Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-10-26
Iowa in the War Congress
[By Ora Williams. ]

| 10y Sie
The only delegation in congress
aside from two very small ones, thu!
| is wholly republican in both branches
is that from Iowa.
Iowa is worth more at Washington
in the shaping Of legislation and tbs
determination of policies for the com
mon welfare, than any Of the dozen
states in which there is not sufficient
public spirit for the organization OF
more than one political party.
Senator CumminS Is chairman OF the
committee on the Mississippi river and
its tributaries, but far more important
| is it that he Is ranking member on the
| big interstate commerce committee;
| and he is also a member Of the COM
mittee on judiciary, on rules, women
suffrage, interoceanic canals and civil
service. Senator Kenyon has member
ship on some of the best committees,
| namely. appropriations. agriculture
| manufactures, education and labor,
| privileges and elections, standards,
| weights and measures, Philippines and
the District Of Columbia.
In the house the dean of the dele
cation. Mr. Haugen, Is placed as the
| ranking member OF the committee on
agriculture. Mr.. Woods is ranking
,, member on banking and currency.
| which Is just now one Of the most i'm
portant of the committees, and he is
also on industrial arts and expositlons.
Mr.. Kennedy has the ranking place Cd
rivers and harbors. Mr.. Good Is sec
ond among republicans on the big COM
mittee on appropriations. Judge Green
has a fine place on ways and means.
which handles all the taxation and
revenue measures. Mr.. Sweet has an
exceptionally favorable place on the
big legislative committee of'the house,
that on interstate and foreign COM
merce. Judge Towner is ranking re-
publican on the committee on educa-
ton. Mr.. powell is ranking member
on the committee on expenditures in
the agricultural department and that
Of elections No. 8. and also Is on the
committee on territories. Mr.. Scott is
on revision of the laws and on public
lands. Mr.. Hull Is opsthe military at
fairs committee. which Is now one Of
the great committees. Mr.. Ramseyer
has a position on postoffices and post
roads.
A nice thing about It Is that the iowa
members generally have, committee
positions which they want and for
which they are we'll fitted. They have
the ranking positions on seven or eight
good committees, which means that In
case Of a republican congress they
automatically come to the front for
the chairmanships Of these or other
committees But it is certain that soon.
unless the delegation is broken up, sew
eral Of the members will go to still
more important committees and their
power will be materially enhanced.
The placement Of the Iowa senators
and representatives on these impor-
tant committees would not alone be
sufficient to account for'the high stand
ing Of the delegation lat Washington
and It's influence in the affairs Of the
government. There are other reasons.
In the first place it Is delegation
which has worked as a unit. There IS
harmony OF action ard the fullest and
freest conference between members.
Then the fact is that the value Of a
member of congress Is immensely in
creased by service at WASHINGTON, and
every member from Iowa has been
there long enough TO learn the ropes