Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-05-28

"dSAluSIOus L. C.-OOuSTeSS COL
venes, elects it's new officers and com
mittees, and begins it's grind. There
are few changes, above or below the
surface. Democratic chairmen of COM
mittees now step aside, but they will
sit next to the Republican chairmen,
when the committees go to work, and
they will be only slight degree less
active than before. After all, con.
gross is pretty continuous institu-
ton, and enough of the 435 represent
tattves and the 50 senators come back
after each election to prevent any
notable change in its methods or in the
face It presents to the world.
Champ Clark used to be Democratic
leader. After eight years in the
Speakers chair he has been reelected
to his old job Of leader on the floor
for his party. Claude Kitchin, major
fty leader when Champ was presiding
over the house, retires to his second
airy post in the committee on ways
and means. Gillett will be speaker,
and Mann, Cannon and Mondell will
direct the Republican majority on the
floor, as they have been directing the
Republicans for years past.
In the senate the changes are all &C.
cording to seniority, thus far, except
In the case of Senator Cummins, who
is made president pro tenn. In the hope
of placating the progressive element,
and possibly in the case of Penrose
and Warren, whose political reputa-
tions are considered by good many
of their Republican associates to be
dangerous to party success next year.
But whatever the positions to be held
by Penrose and Warren, it is inevi-
table that they shall have a powerful
influence upon Republican legislative
policy during the next two years. They
represent the bulk Of the party organ
I ization known ais the old guard, just
as Mann and his friends represent it
in the house.
Safe Prophecies.
Several prophecies of this first ses-
sion are safe. First, the peace treaty
and league of nations covenant will
be kept on the hot griddle of hostile
discussion for several months. Sec
ond, the attempt to return the rail-
road properties to private operation
with governmental guaranty of their
hugely inflated and watered claims of
valuation-the claim that $4,000, 000.-
900 has been invested-will strike
snags because it means a big advance
in freight and passenger rates. Third,
legislation against the food monop-
oily will be shelved. Fourth, legisla-
ton designed to solve the problem of
unemployment will not be seriously
considered. Fifth, congress will run
along until November or December
without having satisfied the expecta-
lions of the returned soldiers either
as to well-paid employment, cash
bonus or farms ready for their use.
Labor Demands Initiative.
The more conservative organized
labor in the United States has almost
reached the point where it will demand
share in the right to legislate. But
| it will not be satisfied merely to take
few seats in congress and in the
state legislatures, according to Henry
| Sterling, legislative agent of the
| American Federation of Labor. 1t
wants action in score of fields OF
legislative need, and it suspects that
the "law-making monopoly" as Ster
latures, will never in this generation
catch up with the crying wants of the
people.
So, labor is going to raise racket
in favor of the initiative, the refer
endum and the recall. Particularly is
| it interested in the initiative 1t would
apply this to amending the federal
Constitution, as we'll as to amending
the statutes. What Judson King Of
the National Popular Government
league calls the gateway amend
ment" to the Constitution, which will
permit the people of six or eight
states to bring forward proposed
amendment to the Constitution, to be
voted upon and approved by major
ity of the people in majority of the
states, is wanted at the outset.
The convention of the American
Federation of Labor at Atlantic City
next month will draft series of de
mands, among which will doubtless b.
this one for the easy popular amend
ment of the federal Constitution ant
statutes.
The new congress has scarcely ,
man known prominently in the trad
union world.
Officers Lose Free Cars.
Upon certain corners along fashion
able Connecticut avenue, in the officia
residence quarter of the national capl
tai, these bright spring mornings
passersby have been interested to OF
serve army automobiles, more or les
: crowded with dapper young lieuter
ants, captains and an occasiona
major, waiting at the curb. The
: were waiting to ride to some dowI
,: town office, perhaps three-quarters Q
:: a mile distant. They waited becaus
& some officer of higher rank had no
D yet arrived, to permit the chauffeu
: to start the car.
: In front of the various public built
ings occupied by different branches c
the military service there we're wal
; ing: other army automobiles: Som
. were roadsters, some were tourin
:. cars, and some were fitted up a
. carry-alls, and carried signs shown
that they ran from one army ofic
> Dulldlng to another, over course {
= perhaps mile or two. In them youn
officers waited, or older or ranking o
ficers stepped in with the magic wor
that secured instant departure.
But, alas! All this free-ride systel
has been suddenly overthrown. Seer