Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-06-10
CRUEL AND lhHumAn TREATMENT.

An Illinois CONGRESSMAN named Brit
ten has introduced a bill making it
penal offense on the part Of any cab
met officer or employe Of a government
department to lecture for pay other
| than actual expenses and to prohibit
congressman from lecturing for pay
while congress is in session. The bill
is aimed at Mr.. Bryan particularly as
the horrible example and the congress-
man made strenuous objection to that
cabinet officer hiking around dong
one night stands with yodlers. contor-
tionists and sleight- of-hand perform
ers when a state Of war practically
exists and the foreign policy OF this
government is being laughed at by
every civilized nation on earth"
While the bill is not likely to get far
and is perhaps mainly political bunk it
shows how Mr.. Bryan spilled the chau-
tauqua beans last season by his insist
ence on getting the coin whether or no.
There has been a great deal of chau-
tauquaing at excellent profit to such
congressman and higher officials who
were either prominent or notorious
enough to secure contracts. There has
been big money in it. Per example
Hobson a few years ago drew $500 as
congressman, s12.50o from chautau-
qua system for 125 lectures and picked
no about $4,000 on the side from con-
tributed articles to magazines and the
like. 1t would seem that so much out
side activity should interfere with his
usefulness to the people whom he Is
supposed to represent in congress
BRYAN was severely criticised for being
| away from his most important office IN
| government at time when II ever It
would appear that he should have been
on the job. Not that the country may
not have pro6ted by the absence OF both
but because the public is beginning to
insist on service or the appearance Of
service. Congressman Britten's bill is
not likely TO get look in but it speaks
an opinion that is becoming very de-
cided among the voters to the effect
that if congressman and cabinet officers
and that ilk desire too much to earn
| quick and easy money on the side
! somebody less greedy and more in
! clined to stay on the regular job were
better in their places. The call is for
working congressman and government
officials who work for rather than work
the people.
! Now some congressman who desires
very much to see his name and district
| in the headlines might bring on Dill!
creating a chautauqua commission the
duty Of which would be to supply
chauta uauas and lyceums with govern
mental talent" making all contracts
with substitution clause permitting
| the commission to send on the most
available timber. Under such plan
we might work the government orator
| the year around and cause him to earn
his little old $500 or $4,000 as the case
NAV be. Thus while he was resting we
could send him out at profit to the
government to thrill the countryside
with eloquence and satisfy the season.
able craving of chautauquas, some
what in the manner Of paid mes
senger service, a sort Of governmental
A. D. T. Under such system a con-
gresham or a cabinet officer might be
worth the salary and congress be made
to show profit balance in figures.
| But to cut off the flow of oratory as
one would turn tap should class as
cruel and inhuman treatment Mr..
Bryan, bottled up. wouldn't last six
months. He'd explode.