The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1916-07-13
What THE RECORD SHOWS.
July 6. 1916

1.-The only way to form an intelligent
guess regarding the attendance of a
member (of Congress) is from the
number of times he is recorded as not
voting on yea and nay vote. There
were Sc record votes taken during the
Bird session of the 63rd Congress. The
following shows the number Of times
each member is recorded as not voting
during the session." Here follow the
| figures. OF the 435 members of the
House only thirteen are recorded as be-
ing present aud voting at every roll call
except one. One of these thirteen Is
Representative Harvey Helm of this
district. Only one out of the ass ex-
;eeding this record for constant attend
ance made by MIR Helm. Mr. Helm is
now ION the job. " and has refused and
Is still refusing to listen to the impor-
tunities of friends who have insisted
that he come home and look after the
opposition brought out against him for
the denomination. He evidently be-
lieves that soldier sent away on duty
can trust to the people at home to look
after his interests while he is away and
We have never yet heard of a member
of Congress who remained on the job.
but had his faith in the home people
indicated by the result.
How with such records as have been
made any democrat can feel it his priv
ilege. much less his duty to oppose the
denomination and reelection of any
democratic member of the present con-
gress is little difficult to understand.
We waive the question of justice the
claim that the members of the major
ity in Congress have had as much to do
with the success of the present Nation
al Administration AS the President anu
Vice President, and are just AS much
entitled to denomination by acclama-
ton. We waive all this and put 1t on
purely business grounds. What couiu
any new man in Congress from this
district. however great his ability hope
to do at any early date, either in the
big general sense, or as affecting tn
local interests of the several counties
of the district that the present repre-
sentative has not done, OF is not doing?
How could he hope to. at once, even
approach the usefulness of the present,
painstaking, industrious member OF
long and large experience, the critical
times now on and doubtless ahead?
What would be thought of the bust
ness judgement of bank directors who
would discharge during a panic the
bank official who had just weathereu
for them a financial storm? VIVA
would be thought Of the democracy OF
this or any other district who wouiG
now rebuke the representative who has
stood by the Administration that has
50 far successfully weathered the word
wide storm that is still raging?
We believe that those who are en-
couraglng the present contest CD Ia
this district, If they are not moved en-
tirely by patronage disappointment
in patronage matters, at time wn,u
patriotism ought to sutmerge even
thought Of patronage cove 1t to them
selves ana the voters of the district ru
give some reason for the contest, ana
for even proposing a change.
Surely their party's best interest j.
not their chief motive, for even the
blind can see that any contest within
the party can but lose the latter vote.
in November, when every vote may b
needed in the district, and is sure T. b.
needed in the states total for a..
Presidential nominee