The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-10-24
\ PECULIAR SITUATION .

The situation at the national capital is CHE Of
particular interest and not a little eraharrass
ment. There are not enough senators or rep
sesentatives present to adjourn. but enough ITO
prevent adjournment; enough to hold Congress
In session against the manifest desire not only
o. the majority Of congressman and senators but
Of the country at large. unless We are greatly
mistaken in the trend Of public sentiment We
regret that Democrats should be the cause of
the situation
But the fact that such situation can exist
il the fac, of chief interest Both House and
Senate have gone long way towards modern
izing their methods and making more effective
the machinery Of government. There remain
several measures that should be taken yet be-
fore the bodies will be capable of fulfilling their
fullest opportunity.
1t meant much to efficient government when
the House overthrow what popularity known
rral steps Of like import. The leave-to-print
syil still asails in both houses. however, to cum
her the pages Of the Congressional Record and
make weary the occasional readers thereof.
At present We sec that the Senate IL unable
to adjourn because there are not enough sena-
tors there TO do so. although il seems certain
that majority Of them so desire. But even
ware they present. the lnnuinerable technical
points which senator who once gets the
Eoor may Maggie would make possible the con.
tinnatiou Of the hllibuster tina: now holds up the
legislative machinery. The country could do
without much OF the Senate's discussion Cam
paigns should be waged the stump and not
In the chamber
The day OF necessity for the fllibuster has
passed There have been times In this co,iusry
when such methods were necessary TO force at.
tenton to great popular causes but the illimita-
tie publicity that any really deserving move
ment NAV gain renders unnecessary if not ac-
tually reactionary. such tactics as are employed
To force consideration Of bills that Congress
has manlfestly shown II does not want to con.
cider.
The nation has been unusually kind 10 the
cation farmr !n-his dap-ef need He has been
given without stint commentator publicity ad-
vice a doubtful benefit. and a large measure
Of financial backing. Nobody expects the Fed
era1, government TO adopt the measures that have
+ 6een proposed 1or congressional action. But Tor
the immediate need do not believe that the
Southern cotton growers themselves would de-
sire the government to enter such field of
activity. II is therefore unseemly that the de.
fects in our machinery OF government should
he made use of TO force publicity--there seems
possibility for anything else--for interests
that have been accorded this more freely than
any other private interest In many years.
What was impossible In a full Congress Is
made possible in its slenderness. The question
arises, II business be carried on without a
quorum, why insist on the presence of a quorum
at all And again. If there is not quorsm
present for adjournment. how can the senators
lighting for cotton legislation expect any action ?
The very circumstance that has made possible
their fllibuster makes impossible its success It
is never % the credit Of public representatives
that their sincerity be called in question even
for the sake Of gaining support from wavering
constituent.
PARENTS RESPONSIBLE.