The Washington herald., 1918-08-01

the fact that one may hear occasional
slams at p. NJ. G. Burleson Just the
same as he can in the Senate or
House ONCE buildings In Washington,
or up and down Pennsylvania avenue.
They perk UP their ears at mention
OF the Texan mail-manager and opine,
when they are given q chance to ex-
press themselves on the subject, that
If Mr.. b. would mend the ordinary
facilities a wee bit It would be more
to his credit than devising ways and
means for carrying the mail a few
thousand feet over our heads.
They aren't quite so sure in talking
about Kerensky here. They have
heard all about him, of course. but
they've never seen him Or felt him
like they have Mr.. B.-so they wisely
let others discuss this man. Way
down under their B. V. DIS however,
they have a number Of opinions about
Russia, and we are quite sure IL
Russian commission could be sent
to this country and would come 20
New England for suggestions it would
not be at all to the disadvantage of
the Big Bear nation. This section.
when it was young, had a multitude
of problems just like Russia has
nowadays but it managed to settle
them so that the section expanded
into a powerful nation. For the basis
of their laws between men they went
back to the laws laid down by God
for men to, follow. This proceeding
shows their simpleness Of spirit-and
this same simpleness might be found
useful right now in Russia.
This State is dry. But no one de-
MI .
to scores of men here who used to
tickle their pallets with Jimmy"
Pepper. and some of the other more
or less distantly related members
of that race, but there appear to
be none of them who want to bring
back the drinks of other days. 1t
gets little hot now and then, but
the old town pump offers such a lib
eral supply of real liquid that the
natives flock to it and it's descen-
dants with commedable alacrity. OF
course, the folks here do not want
to dictate what the course of other
States shall be. but they are willing
to swear that il any State now pos
sessed of grbgGeries and Dew
Drop Inn," will only take to the
water the change will be beneficial
to both pocketbook and stomach.
The legislature of this State is a
wonderful body. We didn't get to
see 1t in operation because the capi-
tai city is free of its illuminating
presence just now. But the lower
house is made up of several hundred
members-every town being repre-
sented whether 1t is great or small.
Many men go to the legislature
here who probably wouldn't get the
opportunity il the = representation
were cut down. The result is that
many queer laws are proposed and
some decidedly queer ones are ac-
tually put on the statute books. But
the number is strangely low con-
sidering the makeup of the law
making body. Some day, so some
of the progressive folks say, there'l
be a constitutional amendment Of
fered cutting down the representa-
tion. But we have our doubts about
its adoption for the number of men
who are or who have served in the
legislature constitutes a majority of
the population, we fear, and they all
will oppose II for what they have
gained from the old law or expect
again to gain. We see no victory
in sight for the amendmenteers un-
til the number Of lawmakers and
ex-lawmakers DEGREES through
some operation which makes many
OF them serve many terms and
which allows no general passing
around of these Offices.
The system is decidedly one Of class
representation. though. There are
many LAWYERS In the legislature of
course. but the number of non-law-
yers completely overshadow them
and they do not get the opportunity to
do the tinkering they do in some of
the States where the representation Is
smaller. This may be an advantage
which the keen-eyed Yankees OBJ
served long ago. and which will be
their reason for refusal to amend their
organic law. Besides, the change
would destroy the big law-maling