The Washington herald., 1914-01-05
DISHONESTY NOT
rule, It IS SAID.
Members Of Congress Take
Issue with Representa-
tive Whitacre.
MANY EXPRESS VIEWS
Some incline to Opinion that Demands
Of Constituents Often Cause
Too Large Expenditures.

Veteran members of Congress who
know all the ms and outs of the political
game on Capitol Hill. take issue with the
declaration of Representative ]. J. Whit
acre. Democrat, OF the Seventeenth Ohio
district, that he will not again be a candi-
Date for reelection because no man who
is honest has any. business being Rep
resentative.
Some seem inclined to regard Mr.. Whit
acres charges lightly, while all are unan-
imous in asserting that, taken as
whole, the Congress of the United States
represents a body of high-minded. hon
orable men. They generally agree that
Congressman's constituents, especially in
the matter of appropriations, make his
seat in Congress very uncomfortable and
make him possibly do things to keep in
favor with them that he would not other
wise do.
Senator John Sharp Williams Demo-
crat, of Mississippi while emphatic in
saying that Congressman as a rule were
as honest body of men as could be
found anywhere, said, as in the case of
other bodies, there were self-seeking men
in it
Senator Williams said in part: ''The
world is full of self-seeking men working
merely for the qualification of their own
ambitions and Congress in that respect
is not wholly unlike any other body of
public men. But. as a general rule, you
will find that Congressman are honest
and high-minded.
Constituents Are Blamed.
"A just criticism can be made on the
point of a Congressman's constituents
not allowing him to be perfectly honest.
as Mr.. Whitacre complains, and this
criticism is alluded to by President Will
son in his writings a number of years
ago, and by James Bryce in his ''Ameri-
can Commonwealth" to the effect that
the constituency are entirely too much
influenced by the number of dollars their
Congressman can get for the districts
to be expended on a postoffice site or
some other public building, and the
Congressman is thus forced, unless he
is a man of unusual ability and indie
pendence, TO become a representative OF
his district only. This, / will say, APP
plies only to appropriations. While the
Congressman would like TO oppose ex-
travaganCe throughout the country, he
is pinned down by his own constituents
To submit to extravaganza in his own
district.
Il find that Congress, as a whole, is
composed OF men who occupy seats there
solely on account of their interest in
management and that they are working
for the best interests of the entire coun-
try
Representative William Schley Howard,
Democrat, of Georgia, said: IF there is
truth in the statement OF Mr.. Whitacre
that just because a man is elected to
Congress it necessarily follows that be
will be intellectually dishonest, then this
country is in a bad way, and the Con-
gressional togas should be Stunned in
stead of sought by all men.
BIames Others for Failure.
How rare is a man in Congress who
is intellectually dishonest? Sometimes
we find a man who reaches Congress,
takes an inventory of his mentality, gets
fully acquainted with himself for the
first time. makes a complete failure as
constructive legislator and blames his
colleagues for his failure to make good
and the frame of mind in which he is left
because of his failure"
Representative Julius Kahn, Republic
can. of California, said:
Il have never hesitated to tell my con-
stituents where I stand On any public
question. l have written and spoken be-
fore them on this same immigration bill
which Mr.. Whitacre refers to and which
/ voted against 1 have told them that If
il comes up again l shall vote against IL.
] have always found Congressman will
ing to tell where they stand on questions.
don't see what grounds Mr.. Whitacre
has for making his assertion that a man
cannot be an honest Representative 1t
is the duty of the Congressman to go be-
fore his~constituents and give them his
views on all questions which affect them.
He also can gain information from them
as we'll as give them facts.
There are a good many men in Con-
gress who think they can set the world
on fire when they come to Washington,
but they forget that they are only one
among a body of 49, members. Those who
have been in Congress a long time and
know parliamentary procedure, naturally
are given preference in appointments
ever the newcomer, uneess he is man of
eXceptionable ability.
When a man comes to Congress and
takes hold of the work conscientiously
and honestly and learns how legislation
is enacted, then he makes considerable
Roadway A man who wants to upset
rules and presidents of a century, will
be greatly disappointed. 1 have been in
Congress long time and 1 find that the
members, as rule, are high-minded and
honorable men,"
Senator Miles Poindexter, Progressive
Republican, of Washington, said: "As
far as the question of dishonesty in Con-
gress is concerned just can't quite make
out at what Mr.. Whitacre is driving.
Congressman frequently are urged to
make unreasonable appropriations for
their own district but they usually
honestly believe they are necessary. /,
think the whole matter is one of tenn
permanent and judgment. not one of hon
esty and dishonesty. The best way a |
Congressman can fulfil his duties is to |
serve the whole people. I believe the |
majority of Congressman are really |
working for the best interests of the |
whole people. AS far as dishonesty is |
i don't think you will find anX
dishonest men in Congress"