The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-05-14

Washington, D. c.. May ia
new organization that. Is to help
congress serve the interests of.tne
general public has been formed. It
is called the Peoples Legislative
Service, and its national council
is composed Of 10 senators, repre-
sentatives, judges, editors, and
other we'll known liberals.
This organization will attempt to
give the general public-also desig-
mated as the ordinary citizen and
the ultimate consumer-the same
advantages before congress that
business, labor, farmers, and other
groups have. These groups are or
organized and have lobbies to pre-
sent their arguments forcefully be-
fore congressional committees. Al
most any information needed by
them can be obtained instantly
from their headquarters.
But when it comes to the public's
side of case, there is no well
posted representative shouting in
the ear of congress. Even when a
congressman has reason to think a
bill will work hardship on the beo-
pie as a whole, he has trouble in
collecting sufficient facts to sup
port his position. Senator La Fol
lette said that he has spent "a
hours a day for weeks at a time
trying to get at the facts on the
other side Of some bill that was
being pushed by corporation.
The new group Of men and WON
en- that aim to serve the peoples
interests claim that they are no,
starting a lobby, like the various
organizations that boost the affairs
of tradesmen, machinists, cotton
growers and the like. The insti-
tuition they are founding is some.
what like a lobby in that it is a
source of information for congress
But unlike lobby it represents ne
limited part of the population, but
| the public as whole. 1t is fol
the benefit of any congressman who
want information on the public:
, side of any case, and it is maintain
ed by subscriptions of members
some of whom are congressman.
| The new service organization ex
plains that it cannot logically TAKE
a neutral position and furnish in
formation on both sides of a ques
ton. There is really no need fol-
this anyway, because almost an,
bill has its supporters speaking fo
some special interest. The legis
lative service feels, therefore, tina
in taking the public's side It il
only balancing the scale.
The national council of the PEG
pies Legislative Service is made vi
of men and women in all parts O
the country who are interested il
the public welfare, as we'll as il
that of some particular group
Thus. there are in the council tn
president of the Brotherhood o
Boilermakers and Iron Ship Build
ers, the president of the Farmers
National Council, the general sec
rotary of the National Consumers
League, the president of the Ala
bama State Federation of Labor
the president Of the Order of Rail
way Telegraphers, and many other
representing important groups
These people are not in the coun
Gil primarily as labor or farm rep
resentatlves, however, but as mem
bers of the public.
The council has also in it's mem
bership such general social worker
and thinkers as Jane Adams, Thor
stein Veblen, Herbert Croly, Fred
eric c. Howe.
The attitude of the organizatio
on any particular bill will be dc
cided after conferences of the ma
!, tional council Not all of tn
members of the congress who ar
Interested in the organization wi
agree with the stand taken on
, bill. But those who do can get in
:, formation. statistics, and help
collecting data, SO that they will b
able to maintain their ground effet
, lively during floor debates and i
committee meetings. No worker
, at the legislative service headqual
. ters, either the chairman or his as
. sistants. are to appear at hearing
to testify.