The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-03-23
CONGRESSMAN FACE
PUZZLNG SITUATION
n1FFICULT PROBLEMS UP AND
WITH SHARP LINES DRAWN
JOBS ARE AT STAKE u

WASHINGTON.-Members Of the
Sixtv-sixth Congress, referred to in
washington as the Congress of Di-
,o,rnas." are facing the most difficult
situation confronted by members OF
oi+ber house in recent years. AS
earvants of the people they are being
threatened, cajoled, persuaded and
warned of the fate, political and 9TH
orwise, that awaits them if they dare
overcise their own judgment on such
matters as railroad legislation, pro-
bibition, soldier legislation and other
;nnortant issues now before the ma
+ion Whichever way the national
LEGISLATOR now turns he confronts the
barred teeth of a monster that threat
ans to devour him. Neither con-
SCIENCE nor knowledge can make him
safe. Nor is the ordinary path out
If such a situation open to him, II
he feels the burden of duty as some
+b;no he cannot conscientiously lay
down. for this means simply the cleo,
t;on of another man who has yielded
N the threats that he refused to DOW
Power of Anti-SalOOn League
The Anti-Saloon league, because
statesmen realize that the "drys are
voting solidly and therefore are IN
nosition to hold the balance OF power
in any general election, has been able
to force a great majority in both
houses of Congress to back prohibition
Ipoislation. In Washington there IS
the spectacle of many men whose eel,
lars were famous for the quality and
extent of their Installations, brews ana
yintages. voting for every prohlbl-
ton measure that has come DeIore
Congress. The connection between
the sentiments and the votes OF tne
congressman has been very unsuostan-
tial. but the Anti-Saloon league is
not interested in this. 1t wants the
votes and in most cases 1t mas peen
getting them.
Soldiers and the Railroads
the lesson of the Anti-Saloon league
has not been lost. Now the veterans
of the World war are confronting
+he legislator with the alternative OF
voting for bonus for service men or
FACING the united displeasure of the
soldier vote. Four million OF these
men. it is said, are united IN oppos-
mo existing railroad legislation. The
ro;Iroad hill got through despite of
their displeasure but it did not pass
as the men who framed it intended
originally. They know that session
bv session the bill will come up again
and again as the railroad brotherhoods
work for what they think are their
rights, and in every election the
spiked club will be held in the air
for the benefit of the candidates.
Some congressman have come to
feel that the best way to escape being
torpedoed would be to close the eyes,
omen the mouth and swallow the pro-
hibition bill, the Plumb plan, solder
bonus measures and other legislation
and thus save their jobs. But even
this ladder out of the burning house
is not available. In some districts
prOhlDlClOn supporters arc "S0i
Plumb plan for the control OF rail-
roads, so that by voting for one ele-
ment the congressman will dlsplease
another. Then some who favor the
blanket bonus system for service men
are for "wet" legislation and so the
situation is mixed until the congress
men in close districts hardly know
which way to turn, if they have an
eye singled on retaining their seats
in Congress.
Then the anti-prohibition forces,
owners of railroad securities, the
United States Chamber of Commerce
and scores of other interests are cross
ing the path of congressman telling
what they would like in the way OF
laws and what the congressman may
expect if he balks.