The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-05-29
Political Observations.

| Although II is generally conceded that
the membership of the house of repre-
sentatives is entirely too large and un
wieldy, there is little probability that II
will ever be smaller. In the first con
gress, that Of 1889, the house of repre-
| sentatiyes consisted of only So members
or / member for every 10000 persons
From 1898 to 1903 the basis of repre-
sentation was $4,000, and the member
ship of the house was 1885, from 1903
To 1913 the basis Of representation was
$4,000 and the membership of the house
was 142 from 1918 to 1882, the basis
was $4,000, and membership 1856. Sue
cessive changes have resulted in the
| present basis of / representative for
2l1,S77 persons and total house mem.
bership Of 435.
Fines imposed by the United States
district court at Pittsburg upon brew
ers totaled $4,000 The fines imposed
ranged from $4,000 to S45O. In all
seventy.two had been indicted for vio-
lating the federal criminal code, which
prohibits contributions to political
funds from corporations, and were
charged with raising a "slurh fund" OF
$1,0O0,0O0 to abet the election of one
United States senator and thirty-six
members to congress in Pennsylvania
in 1914.
At a recent national socialist conven-
tion in st. Louis resolutions proclaiming
"unalterable opposition to the war just
declared by the government of the
United States" were adopted. 1t is not
to be wondered at, therefore, that the
government has denied passports to
American delegates to the socialist con-
ference to be held at Stockholm. The
socialists Of America have placed them
selves in the attitude of enemies of their
country.
The prohibition bill passed by the
Wisconsin Legislature has been vetoed
by Governor Phillip, and there is no
probability that it VIII be passed over
his veto. The governor based his veto
on the ground that the bill would re-
suit in practical confiscation of the big
brewing plants in the state. Supporters
Of the bill declare that politics influenc-
ed the governor. who is candidate for
United States senator.
The cases Of the ninety.nine men,
charged with having violated the cleo
tion laws OF Ohio, at the election last
November, who were recently indicted
by the federal grand jury, although six.
ty-six Of them plead guilty, have been
thrown out Of court on the ground
that the federal court lacked jurisdic.
tion.
1t is a matter Of common observation
that while many criticisms Of the adj.
ministration and its war measures have
been voiced by members Of congress,
the bitterest OF these have been voiced
by Democrats. Few Republicans have
engaged in the chickering's and denun.
Citations Of the president and his plans
Michigan's legislature has piled the
peoples taxes higher than ever before.
Estimates OF the appropriations made
show that the amount TO be levied this
year and next is to be some $4,000 600
more than in the preceding biennial
period.
The narrow Democratic majority in
the senate is made narrower by the
death OF Senator Harry Lane Of Oregon.
whose term would not have expired un-
ill March 4, 1919. II is almost certain
that his successor viii be a Republican.
The governor Of Iowa is being petit
toned TO call a special session Of the
state Legislature for the purpose OF re-
pealing the Sunday blue laws. which the
authorities are now vigorously enforc-
ing.
Among those who voted against the
war revenue bill was Representative
Meeker, who represents a German CON
stituency I'm st. Louis