South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-03-13
Unbeatable AShuOOk"
Retiring, Says Congress
Needs Business Members
Ohio Representative, Defeated After Fourteen Years
vice. Cites Decline of Influence of 0ratory-Urges
Smaller House and Larger Salaries
TO Devote Time to Per-
sonal Interests.

years ago ss a new member every
thing was tinged with partisanship.
Uncle Joe Cannon was speaker and
in the height OF his autocratic
power. In this connection it is not
amiss to say that the republicans
are directly responsible for the south
being in the saddle in congress
phrase that we hear banded about
a great deal by our publican breth-
rem in cam paign- time.
Explains South I'm Saddle"
When L came here the republican
leaders, who were in control. would
not assign any northern democrat TO
any important committee place be
cause they believed it might help
him to be reelected. The result
was that the best places went to
southern democrats who were given
an unfair grip on committees by the
republicans themselves. When the
turn in political fortunes came and
the democrats gained control of the
house these same republican lead
ers denounced the south for being
in the saddle
I'm those days it was partisan
ship all the way through. Nova
days. under Speaker Gillett that
partisanship is gone. I feel that
now a member in the minority gets
every consideration that he has a
right TO expect. Understand. I am
not blaming Uncle Joe. The spirit
of the times has changed and Uncle
Joe has changed with il. have no
doubt that if he were speaker now
he would be as fair as any man
could be. There is not the bitter
partisan feeling in the house now
there was then.
Another thing I would like to say
is that members of congress as a
whole do not deserve the brickbats
that are thrown at them by an ele-
ment of the population that is more
or less given to undertaking. 1t is
an open season to jump on congress.
My observation is that the member
ship of the house as a whole is high
class. / do not believe there is a
man in congress today who has been
corrupted or who could be cor
rupted. IN my long experience as "A
member of the house are really re-
a dozen members who could be
reached or corrupted. / think the
members o. tn ehouse are really re-
sponsive to the Will and wishes Of
their constituents and that this is
true, also, to a greater extent than
, ever of the senate since She popular
election of senators came into
vogue. While many members of the
house prefer a longer term than
two years, my judgment is that it is
/ in the interest of the people to limit
the term as it is"
PAYERS Smaller House.
If Mr. Ashbrook had the deciding
voice he would reduce the number
Of members of the house and pay
those that remain a more adequate
salary.
"I am free to say on retiring" he
remarked. that while $500 a year
seems a good salary, and in ordinary
walks of life it is a good salary.
nevertheless no member of congress
can meet al the obligations that
should and save anything out Of his
salary. The people expect a mem
Der to live well and my belief is
that not 10 per cent of the members
have anything left out of their sal
aries at the end of the year. I have
known many instances where land
slides have Unexpectedly taken men
out Of the house under pathetic cir
cumstances because they have not
been able 10 save a cent out OF their
salaries and have to go home and
start all over again. As matters
now stand only "A man i'm good cir
cumstances can afford to accept
membership in congress.
Il think. furthermore. that it
would be a mistake to increase the
representation. a smaller body
would be less unwieldy and would
give at least as good service. While
I voted to retain the present mem
bership I would have been glad TO
reduce it 10 500 if the opportunity
had been afforded"
HAS oratory deteriorated In con-
gress?" Mr.. Ashbrook was asked.
Not swayed by Oratory.
There was a time" ne replied.
when oratory aid cut a figure in
congress. just as the ford oratory