Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-03-20

LITTLE c oNcREss.

washington, d. c.. March 1S.-
When congress closes On Saturday
nights, and our august lawmakers
depart Tor home, their secretaries
now get together and hold . little
congress of their own. Little con-
gress ID . new organization. just
three months old, but already 1t
,, has solved, to its own satisfaction.
the peace treaty question. the Irish
question, the national shipping
policy, and q few other matters
which the big congress is still
worrying over.
Little congress has its speaker,
sergeant-at-arms, and its clerk.
By special permission OF Speaker
Gillett, it meets in the caucus room
of the house OF representatives
office building. The caucus room.
where the Republicans or Demo-
Gratis gather when they wish to
discuss party affairs, is one Of the
most beautiful halls in the city,
and is only a little less dignified
than the real house OF representa-
tives chamber. Floor and ceiling
are white marble, and the walls are
white, decorated with pillars
Brown velvet window hangings, a
long green topped table, and rows
| OF chairs are the main furnishings.
When it is arranged like the house
chamber, with q speakers desk
| and the chairs in q big semi-circle,
and the glittering chandeliers are
all lighted, it is q room to inspire a
young secretary to heights OF elo-
quence his congressman might
easily envy.
At s o'clock sharp, on Saturday
night, the speaker of little con-
gress bangs on the big table with
his gavel. and the members come
to order.
1.-THE subject for discussion be-
fore little congress tonight"
drawls the speaker in his, best pub
lie voice, SIS that Of soldiers bon
uses. Most of Us realize that the
nation owes some token OF appre-
citation to the men who SO ably
served it in, the war. Tonight we
shall hear from four members who
will place the question before u.s. %
The debate follows with speeches
by four members designated be
Iforehand. Later, however, all Join
in the scrimmage. and before mid
night, little congress resembles
closely big congress on an intense
day.
The meetings Of these young po-
litical enthusiasts are not entirely
serious, any more thap the real
congress is always as solemn as
it likes to be pictured. After the
main subject Of the evening is
settled 20 the liking Of the major
ity Of secretaries, petition from
the Sweet Pea club Of Rockville
Md. is usually presented before the
body for consideration. The Sweet
Pea club, we hasten TO explain, is
a fictitious organization which is
ardently interested in reform. Con-
gress has SO many reform Organi-
cations to deal with seriously that
the secretaries decided to have one
Of their own which they could be
facetious about. So petitions are
introduced from the Sweet Pea
club asking that the germs be leg
islated out Of existence, or that
mems clothes be standardized, and
then little congress proceeds to
consider in mock eloqVence the
advisability of these measures.
Members of little congress copy
the house and senate only insofar
as they approve, and when they
disapprove it is in no uncertain
language The question early arose
as to whether or not the body
should be non-partisan. This was
quickly settled-no political par
ties in little congress, and no di-
vision of Republicans on one side
of the hall and Democrats on the
other. The secretaries decided that
they would be guided by principle
before politics Though whether
the secretary OF John Cabot
Lodge would rise to defend the
League of Nations is doubtful to
our mind)
Another point Of tradition came
up. According to the constitution
Of the organization. a speaker
holds Office two months. When
the first speakers term ended, he
stated firmly in one term for
executives and now he would put
his principle into practice. This is
probably the first case on record
where a man refused a nomination
for second term on the strength OF
his past remarks.
This first speaker Of the con-
Tess Of secretaries was Ned Bald
Twin. secretary Of Representative
Sinnott of Oregon. Besides know,
ling all the tricks Of the secretary
trade, Mr.. Baldwin is a newspaper
man and has been three times sec
rotary and twice acting chairman
OF the Oregon state Republican
committee.
| MIR. Baldwin is responsible fol
the name little congress"
] Il just always thought Of it as
a little congress and referred to il
that way" he says, land most of the
boys liked it. We had q hot de-
bate over the name, though, and
considered congress junior and q
number of other names. But little
congress won"
The object Of little congress, Mr.
Baldwin explains, is to promote
good fellowship, and for the mem.
bers to gain knowledge OF parlia.
mentary procedure, to become
more efficient as secretaries, and to
improve the art of public speaking
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