West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-10-29
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
New Member OF Congress Has Not
Much Show to Get Through Impor-
tsnt Lesisistion-Ail GOOD Com
nnittes Assignments Are Given to
Experiences Members Who Belong
TO the Majority
FRoM GRO. w. srnMrns

recruit has OF becoming general liz
may come in course OF time, but not
soon. Even the biggest and best of them
have to 60 through the period of trying
out before they reach a sphere of useful
ness. Speaking To the members OF the
National Press Club on "the confessions
OF new Congressman" one man recent
ly related the story OF New Hampshire
man who caught the largest fish ever
caught in that State. He started across
to Vermont TO prese mt il to his old friend,
the Governor OF Vermont. On the way
some one took the large fish and substi-
tuted small one. The New Hampshire
man made his speech about the big fish
and opened the box it was in TO find the
little one. Mortified and chagrined. lac
He'd. On his way home the small fish
was taken out again and the large one
put back. When asked by his wife, on
his return home, what had happened, he
said he didn't exactly know what had
happened, but he knew one thing mighty
well, that the biggest fish ever taken out
OF the water in New Hampshire didn't
amount TO d. in Vermont. That, said
the Congressman, is the way a new Con-
grtssman feels after he has been here a
few days. He was right A new Con-
gresham in Washington doesn't amount
to much till he has "made good"
Being Congressman doesn't impress
Washington at all. There are 49, OF
them here, with new ones every two
years, and until one has won his spurs
and shown that he amounts to something
me commands about as much respect from
his associates as high school graduate
entering a university.
Coneressmen do attain positions OF in
iiuen.e aud gain national regulations,
but It is only after they have gone
through period of trying out and have
been found 10y experience to have ability.
In craftsmanship, as in other avocations.
the top OF the ladder is reached round
by round, and never by a single bound.
Years elapse, with their accumulation of
experiences, before the member of Con-
gress becomes a leader, or even a man
oil great influence in the House. Champ
Clark is serving his tenth term of two
years each in Congress. Oscar Under
wood, the Democratic leader, is about 10
complete 20 years of continuous service.
James X. Ham, Republican leader, is in
his eighteenth year of continuous service.
Victor Murdoch, Progressive leader, is
serving his twelfth year in Congress.
Serene Payne, author OF the Payne tariff
bill, has been in Congress 10 terms. or
| almost so years, and has been renominat-
ed. Uncle Joe'' Cannon was in Con-
gress before some OF the West Virginia
congressman were born. Hardly chair.
| man OF an important committee has been
here less than seven, eight or nine terms,
oil two years each. while some have been
here 20 years or more.
All important committee work is en-
trusted to the elder members and, as a
rule, new member does not even get
place on committee of Importance. As
older men drop out, and as the qualifica-
tons OF the newer members are learned.
they are advanced to more important
positions. gradually forging to the front.
as they prove their worth. 1t takes ones
first term for his colleagues to get his
measure, and to sift out the more promis-
ing OF the new members. In his second
term member begins to get his proper
niche and to show whether he Is really
going to make valuable member of the
House or not.
Many men with splendid brains have
been nonentities in Congress, because
they were not kept here long enough for
their ability to become known, or per-
haps because they belonged to the minor
lty party. A minority member has little
or no influence unless he has been MANY
years and has made a reputation. Even
then, it is difficult for him to influence
legislation, or to accomplish anything
Tor his constituents, beyond the routine
matters which any Congre ssman's secre-
tary can attend to.
Aside from measures involving national
policies, Legislation is largely matter of
personality. An.ember who is personally
popular and well known can get bill of
n local nature through in half the time IL
would take an unknown member TO pass
the same bill. The wider ones acauain-
lance is in Congress, the more influence
he has, and the longer he STAYS in the
House the wider his circle of friends be.
comes
The Democratic party in West Virginia
Is peculiarly fortunate in having four ex
perienced men as candidates al the com
ing election. They are also of the party
which it is conceded will have majority
IN the next House, and therefore in
position TO fit into influential positions
Even the Republican National Committee
IS reported to have conceded that the
Democrats will control the next House
by substantial majority. That means
the Democratic party will still be the |
majority party in the Hou.e and NiH |
control It's committees and its actions
a Republican in the next House will be |
a minority member still. and will have |
as little influence over legislation az these |
Republican from West Virginia who are
now in the House have had in this con.
gross.
w. G. Brown is thc dean OF the West
Virginia Democrats ~ The House. lie
Is completing his second terms. After
being here two terms. he is second man
after the chairman on the very important
banking and currency committee, and
should there be changes i'm the committee
L. d. ....a &c. 4