Marble Hill press., 1914-02-12

OF the room Of the committee on wayl
and means which was discussing
the tart1 schedules and buttonholsd
every member OF congress who went
In or out, holding him until there bad
oeen time to plead for the reteotion
OF high duty on certain line Of in
ported goods. No representative ol
dig business. whether he be q former
member of congress or not, will stand
THIS year at committee room doors -
ply his insidious calling.
Roossveit's Way Effective.
Theodore Roosevelt came pretty
near putting pernicious lobbying out
OF business. and he succeeded Ia do
ing 1t without ordering a lobby in
ves'ieation." When he learned that
lobbyists were 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 1t forth he invariably had some
thing to say about malefactors OF
great wealth who knew what they
wanted and who took nefarious b,eans
to get II.
The result OF the Roosevelt method
was that congressman hearing rom
home. did not dare pay heed to the
opportunities OF those who had come
TO Washington for the purpose OF
thwarting the endeavors OF the prssi-
dent OF the United States. The lobby.
lists found that their occupation WAS
still there, but that It 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 month or six weeks
thereafter the congressional cam
paigns are fought out as n rule
on the Issues which entered into the
last preceding presidential campaign.
What are the Republican and the Pro
gressire 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
lean and Progressive congressional
com rittees for an answer today. They
must fud the answer or better, the
answers. within the next few months.
TWO years ago the Republicans
pledged themselves 10 antitrust and
banking and currency legislation.
They favored the establishment of
rarcel post. a liberal policy toward
Alaska. plans for food protection and
many other things The Democrats
have dealt with all these matters and,
apparently To their own satisfaction.
have settled them.
II ts perfectly true that the high
hope OF the Progressives Is simply
that the party can increase Its mem.
hership In the next house OF repre-
seniatives, The leaders OF the new
party have little or no thought, SO far
as one can determine. that they can
secure "a s~ eeping victory la the cleo
loas ot next November They do be-
iieve, however. that they can gain sd-
dittonal members in Is or 20 districts
nnw represented by either Democrats
or Republicans
Must Find New issues.
The Republicans. as has been init
mated, must look for nes issues in
cause the Democrats have taken a
good many of their issues away from
them. New. OF course, If the legisla'
ttoG passed BY the Democrats. and
which they have Intended as "A set
tlemeat OF these issues. shall fall OF
It's purpose. the Republicans can go to
the country on the basis OF their op-
poneuts failure The laws. however.
which the Democrats propose 10 enact
or which they already have enacted
do not gn into effect In soma instances
for considerable time 10 come. In
the cases ut the laws which have gone
into effect. ii will take long time TO
prove whether they are etfieacious or
not So IL would seem that the Demo.
cratic party IS fairly safe until some
time after the next congressional cleo
ton
The Frugresslves seemingly are
little better of than the Republicans
In the matter Of lssues They say
that tn Democratic legislation shows
IN origin in the Progressive party. and
tha; MIR Wilson aud the congress dom
mated BY his party have been steal
us the Progressive material The
hCweyer. will not sim
ply cry Thief. for they have a dis
iue' issue IN their plank which called
or al interstate trade commission,
with pieaty OF power to regulate the
rusts Of the country
The Democrats have prepared a bill
sstahlis hing an interstate trade com.
but II is given nothiss Ike
he authority which the Progressives
hink should be given TO such body.
fhe Democratic effort apparently is
o restore competitive conditions of
many years ago, The Progressives
iay that failure to do this Is inevits.
lie. and some OF XAe Republicans :
gree with them.