The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-08-04
NEW CONGRESSMAN
FIND THEIR VOICES


There Is encouragement for better
methods of conducting legislation in
the United States Congress in that
caucus of new Republican members of
the House. 1t Is about time the new
members were learning how to make
themselves factor in the legislative
situation. Even If they do not touch
the secret spring of influence in this
first effort that they are making, the
attempt Is important. 1t shows an
awakening consciousness of their true
position. And consciousness of this
kind Is about the only respectable
basis for progress
The truth is that the position of new
members in. Congress Is deplorable.
That term Is not too harshly de-
scriptive in almost any year. but II
is particularly applicable now, when
the Republican majority In both
houses is overwhelming and in the
House of Representatives gives the
party command of more than two
thirds of the membership at all
times. That great preponderance re-
fleets the partisan preferences of all
the voters in the country. 1t is truly
representative. For that reason the
new members. coming as they do
most directly and most recently from
the people. might be expected to pro-
vide consensus of opinion that
would have some value In the legisla-
tive halls of a government that is be-
lieved to be. above all. representative
tho lar tori nv D,,tr
organization and procedure in Con-
gress are keyed to the suppression of
real activity and issitiatiye, including
Greene has been feceiving Inclusion on
..., The ma
Junior" Welshons. who u get the
visiting at the Guy Asbury ! IT, oeiore
this city. left yesterday for h''en'aoves
ID Reno. ai'er 'he
q y aton,av was on arr,v in deter
yesterday from Paradise VI ooihe up
truck. and left with load eii DC al
plies today.
Bert Goldsworthy has means of
lease on the Kramer proppon as the
Iron Point, and expects to s.ngton they
there tomorrow. acting, open
Miles North. representing anar party
ance company. returned to Rem caucus
terday. following a business when the
a week In this city. ing like
Miss Ruth Whitelaw Of SacraJs action
arrived in this city this morparucipate
is visiting with her mothersce OF legfs-
w. Stewart of this city. ittee.' As
Mrs. Harry Warren is eor a few |
home today from San Mateoaders In |
fornia. where she has been caucus
with her son. DIR. Warren. ling all |
Mr.. and Mrs. w. H. Anar ~ party
Trident. Montana, are recent Vn,'
here. They were accompayo 'Iai u
Miss Katheryn Andrews of u'o nepuo-
- represent |
A,Iment of about no.
100000 people, including the 81 Re |
publicans who are serving in Con |
gress for the first time. have prac- |
tically relinqulshed their powers as
popular representatives to a little |
group of men who owe their own |
power primarily to their party, and |
only secondarily to the people. No
wonder the legislation that sits |
through such system is usually such |
as promises some party advantage |
however 1t may seem to meet or fall |
short of the popular demand.
One might suppose that new mem
bers, or any others, would merel, |
need to assert themselves, as in the |
interest of their constituents. In or. |
der to free themselves from such |
bondage. But in practice few indi- |
viduals are able to do It, Bills which |
they introduce in good faith, respond |
ing to the known desires of the PEG
pie who elected them, can hope for |
no consideration if their sponsors are |
not regular" in their support of the
bosses. Recalcitrants, thus forced to
return to their districts empty-hand
ed, are usually unable to explain their
failure satisfactorily, with the result
that their people. blind to the real
situation, mistakenly choose differ
ent representative next time He
either adopts the narrow policy of
subserviency or repeats the failure of
his predecessor. Thus the whole
system moves to the tune of grab"
and get something" instead of de-
veloping a craftsmanship qualified
and sure to represent the interests of
the people as whole.
The present action by the new men,
bers of the dominant party may not
accomplish all that is desirable. 1t is
obviously intended to avoid the ap-
pearance of any insurrectory purpose.
Yet 1t is at least voice crying in the
wilderness of legislative ineffective
ness. If 1t serves only to prod those
who control congress into making
some practical use of their dominat-
ing power it will have been we'll
worth while.-Monitor.
1T ALWAYS