The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1917-05-03
Where Does CorgrasS Come in?

Mr.. Raiiorr reached v dshlngton en-
a Sunday afternoon. On the following
mcrning he called at the White House
and, the evening Of the same day, be
was entertainer at a dinner there
The company was a varied one. A.
the bosrd sat the Britishers, a Ca1ad
ian, the Cabinet, officers of the army
and navy, John Skelt2n william, and
W. P G. Harding, Samuel G2mpars,
Barney" Baruch, Julius Rosenwald,
and Howard Cofin-all representatives
OF something or another, but mostlA
chosen from that group with which the
President delights 10 surround himself
The Vice President was there, and the
Speaker Of the House; out no Senator
or other representative thrust his legs
beneath the Presidential mahogany 0r
ate Of the three or less courses which
are now SO fashionable in Washington
dining circles.
Yet it was Congress which voted US
into the war, which granted the billions
which Mr.. McAdoo is about to dis
tribute with his crown-princly hand,
and which, at that very moment was
debating the Presidents proposals for
selective conscription. The appoint
ees Of the President were there in
force; but Of the representatives Of the
people there were pone-Champ Clark
to the contrary notwithstanding.
Mr.. BalIour could hardly have failed
10 notice this. He comes from a
country where the Parliament is the
last repository Of power, and neither
Prime Ministers nor any other Cabinet
officers can exist without parliamentry
sanction, where the hand that holds
the purse strings controls all the des-
TIMES OF the nation, where Of late, even
the hereditary chamber Of the lords is
impotent before the representatives OF
the peoyle.
In theory it is the same here, where
the lower House Of Cnngress originates
taxation, where both houses exercise
joint powers in declaring war, where
the upper chamber has negative up
on the Presidents power OF appoint
ment and upon his functions in con-
cluding peace.
Yet the supreme body Of Congress
saw Mr.. BalIour and his associates
only by proxy or by stealth, In Cong
ress there are diploma,ists the equal
of Mr.. Lansing, fnanciers the equal Of
Mr.. McAdoo, sailors the equal Of Mr.
Daniels, business men the equal Of Mr..
Redfeld, lawyers the equal Of Mr..
Gregory, soldiers the equal Of Mr.. Bak
er, farmers the equal OF Mr.. Houston,
laborng men the equal Of Mr., Wilson
But none OF them we're deemed worthy
TO break bread with Mr.. BalIour-and
the President, 10 say nothing Of John
Shelton Williams and Others.
Just where does Congress come in2
Has Congress done its full duty and
received its full recognition whAn it
has voted h. money into the hands Of
Mr.. Mcid % and power into the hands
Of The President? o. is Congress still
a co ordinate brarch OF the govern
ment, with rights and privileges which
ex'end even 10 social affairs ard to
councils which involve the a"ii o.
the country in in n'ernl'ional relat:ons2
Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. B1lIour may
confer until the cows come home, bu
whatever they conclude must be sane
ti1rei en- Capitol Hill and at Wes;min
ster before it can be translated into
action. Westminster was represented
at the Presidents board; Capitol Hill
was no.. Mr.. Balfour, when be re-
turrs home, can tell the Commons
about his visit at Washington. Bu
who Is TO tell Congress1 Where doe
Congress come in1 Or has Congress
been policy b. wed ou'2