The Washington herald., 1917-10-21
Bryan on Lawmaking,

signed editorial by w. ]. Bryan
in the current issue of his paper ac-
complishes two things-one of which
is pleasing to his enemies and the
! other which brings a great deal of
displeasure to his friends.
The editorial deals with the rights
of lawmakers to express themselves.
and to do their own thinking. 1t ad-
vocates the continuance of that right.
thus putting Mr.. Bryan in a position
where he can no longer criticse men
for disagreeing with him or with the
President.
That much pleases his enemies on
the hill. whom he has frequently Sc
verely castigated for their refusal to
be "rubber-stamp" Senators and Rep
resentatives and follow wheresoever
their executive head dictated.
In the part which displeases his
friends Mr.. Bryan intimates a defense
OF Senator La Follete and all those
other members of the Senate who.
from time to time. have been charged
with impeding the progress Of war
legislation. He says if this right were
curtailed-even at so serious an in
fraction as the Wisconsin Senator is
guilty Of at this time-it might seri-
ously interfere with the working OF
our government. Continuing he says:
"A Senator or Representative has
as much right to express himself on
matters properly coming before Con-
gress as the President has to express
himself upon subjects with which he
has authority to deal. They not only
have the right to express themselves,
hut fhax cI, Il
preston becomes necessary to the dis
charge of their official duties. Only
by properly discussing measures can
they live up to the requirements of
the office which they hold. :
''To say that a Senator or Represen-
tative in Congress must of necessity
agree with the recommendations made
by the President is equivalent to ad-
vocating the substitution of a despo.-
ism for a republic-equivalent to ad-
vocating the establishment of an au-
tocracy here while We are trying to
overthrow autocracy in other lands.
THE obligation of a Senator or Rep
resentative is to the people whom he
represents, not to the executive. If a
Federal legislator acts corruptly. he
should be expelled. but so long as he
acts honestly and from a sense of
duty to his constituents. he is within
his rights. and it is not likely that
any legislative body would entertain
thought of expelling him for the
full exercise of his rights.
with the citizen the question of
duty Is sometimes more important
than the question OF rights. The vital
question is not what he can do but
what he ought to do. The legislator
must discuss questions before Con-
gress-this is necessary to intelligent
action by Congress. but this necessity
does not confront the citizen in pri-
vate life. There Is no reason why
any one should discuss that which has
been done-when final action is taken.
acquiesence on the part of the citizen
becomes a duty,
In the case of proposed legislation,
1t Is better that the citizen should
communicate directly with those en-
powered to act-the President, Sem
ators and Representatives-tha to
speak through the press, on the plat
form or on the street. If one is really
anxious to serve his country, he will
choose the method of expression that
promises the maximum of good and
the minimum of risk of doing his
country haAn.
Water-power Campaign.
AT the regular session of Congress
water-power advocates, of whom
there are said to be many more than
at any time in the country's his
tory. intend to push with might and
main their plan to thrust Federal de-
velopment upon the country.
Just how their campaign will be af-
fected by the war conditions. however,
Is something which the leaders have
not been able to determine. Some of
them want to defer action until the
war Is over. so the. need of develop
ment can better be brought home to
the people, and SO the chance of pro-
curing necessary funds will be en-
fanced Others insist that now is the
accep1p time; that when there IL
greater need Of agricultural devel-