, 1921-12-06
ANSWERING

"The conference is doing well. How would it do
to let it legislate for the United States in the place
of e fool congress?" This quotation is from the
Washington Herald, and If the American system of
government needs defense the fool congress-" is the
plece to begin.
II the Sixty-seventh congress is a fool congress
then every other congress has been a fool congress,
our government is a fool government, and the people
are fools for using their votes to clothe with power
the individuals who compose the congress. A review
Of what the Sixty-seventh congress accomplished be-
fore the adjournment of the first session on Novem-
Der % is sufficient REPUTATION Of the scsndalous re-
mark of the Herald.
One hundred and ~thirty-six laws were enacted in
the six months of the first session, and scores Of 9TH
ers are pending in various stages of legislation, ready
to be taken up again when the second session con-
venes on December 8. The more important bills en-
acted into law are as follows: Internal revenue act,
budget act, emergency tariff extension act, peace rsso-
luton, Veterans Bureau act, immigration act, anti
beer act, s25, 900, 900 farm loan act, navy and army
appropriation acts, grain futures act, packers control
act, war finance agricultural loan act, SIS, 000, 900
state highways aid act, maternity act, shipping board
act, export aid act, cable control act, Indian bureau
act.
This program of legislation was prepared and en-.
acted into Jaw by congressman and senator's, each in
dividual of whom was selected and sent to Washing
ton by the popular vote Of his constituency. Students
OF democratic government the world over have pro.
nounced the American system of popular elections the
most nearly perfect that human ingenuity can con-
trive. Every member of the house of Representatives
and Of the senate knows perfectly well that il he does
not guide his actions and votes according to the will
- AS AAeJOAASy VI iS PSOpiC Wnoil II Represents u
will be retired from office at the next election and an.
other man sent to Washington who will do their bid.
ding. That means that the legislation enacted by con-
gress is, in fact, the will of the people written into
law.
1t is unfortunately true that certain other papers
in the United States permit themselves to make i'll
considered reflections upon congress similar to that
quoted from the Washington Herald. Did they but
realize it, they are attacking directly our form of gov.
eminent, and giving aid and encouragement to the
various evil forces within our borders who are bent
on ~wrecking the Constitution and substituting n rad
ical regime more or less similar to the Russian order.
The people in the United States have always ruled and
always will rule. The present congress is of their
own choosing, and future congresses will be likewise.
There is no surer way to lower the standard of the
body that makes our laws than to instill into the
minds Of the people the idea that the present con-
gress is n fool congress- and that a radical change
is necessary. Congressman and senators today are
statesmen, lawyers and business men who have suf.
fciently gained the respect and esteem Of their fellow
men to win an election to Washington. There can be
no change except for the worse.