The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-04-20
BRAVE U1NINITk.
cstou American. l4th.

Charleston American, 14th.
Fred is new man in congress
Nearly all new men blow to the dom
inant sentiment, and many of the
Old members never conquer the hab-
it. Congress is going body" 1t
is only theoretically divided in point
OF tenure into entities Of two-year
terms. ,Ahat We call the new Con-
gress' is in fact but in large bulk
the cid body with a few new mem-
bers We have always considered
this one Of the anomalies Of our gov
eminent. IN actual practice it is the
destruction Of the salutary princi-
ple OF rotation There is no rota-
ton, bat perpetuation.
Hence the new member comes into
congress as sort Of intruder, and Is
looked upon as such. He usually
goes through haZing process, one OF
the features Of which is that he must
bow with due and proper ceremony
to the will Of the holdovers. Let him
watch them, and follow their lead, Is
what is expected Of him. If space
permitted we could show how this
has grown to be great evil, ana
how, because of this, the theory that
underlies our popular branch of gov
ernment Chat it comes every two
years from the people, is often de-
feated. Instead Of being governed by
the wishes Of the people, as mani
tested IN changes Of members, it is
governed by the elder statesmen hold
ing over. The first congresses had
no elder statesmen. Hence members
did the peoples will and "stood in
jeopardy every hour" lest in not do
ing it they would be cast out. Now
congress lords It over the people
rather than vice versa. Hence the
danger.
But Fred Dominick went there un-
der the ancient and constitutional
conception Of his duty. He came fresh
from the people. They had had two
years to contemplate the danger Ct
their country being dragged into war
by jingoes and tories. He knew the
people did not want war, and that
this sentiment arose out of their in
stinctive knowledge that war was
unnecessary, persisted in in spite Of
two years of British propaganda. And
he had the courage to face the jeers
and sneers of editors who seem 70
have lost the address Of recruiting
Offices since the war began, although
carrying appeals Ito the boys on
their front pages, exhorting them to
VI hot
and follow their own advice, espec-
tally as they were crazy for the op
portunity. Having voted according
to his conscientious belief Of what his
constituents wanted, Mr.. Donnnick
says, in an interview which we pup
lish today:
Il have received 200 letters from
my people approving my stand ana
only one from a voter from my whole
State saying that l have made mrs
take. * 1t would have been easy
to have voted the other way, nlucn
easier than to have voted the way
did. But l think that registered
the views Of the people Of my dis
trict. I do not mean the newspapers
and the upper class Of citizens. /
mean the majority Of the people
that is the yeomanry, the working
people and the folks who will have
to do the fighting, in this war. They
are with me, have registered their
views, and l am satisfied.
But now that war has been de-
clared, l want It understood that /
am with my country. I will vote anu
do all in my power to defend the
honor of my country and to cooperate
with my colleagues in congress TO
bring success to our flag. Of course,
! I do not propose to vote for every
thing that comes up regardless o.:
what is asked For instance, 1 ALI
opposed to conscription. 1t is un-
american and was never intended
here. The volunteer soldier has
fought and won victories that have
crowned us king OF the Western
Hemisphere, and I propose to stana
/ by him. Why change now? WnaI
rights has any man when the govern
ment can simply conscript him? The
! European war was in progress LOT
two years before conscription was
resorted to by Great Britain, and the
: protest was 80 great from the people
; that every man who favored it and
thrust it upon the people was forced
! to resign. 1 don't believe the Amer
! lean people will stand for it. 1t IS
! not right and it does not coincide
| with our system of government and
our ideals. l am opposed to it, but
I am for my country in all other
! things, and in opposing conscriptioll
/ believe I am for my country first. y
These are brave words. Perhaps