Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-06-27

He II embarrassing Tor everyone =.
prospect of a long drawn out session
IN Washington summer is not neiplne
the line.
The situation il also made worse by
the tact that there are so many new
members OF congress. A very large
percentage Of these men come to
Washington with no mean idea OF tnelI
importance and position. They often
make demands, not requests. Some
rage and fume when these demands
are not instantly complied with.
Threats Of Revenge.
It is with these newcomers tina.
| much of the friction develops. put
many of the old timers are kicking v1g..
orously, too. Not many days ago !.
+! took the combined persuasion OF nan
dozen friends of one of the veterans
OF the house to prevent him from go
ing on the floor and making speecn.
denouncing the executive branch OF
the government for not giving congress
what he considered the proper amount
OF attention. 1t is gossip about me ,,
corridors of the capitol that there VII!
be a public blow-up before the end OF
this session, possibly within Few
weeks.
Some Of the men who came to con-
gress for the first time this year are
beginning to realize that the business
of navigating the ship of state does NOT
rest entirely on their particular Shout
ders. To some of them this lntelll-
gence has come in manner not cal
culated to help their opinions OF them
selves. 1t has resulted in making some
of the new members surly. Iheir
wounded pride is not helped by their
subsequent failures to get everything
from the executive departments IN the
way of appointments which they nave
sought
That the size of the Republican ma
jority is in part to blame for all this Is
realized by a few Of the Republican
leaders. While of course they cannot
say so. they are devoutly hoping that
in 1922 they will still control both
branches of congress. but that their
majority will be reduced. Just at
present it is more than two to one.
The most recent issue of the congress
sional directory shows 300 Republicans
in the house and only 131 Democrats;
Three seats are vacant, and one is held
by Never London, the New York So
cialist.
Some house leaders would not be
displeased at all to see about 20 seats
switched over from Republican to
Democratic holders. This would, they
privately admit, help the situation ma
teriaIly in many ways. For one thing.
il would reduce the demand for patron.
age. For another thing. it would hold
the Republican organization more
tightly together. Complaint is made by
tho leaders now that it is impossible
to hold the present overwhelming ma
iority in line on any vote. OF course,
This doesn't make much difference in
the result. but it is bad for party dis
cipline. The leaders feel that even
under present conditions. it is a bad
habit for their Republican colleagues
to form. A congressman who gets the
habit of independence is a thorn IN the
side Of his party superlors.
To illustrate the heavy load OF re-
sponsibi!lty under which many new
congressman stagger. the chairman OF
one of the important house committees
tells tale of one of the new members
charitably keeping his name secret
but vouching for the truth OF the story.
This new member with a great many
other congressman was guest at a
party in Washington where the princi-
pal entertainment was dancing. The
hostess noticed after a while that in
stead of dancing. the new member
spent all Of his time merely looking on.
standing aloof from the gaiety, and
wearing a serious expression.
Don't you dance, Mr.. ~" she
asked. j..
Madam, / do dance and often have"
he replied. II enjoy dancing. but ! do
not think that statesmen should
dance"