The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-24
STEAGALL URGES SOME
OLD-TIME CONSERVATISM

Washington October 23-(Special.
Dodging their own responsibility, Great
ng bodies to serve as buffets between
themselves and their Observation-Disclosures
Whlcn they know cannot prove effective
were charges brought against members
OF Congress by Representative steaga1
or the Third Alabama district
Mr.. SteaEah was speaking in criticism
OK the budget bill claimed by it's advo-
Gates to be an infallible means for re-
ducing the cost of official living" or
the expenses of government. Calling upon
members to assume their own RESPONSE
oLity. the Albanian exclaimed:
Gentlemen, the truth Of the matter
IS there Is but one hope of reforming
conditions in this body, and that hope
rests upon the courage and patriotism of
the individual member of Congress and
his recognition of his responsibility to the
people back homer
Protesting against the ceaseless clamor
for change and reformation, Mr. Stea-
gall continued:
Il have about reached the point where
| am slow to throw up my hat for some
thing simply because it is offered as a
reform. and l have been kind of re-
former all my life. Before 1 came to
Congress favored nearly all of the pro-
tangled issues" they were sometimes
called. In many instances, no doubt we
were right; but I think L have learned
a little during my service as a member
Of this body, and to tell you the whole
truth am not quite sure that l have not
unlearned a few things. Merely to calf
a thing reform does not enthuse me any
more SO much as it used to-though
wish it understood that l am still a
young man. Qaughter.)
Il confess I am alarmed at the inces-
SAINT cry for change to be heard on every
hand I deplore the discomfort and dis
satisfaction with customs and ideals and
institutions we have been taught TO re-
gard as sacred We have upset so many
lthings that I sometimes fear 1 shall
wake up some morning to find myself
Ieft-handed.
II once heard my father tell story that
illustrates my view of what is needed
In this country. There was a great
preacher down in my country who once
held big revival meeting. Soon after
the meeting closed he met a friend and
told him about it, He said it was tho
greatest revival he had over known. in
his life. The friend was a religious man
and, being delighted with the report,
FASTENED to inquire. And how many new
members did you take in?''
The preacher replied. I'VE did not
take in any; we turned out $780," QLaugh-
ter.)
employed in this body If we are to give
the people the reform they desire at our
hands.
I'VE need an end to the senseless
clamor for change We need\a revival
of conservatism and common sense. IL
We are going to cut down expenses, in
stead Of passing new laws and creating
new boards and bureaus. we should pass
bills to repeal some of the laws now
or the statute books and to abolish some
Of the boards and bureaus now in opera
ton. (Applause) If there is any one
thing that the people OF this country are
sick and tired of it is boards and burea us
in Washington to govern them in their
activities. ] am not lecturing anybody
nor criticisng anybody nor putting any
blame on ANYBODY that do not take my
own share of.
'I know that we did a great many
things during the war that we would not
have thought OF doing under other con-
ditions and. of course. we made some
mistakes. though | think it safe to say
that in every case the fault lay primarily
With the heads of departments Army
officers and other so-called experts who
and who were allowed to influence our
action. But the fact is there is hardly
anything in this country or any business
establishment from the Pennsylvania
railroad to peanut stand that man can
row operate without having federal
official superintend him from morning
to night
eminent. and have forgotten the old
maxim that the people least governed
are the best governed"