Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-08-10

OF the last revenue act or any of the important
measures which called into play all the ma
chinery of influence to exert pressure on Con-
gress.
Because this sort of thing is new to a big
element of hte House, it is expected that the
lower branch of Congress Will be more than
usually responsive. That an element in Congress
is prone to permit influencing OF its judgment
by propaganda and other means was amply
demonstrated in some of the important legisla-
ton which preceded Americas participation in
the war.
resentattves OF scores, possibly hundreds, of
industries and interests whose sole duty is the
effort to prevent tax legislation which would
affect those industries in what they contend
would be an adverse manner. These represent
tatives generally open bureaus headed by men
well supplied with money and loquacity, vino
are not niggardly in the expenditure of either.
Last lax Law an Example.
The enactment into law of the kitchin Tax
Der of these representatives. They all had their
innings before the Ways and Means Committee,
and later before the Finance Committee of the
Senate. Had their pleas been needed, the
kitchin law would have been a joke instead
of the means of providing billions of dollars
annually with which to pay Americas expenses
in the formative stage, the same thing is hap
pening again.
1t is safe to predict that the efforts of these
special representatives will accomplish little. so
far as the action Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee is concerned That committee must
frame a measure to ease the tax burden as at
present imposed, but at the same time raise a
great deal of money, which means that a great
many people and industries must have their
lightened somewhat whether they
like it or not.
But the task of the persuasive bureau does
not end with this committee. The members of
the, House generally will become the targets
when the measure is before that body. These
agents will follow the tax bill on its legislative
journey through the Senate Finance Committee,
and the Senate itself, and in the meetings of
the conference committee, composed of both
and representatives, which will iron
inf tho 1ifFnrnnnnd hnIIn Tn arise in the VlnwGI
Of the two bodies.
OF course, if there should be written into the
Measure some item of taxation which should
prove extremely unpopular. the members of
who supported that part of the bill
Or failed to register a protest against it would
ind themselves In hot water when next they
sought the votes of their constituents. The
consumption taxes might fall into this
lass. The Democratic members of the House
we're quite willing to see this written into the
but the wary Republican leaders fought
hy of 1t despite a considerable amount of
put forth in its favor.
Cause of Political Defeats.
Belief that manufactured propaganda rep
'esented the true state of mind of their con-
can be set down as the reason for the
etirement to private life of many former con-
ressmen. Even when the pressure exerted
:ould be recognized as purely manufactured
ointment some former representatives have
insisted to their sorrow in believing otherwise.
they took the stand that tremendous interest
been aroused in whatever measure was
before. the House, and that they must follow
he supposed desires of the voters back home
n recording their votes.
An outstandir~ example of this was the Nc
IGNORE resolution, which sought to put the
on record as warning Americans not
take passage on armed merchant ships. The
wilson administra alton focused attention on the
demanding a vote.
Immediately practically every member Of
he House was flooded with telegrafns, all in
Xactly the same wording, urging that the reso-
ution be supported. Although the names signed
o the kilograms were in many cases those of
constituents, the more astute congressman
in the sameness of the kilograms and
heir unprecedented number that the wires did
lot indicate true sentiment, but false and manu-
actured opinion.
A notable instance of what resulted may be
cen in the fate of the entire Wisconsin dele
;ation then in the House. Alone among it's
members Irvine Lenroot stood firm against the
and did his best to show his col
eagues the true state of affairs. His stand and
lis advice were disregarded, though, and as a
'eSult those men who stood for this surrender
If American rights were retired to private life,
while Lenroot, at a special election, was sent
o the Senate, being reelected for the full term
autumn.
Touching the question of pressure and propa-
anda aimed at Congress, it's membership may
,e divided roughly into two large groups. One
axes the position that it has been sent to
Washington to represent its voters views re-
'ardless of personal convictions, and that it
hould be quickly and completely responsive to
he trend of opinion at home, to which personal
should be subordinated. The other
sroup Is made up of those who take the position
hat they have been elected to represent a por-
ion of the people of the country because those
,eople nave Ialln IN the Drains ana Judgment CI
he men they have chosen. This group insists
hat whatever situation arises, it's convictions
IS to the proper course to follow should be the
guide for action.
In support of this position, it is pointed out
hat the biennial election has for one Of it's
purposes the approval or disapproval of the
public acts of the servants of the people,
md that then the sentiment of the people of a
congressional district or a state should be reg
stored. This group does not rigidly decline to
Jay any heed to the voices of it's constituents,
nut sticks closely to the principle that no sem
tor or representative should in any case sur
ender his convictions for the sake of political
or because majority sentiment at
lome appears to be contrary to the course
ictated bv conscience and conviction Ill