Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-05-29
CONGRESSIONAL.

A good deal has been said recent
Ily about Congressman Haugen's at
titude toward the war and much
criticism INDUCED in which we be-
Ilieve is unwarrented. The charge
of disloyalty is a serious one to
make against any man. 1t is doub-
lily serious when made against
public official who has for twenty
years been identified with the law
making branch of our government,
one who was born and reared in
the United States and has never
owed allegiance to any other coun-
try. The charge that he deliber-
ately used his. influence 70 dissuade
persons of draft age from register
ing in June, 1917, az required by
the federal draft law was success
fully refuted in the letter published
in The Times some time ago. His
speech on the war resolution, prin-
ted copies of which were distributed
in the district, certainly could not
have been designed for that pur-
pose. There may be honest differ
ence of opinion as to the wisdom OF
our congressman's vote on the war
resolution as it came before cong
ress, but his whole record before
and after that proceeding does not
warrant the charge of disloyalty
made against him.
We have been to some pains to
learn something of Mr.. Haugen's at
titude since war was declared and
from an entirely reliable and impair
tial source we are informed that he
has been called into conference by
the president frequently on war
measures, probably oftener than any
other Republican member At one
of these conferences the food control
bill was considered and Mr..
Haugen's draft of the measure was
adopted. A subcommittee of which
Mr.. Haugen was a member was in
frequent conference with the presi-
dent on food and price fixing legis-
lation and for the efficient service
rendered he dominated this body
as the driving committee"
/ Water power legislation is a ques-
ton which has been put before con-
gress for a number of years, but
nothing definite was accomplished
till the president finally decided to
do as was done with currency legis-
lation and had a special committee
appointed. Mr.. Haugen was made
member of this committee. Every
measure designed for the success
full and vigorous prosecution of the
war has received the support of Mr..
Haugen.
If any additional evidence is nee
essary to prove his loyalty it may
| be found in the fact that he has
given his only son to the service of
his country and he is now volun-
| teer IN the aviation corps.
During Mr.. Haugen's almost con-
tinuous residence in Washington he
has endeavored to keep in close
touch with the needs of the people
of his district and has never been
under the influence of the big
| special interests of the country
which maintain at all times in the
national capital a powerful lobby
to district legislation in which they
are specially interested. In this
connection the writer recalls an in
terview had with Congressman Vic
tor Murdoch of Kansas in which he
stated that he regarded Mr.. Haugen
as the ablest man on the Iowa de-
legation in congress; that he had
always kept free from entangling
alliances with the big interests that
seek special privileges in legislation.
''He stood by me in one of my hard
est fights to strip the express COM
panies of exorbitant profits" said
! Mr.. Murdoch, ''and / know he is
right"
Mr.. Haugen was the first man to
take up in congress the matter of
federal meat and gnlin inspection
and Standardization. The first time
| the measure came up there were
only sixteen votes for it. But by
persistent effort additional support
was secured and the bill finally
passed and as result small indie
pendent packing plants have sprung
up all over the country. Farmers
have saved millions of dollars by
the federal Standardization of
grains shipped to market. The in
fluence of the big packers and grain
dealers was used against these two
measures.
When the food survey bill was up
Mr.. Haugen led the fight which re-
shifted in emitting down tho ammo