New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-04
The Sixty-fourth Congress

which did practically nothing OF lmpor-
ance except under outside pressure 1t
vas never its own master. II never en-
Dyed real leadership. 1t never had any
onfdence in itself, because it never had
nv beliefs which it thought worth fight
ng for or ever felt any Of that construc-
i've impulse which q Congress must have
order to make a lasting impress on
rational policy.
In mere weight of legislation the Sixty
ourth Congress accomplished good deal.
At its first session it enacted rural credit
Measure, child labor measure and good
.oads measure which deserve high praise
IS contributing to economic and social
progress. These were inheritances from
he past. The real work which put them
IN the statute books had been done in pre-
eding Congress. 1t is to the credit Of
his Congress, too, that it refused to APP
prove the abominable Clarke amendment
@ the Philippine government bill proVld-
NO for a surrender Of American SOW
,reignty in the Philippines. A Democratic
revolt in the House of Representatives
against Administration leadership saved
he country from that threatening caiam-
". 1t was the only instance in which this
Congress asserted its will successfully
against real pressure from the White
House. for the pressure from the White
House which it resisted in refusing this
winter to pass a law prohibiting strikes on
interstate railroads pending investigation
was of rather Pickwickian sort.
On the whole, however, this Congress
mas been like a horse on a treadmill, stolid-
X doing the bidding Of some drivers
brain. It has hurried through one piece
Of legislation after another under prod
ding. Sometimes the prodding has come
from the public, as in the case of the in
crease of the navy. The Navy Depart
ment asked for much less than Congress
granted in the way Of new construction.
But Congress fell in line eventually with
popular demand for an accelerated build
ing programme which proved too strong
10 ignore.
In legislation Of a more partisan char
acter, like the ship purchase and the rail-
road eight hour bills, Congress merely
registered the will Of the President. 1t
did so without enthusiasm. 1t felt itself
aelpless-deprived of any intelligent lead
ership-to assert control even in its own
special field. 1t sank lower and lower in
its self-respect. Only when indulging IN
the usual orgy of pork distribution-in
passing shameless measures for the dis
tribution Of river and harbor and public
building loot-did it stir itself out of a
state Of lethargy. That was the only legis-
lation Of the two sessions which came
straight from its own brain and heart.
This Congress-sluggish, apathetic, in
competent, inocuated with the optimistic
do-nothingness which in recent years has
sapped American spirit-had the misfort-
une to face crisis in the worlds history
and the problems arising out Of that crisis.
II was mentally and morally unprepared
to deal with such problems. 1t naively
confessed its unpreparedness by running
away from them. In this, of course,
it had much company.
But it must be judged in history by
The use it made Of great power and a
great opportunity, and the verdict Of his
tory will be unsparing The overshadow
ing need Of the country when this Con-
cress assembled in December, 1915, was
military preparation. But Congress shut
its eyes to the facts. 1t delayed and
lodged and travelled in circles. II &C
cepted the sinister guidance Of James
Hay, a pronounced enemy Of prepared
ness. and in lieu Of real military reor-
ganization act it passed the humbug Hay
law. 1t hailed with enthusiasm the petty
subterfuge Of trying 70 create first line
army through an impossible amalgamation
of 30 to 40 per cent regulars and go to 70
per cent half trained militia.
The Hay bill was never meant to stand
The test Of trial in practice. But mobiliza-
ton was forced on US by our troubles in
Mexico. Once it came, the fraudulency Of
the Hay law was pitilessly revealed. But
Congress all through the second session
has refused 70 recognize the failure Of the
Eay scheme. II has turned 70 no other
leader 10 rebuild the rotten Hay structure
for IL has no such leader. IL has been
willing to accept the Hay law as its monU-
ment.
And that law will remain fitting
monument 70 a Congress which never
found itself, which was at home only when
taking instruction land most Of IT bad
ioefyuction). only when dealing with what
vas unreal and eelf-dcceptiye.
Tire country canno, regret the passing
II s1ch body Il reflected The spirit