The Washington herald., 1916-04-02
The People to Be Heard From.


The Judiciary Committee of the House has
laid on the table all resolutions proposing amend
ments to the Federal Constitution This was a
wise action, both politically and in the interest
Of necessary legislation. The Judiciary Commit
tee was organized to consider legislation and it
has many important bills before it. The two
score resolutions for amendments to the Consti-
tuition were referred to the committee because
there no other committee having jurisdic-
tion but these resolutions are not more important
than legislation. More than that, if the COM
mttee is to consider proposed changes in the
Constitution all amendments are of such i'm
portance to call for hearings. The committee
cannot draw the line. The suffragists and the
prohibitionsts do not occupy the field alone.
There are others who want to limit the President
to one term, to prohibit poygamy and to change
the Constitution in many ways They all
ready to take up the whole time of the committee
in discussing these proposed changes and leave
time for the consideration of necessary legis-
laton.
From the political point of view, Congress
has enough troubles hand in providing for
preparedness both in the way OF revenues and
appropriation. for money cannot be appropriated
to increase the army and navy without also find
ing the necessary revenues to foot the bills. 1t
is not good time for either party to decide on
new frills the Constitution while they arc
wrestling with the old bread and butter problem
OF making both ends of the government meet.
1t is not probable that either the Republican or
Democratic national convention will embody in
its platform this year any pledge to change the
Constitution. Even. Mr.. Bryan comedies that
much. There will be other parties in the field
to demand these changes this year in the past.
The Prohibition and Socialist parties will have
tickets and platforms. So will other parties and
it will be a good opportunity to measure the
real strength of these issues before the great
American electorate.
1t is political year and in November VIC shall
be able to just how many voters really want
important changes in the Constitution and will
vote for parties and candidates that make that
issue. No voter will be compelled to choose be-
tween President Wilson and his Republican op-
ponent. There will be at least half dozen party
tickets in the field to choose from.
1t will be an excellent time for the lobbyists
who make much noise in the corridors of the
Capitol TO show how much influence they have
with the 100000 voters in the United States. 1t
is easy to talk to Senators and Representatives
about the millions of people they represent, but
in November they will have to show this influ-
cnce in the votes cast for the tickets they advo-
cate. Too often the success OF the lobbyist is
in his ability to make the people believe that he
has great influence with Congress- and at the
same time make Congress think he has great in
fluence with great many people. The lobbyist
generally falls between these two stools when
there is general election, and it is one of the
safety valves of a popular government that we
have a general showdown every four years, just
to allow Congress and the people to how
both are buncoed by the lobbyists between times.
This is the year for the showdown and the
lobbyist in Washington is therefore of less con-
sequence just now than he was year ago when
he could tell members of Congress how their
fate hung his sweet will.