
Get Underwood's Chair.
REV TOWNSEND

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-when Nine. Cornuel
said, mo man is a hero to his valet" the un-
astute cynic felt that he had authority to OBJ
serve that the hero ceases to exist upon init
mate examination
What the clever lady said could be para
phrased "the Venus Of Milo Is not lovely in
the eyes Of an oaf" I am alv avs reminded
OF this story when 1 hear the unastute cynic
repeat Tom Reeds remark "Thank God, the
Congress has ceased to be deliberative body"
as proof that Congress had lost the freedom
to reach its own conclusions by dellberative
process; that its opinions were spoon-fed to 1t
by its bosses. This would be very i'll II It were
80, or even IL Tom Reed ever felt like saying
It were so. What Reed was calling attention
to that Congress. as whole had turned
over its deliberations largely, at least, to the
many smaller Congresses of which 1t is COM
posed, its committees.
The big committees do the work of Congress-;
the sum of their work is the sum of the work
Of Congress; committees are deliberative bodies,
essentially so. and they are, to an extent the
public seems little to understand non-partisan
in their committee rooms. All of which leads
me to remark that the South, politically wise
in understanding the value of committee control,
keeps its Representatives in the House until by
mere force of precedence they gain committee
in this respect frequently changes its Repre-
sentative and loses opportunity of committee
control. The matter can be put into brief form
thus: OF the Il big legislative and approprlat-
ing committees the South has the chalrmen Of
1s the North of one!
/ shall say something in detail about that,
but just at this point l want to dgress to
write a word or two about the majority
leadership in the next House, in view Of
some amazing outgvngs the subject under
the above date line
Kitchin Backed by Precedent
It has been written of late that because OF
this and of that Claude Ktchn OF North Caro-
llna will not succeed Oscar Underwood, of
Alabama, as chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee and majority floor leader. He will.
He WILL not only because he deserves to, but be-
cause he is backed by Precedent, with large
p It is so sacred a thing in Congress 1t de-
serves the large p. Rank in committee goes by
seniority Of service To disturb that precedent
would take a political revolution in the House
His seniority has given to Claude Kitchin the
place of ranking member-that is, next to the
chairman-on the Ways and Means Committee.
The chalrmanship to be made vacant when
Underwood goes to the Senate on March next
belongs to Kitchln.
Just think OF what the disturbance Of the
nrecedent involved would threaten: OF the II
big committees involved the ranking member
of 12 comes from the South. Is any one of those
going to vote to upset precedent upon which
depends his own advancement-or any friend
of his or friend of q friend of his? Your Uncle
Dudley opines not.
To return to the reason Congress is no longer
a deilberative body, but deliperates by proxy
through it's committees. There are 4s5 members
OF the House. It is impossible or nearly So
for that number OF men all to devote enough
study to the question to have accurate infor-
nation as to what, for example, would be a
just charge for the Government TO make Tor
the grant of a water power right on public land
But the 81 members of the Committee on
Public Lands, after months a year. perhaps
OF investigation and deliberation' determine
what would be a fair charge and the commit
tee recommends It In bill to the House. AS
a general thing committee recommendations de-
termine the action of the House, hence Con
gress has ceased to be deliberatiye body
Uncle Joe's Future
what will Uncle Joe Cannon get in the way
OF committee assignment The answer fire.
quently heard to that question Is that Mr.
Cannon will be given the place OF ranking mi
nority member on the Appropriation Commit
tee, and thus be placed in line to succeed FitS-
gerald as chairman in the event of the Re
pubIicans controlling the 65th Congress. Nay
nay. again the rule OF precedence by seniority
will keep that plum from Uncle Joseph. The
ranking minority member of that committee
now is Fred Glllett and his district, the Sec
ond Massa chusetts is one OF the few Northern
ones which realizes the advantage of keeping
the same Representative on the job until his
seniority gives him a committee chairman
ship.
Uncle Joe, rather than take a seat at the
tail end OF a committee table, may follow the
example OF Minority Leader Mann and take
no committee assignment. That would give him
more time to indulge in the pastlme OF bsdevil-
ing Democrats, a pastims which, he freely ad-
mits adds 20 his youth year by year.
II you would sec the proudest men who ever
came TO washington. not excepting those vino
have come here 70 be the central figures In all
the pomp and ceremony OF Inauguration days.
look at any OF the corn boys. These men range
I'm age from Il TO IS. should say, and are the
future banner corn crop growers OF tho eoun-
try. Without the exact data on hand 10 quote
from, shall not attempt 20 tell OF their work
In figures. But one Western member proudly
remarked. "The corn boys are going to add
more wealth 10 this nation than all its other
AGRICULTURAL wealth combined" Which, eonsid-
srlng cotton. is adding some. In all sober truth,
this encouragement Of scientific methods in corn
culture by the Department OF Agriculture. and
now BY many States. also, Is accomplishing
mighty things. ana It seems wise for the Gov
srnment 70 bring the corn boys (prizs winning
corn growers) here 70 Washington 10 Be fused
over a bit TO Eet their prizes ana 70 shake
hands with the PRESIDENT
Corners in Corn
An agent OF the Agricultural Department who
was dolng missionary work along this line told
me that At nrst IL was hard 70 induce farmer
70 act apart an acre Of ground 10 be faFmsd IN