The Washington herald., 1918-03-02
Take Him By the Hand.

II is reassuring to know that when Representa-
tive Alvan T. Fuller resigned from the Committee
on Expenditures in the Department of the Interior,
he did not mean all his words implied in his crit-
cism of the House of Representatives as piece OF
cumbersom legislative machinery, out of date and
Ineffective. 1t was to be expected that his associ-
ates characterized as "hgureheads" and accused of
being occupied principally in telling stories and
practicing up to see who spit the farthest,"
should resent the impression gathered by new
member, but it is evident that they have not taken
the pains to coach Mr. Fuller in the manifold duties
and activities of Representative
As novice the member from Massachusetts,,
who is registered as independent" evidently
has been permitted to go his lonely way, uncon-
scious of what his constituents expect OF him in the
way OF making the wheels of the cumbersome
machine go round. He has been limited to the
observation of other members in their hours of
case, when perchance they told story two and
by mischance-but no, among statesmen the other
recreation long ago went out OF fashion with chew
ing tobacco and butterfly neckties.
Now that Mr.. Fuller has been rebuked the
floor of the House and has made the amende hon
orable, as far possible it the duty of his
associates to teach him that outside the periods
occupied by the daily sessions of the House he
Should occupy himself follows:
Answering from $50 to 200 letters day about
pensions, draft exemptions, risk Insurance. the
excess profits tax prohibition, equal suffrage, An
napols and West Point vacancies, the maximum
price of wheat and hogs, the railroad BILL the
status OF osteopathic practitioners in the Medical
Corps of the army, the possibility of repeal or
amendment of the system for second-class
postal rates. the importance of raising the salaries
of government employees, the possibility OF procur
ing appropriations for anything and everything his
district thinks it needs, etc.
he ont Of k
ages of garden seeds so that they will help to win
the war instead OF going to propretors OF munition
plants ward politicians and constituents who live
in city flats.
Visiting the departments official business.
after marking each days movngs the map OF
Washington and cultivating a meek and patient
spirit with which to accept the nonchalant greet
,ings OF negro door men, fresh" office boys and
secretaries who have never heard of him.
Reading. at least glancing over, the scores of
bills little, foolish bills" introduced by other
members.
Preparing his first speech that i go into
the Record without being edited and made over
into an Extension of Remarks"
Keeping in touch with the political situation in
his district by reading all the dailes and weeklies
published within its boundaries.
Making speeches in support of food conServa-
ton, war saving stamps the Red Cross and liberty
bonds.
Gathering information about fuel distribution
among New England manufacturers.
But why enumcrate all that a Congressman is
expected to do? 1t is enough to show that more
than 400 members of the House have been negli-
gent in their obvious duty toward a stranger
who came among them. If he was mistaken con-
cerning the other fty-nne varieties of committees
with which he was not acquainted it was not his
fault. If he felt in him the will to do something
and knew how to direct his energies, he should
not be blamed too severely. 1t seems that it is up
to Speaker Champ Clark to take him by the hand
and to show him a thing or two about what it
means to be a. Congressman.