Pueblo chieftain., 1921-06-13
new PARTIES IN CONGRESS

idly together for the class OF legisla- |
ton they desire, but to vote together |
on all other projects where it is de-
cided that the interests of their group
would be furthered.
The strength of these organizations
of the members of Congress, all of
which will be minorities, of course, lies
in the hope of being able to force the
Republican majority leaders to approve
their legislative programs.
With the growth of the groups, and
collateral to it. is the astonishing
growth in the National capital of class
lobbies". 1t is estimated tina. there
are about 125 Of these lobbies in Wash
ington conducting campaigns for the
adoption of the measures which the
interests they represent advocate.
Congressman in Revolt
In addition to this pressure on Con-
gress, wt&ch has had much to do with
the formation of the blocs in Congress,
there has been n reaction on the part
of sincere members of the Senate and
House against the old methods OF
party rule, These men because of their
own convictions, are ready to throw
overheard the old control of legislation
by party caucus and majority leader
ship.
II it becomes firmly established, this
group formation will be an entirely
new thing in American legislative life.
With rare exceptions the mem bershi
of the Senate and House has been
made up of Republicans and Demo-
Gratis since the Civil war. There was
the great upheaval of 1912. when the
Progressive party was formed, but that
party and its membership soon drifted
back to the Republican party Occa-
sionally lone Socialist manages to get
elected to the House. or the represent
tative OF some new party. In body
of 43S mem mbers, however. this is insig-
nificant as party representation.
The swing of the pendulum back and
forth between Republican and Demo
cratic control would be checked com
pletely by actual alignment of most
of tho House and Senate members in
the groups being formed No one group
could muster sufficient membership to
control either body. Each in itself
would be n minority. Legislation would
pass when groups numbering sufficient
members to make up a majority of the
House united on a measure and pushed
1t thru.
1t is predicted by legislative veterans
that the veto of any measure by the
president would 5e harder to overcome
-two-thirds OF the voting membership
of each branch of Congress being me-
cossary-than under the present or
Ganization.
With the present overwh helming Re-
publican majority in Congress party
lines on legislative matters are already
weak and lax. IL It estimated that on
more than three -fourths OF the mea-
sures brought before Congress recently.
party lines have been broken. But In
every case where measure was sup
posedly strictly party measure, n suf
icient number OF Republicans have
stood by their leaders to insure its
| passage.
a dangerous aspect of the effort to
reorEaniDe the membership OF Con-
gress. from the standpoint OF old lead
Srs, is the fact that many of the groups
viii be interlocklng. having many
| numbers. for instance. who would be-
| lolg both to the irrigation group and
20 the farm group. While the smbi-
{ tions and aims OF many OF the groups
1 are widely divergent. yet comhina-
tion OF some OF the larger mtnorities
by common interest and by "log-roll-
ing" might control Congress and lcEis-
| lation.
BY log rolling" is meant the trad
| ing OF support between groups. Labor
, will support certain farm measures
| and the farmer bloc in return will sup
| port labor legislation.
1t is largely by such agreements be-
| tween individuals and unorcanized
groups that legislation is passed now.
After all. our Congress Is nothing but
hodEe-podGc OF more or less diver
gent interests and almost every lav
| that passes Ls a product OF much trad
| inS and compromising To organize
each OF these interests separately and
| clearly. IL is argued. so that the voter
may know just what each man and
| each group r1prcsents. Is TO throw
beam OF logical light into the haze OF
| buncomhe and intrigue which clothes
! the political scene.