Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-02
A BADGEzRUD CONGRESS.
Hardin Couass5; c.:!zea.}

-- tSSiH SOunV Sts!xSH.j
Wilson, since he Yves nrxt installed
in office. has insisted on the Roose-
Welt tactics and forced congress to do
his bid dins. So strong has been his
policy that congress has developed no
leaders of great consequence. Those
who have assumed any leadership have
received their orders and have been
little moro than messenger boys. Such
conditions are not conducive to the de-
vslopment Of leadership. Congress Is
q sort Of ribber-sta o. X.
Occasionally some man or Set Of men
in congress show some disposition to
assume leadership and fulfill the con-
stitutional duties and privileges im-
posed upon them. Then comes fusi-
la6e of brickbatse from the press and
the people and such men are beaten
and badgered about until they weary
Of the strike and quietly succnmb. Just
now any effort to refuse to enact or
even question legislation demanded by
the administration brings forth the cry
Of disloyalty, Germanite, Kaiserite. etc.
Under these conditions there are lat
least two things that should demand
the consideration OF thoughtful people.
One Is that congress Is made up OF
a number of. hundred representatives
Under our theory OF government these
representatives are supposed to enact
into law their average judgment. This
is representative democracy. An av-
erage Judgment Of hundreds OF men
takes time. Congress must have time.
Any one who has ever served on
school board or town council knows
how difficult it is to arrive at a de-
cision. Each member must thresh on;
the pros and cons and look at the sub
ject from every angle. This necessf-
tates discussion. Questioning. ce'!,rrem-
Using. etc. The writer has realized. as
never before. within recent months
how foolish 1t Is to criticize a iesis-
lative body for not moving rapidly. u
such a body does Its full duty, rapid
work is mental innpossfbtlity.
Congress or any legislative body that
IL beaten and badgered about and
forced to act in a wilderness 9: sers.
Is DANGEROUS. Much q our bad legis-
lation Is secured in just this way
and perhaps three-fourths OF the
badgering by newspapers and poiitt-
clans Is based on ignorance Of some
angie Of the subject and in itself Is
viciously dangerous.
The present badgering Of congress
is liable to cost the lives of hundreds
Of thousands of American boys. ThN
country Is utterly unprepared Tor wal
and the fatal fruits Of too much hurry
are being reaped. If one Bull Run
follows another or unmercifuI disaster
follows fast and follows faster, it vii
be largely due to the haiiooing Of PEG.
pie and papers with more enthusiasm
than sense. ;.
Another thought with reference Il
congress crowds the mind. One OF tins
elements that enter into the war u
the contest between autocracy ane
dem ocracy, conflict that has exist
ed thruout the ages. This countr,
brides itself on being representa-
tive of democracy. II this y TO be
reality and not a mere hoiiew nan
then congress must perform Its func-
tons. The very essence Of autocrac1
IS one-manism. It Is true that democ'
racy debates, that democracy is $40"
in execution, and that democracy u
unprepared, but ouch Is the price o.
the privileges Of a democratic govern
ment. We have to pay this or surren'
der to. autocratic methods. To surren
der is to fight autocracy by establish
ing autocracy.
Perhaps the people in their excite
ment and stress OF mind are wiilin,
to 20 70 such lengths. but no memoe'
Of congress can refuse to perform hi
| full duty under the constitution IN
ststing on the duties OF that Dooy
| without violating his oath under tn
constitution and becoming In q sens
traitor to his country. People an