The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-13
LIFE . NO BED OF ROSES TH|SBUSY SUMMER Too Many Things to Explain and Too Little Time
 To Do 1t TOUBLE GROWING
 IN STEADY VOLUME Prohibition and Woman's Suffrage Are the Latest Problems That
 Have Come Up to
 Vex Him
By c. E. STEWART

Washington, June 12-(Special,) )-The life of a member of Congress for the past two years has not been one glad, sweet song by any means. There are vacations which present greater attractions than be- ing congressman. Especially has the position of the majority been trying since this session began. In addition to canal tolls repeal, and facing the political sit uation of following the President and re- nouncing the platform, or following the platform and renouncing the President which of itself was trying and loaded either way with political dynamite. there comes to poster the boys the prohibition question, and now on top of that, which many declare Is the Hast straw" comes the threat by the rules committee that the next and particularly juicy burden that will be loaded on the shoulders of the poor, struggling congressman, in his handicap for the congressional cup," is woman suffrage.
 Judge Clayton, now on the federal Lench in Alabama, left behind him a heritage for the boys in Washington that will finger with them for a long time. Just before the distinguished Alabamian sur rendered his chairmanship his committee insurged. Tired of being designated as the ''morgue,' the judiciary committee un- loaded on the House two proposed consti- tuoial amendments, which had been suc- cessfully buried in the judiciary commit- tee for years. They were the Hobson amendment for nationwide prohibition and the amendment for nationwide suf- frage for women, both of them glittering with political needles to prick the fingers of careless persons.
 Suffragists Insistent
 The women are just as insistent that the amendment affecting suffrage be given consideration by the House as are the leaders of prohibition outside of Con- gress that the House go on record as to their amendment. Moreover, they are en- deavoring to make things as cheerful and comfortable for members of Congress as possible by informing them that If they in- cur the displeasure of the Woman's Suf- frage association by opposing votes for women that the power of the orgaaiza- tion will be used to defeat them for re- election.
 Also the prospects for a Summer-lOng session becomes more fiattering every day. President Wilson is keeping up his reputa- ton as a hard taskmaster. The trust pro- gramme must be carried to a successful finish, observes the President. This will take the ponderous and slow-moving Sen ate many weeks to complete, coupled with the appropriation bills. In the meantime the President has suggested to the House that it can amuse itself with conserva- ton bills and other legislation. The two constitutional amendments above referred to are the "other matters'' which Congress devouily wishes were tied to an anchor and showed oyer the side of the boat.
 Opponents Are Busy
 It is small wonder, therefore, that House members are becoming peeyed- A con stant piling up of subjects to explain back home, with all the time for explana- ton slipping away, while their opponents have nothing whatever to explain, and with so much red hot ammunition to fling at them, is a situation that is getting on the nerves of House members. It Is said that at least five members of the House from Indiana declared that if the prohibition question came up they might as we'll give up their nominations because it matfered not which way they voted their defeat was certain
 So powerful has been the pressure upon the leaders of both sides in the House to stop the proceedings as far as prohi- bition and woman suffrage is concerned, and let both of these questions come up al the next session. that it is possible yet that both these knotty and vexing prob lems may be yet averted-
 "It takes a good guesser to be a member of Congress and hold onto his job any length of time" walled a member tho other day ''I remember hearing a grea leader whimsically observe once, wher asked about a certain vote that he hat made, and told that public sentimen might change and put him in bad, tha public sentiment couldn't change any quicker than l can "But,' continued this perplexed member "a fellow can't change every few minutes, and wher there are dozens of questions confronting him upon which public sentiment is as badly mixed as boarding house hash, wha the deuce is the answer?'
 So the life of a congressman in Wash ington right now is not one of merrimen by a whole lot. Telegrams and letter: from home demanding that he vote al kinds of ways, which is impossible, reso lLtions, petitions, protests and what no are filing his life with gloom. The av craze congressman in Washington righ DOW is about as cheerful and happy al he would be if he was on his way to thu hospital to have a leg amputated- Tn only thing that would encourage him tn least bit is the announcement that ther would be an adjournment in a few weeks