Evening star., 1922-07-02
SENATOR OPPOSES
SEATING CABINET
Participation in Congress
Would Bias President,
Declares Robinson.

ATLANTIC CITY. N. j.. July l.
The suggestion for participation by
cabinet members in congressional de-
bates, reported recently under con-
sideration by President Harding and
his cabinet. was opposed by Senator
Robinson. democrat, Arkansas. in an
address here tonight before the Mary
land Bar Association. Senator Robin
son also criticized pressure by propa-
gandists upon Congress and declared
that the nation needed Tess govern
mont, rather than more legislation" !"
Appearance before Congress Of
cabinet members. Senator Robinson
declared. would threaten. II not de-
stroy the Constitutional division be-
tween the legislative and executive
branches. He said he opposed ANY
change which would confuse and COM
mingle" these functions.
The President inevitably would be
committed by his ministers in ad-
vance to the approval or rejection Of
measures" said Senator Robinson,
which our scheme Of government
contemplates shall be passed upon
by him with an Independent mind.
The Congress would be subjected to
executive influences and the result
would be either subordination of the
legislative mind to the executive will
or hopeless and irreconcilable conflict
between the two"
Information Available.
That Congress, by initiative of or
request upon the President and by
resolutions can secure all necessary
Information without having cabinet
members appear on the Senate or
House floor was asserted by the Arkan-
sas senator.
Senator Robinson said Congress "de-
serves only part Of the censure which
public opinion directs against 1t for
the prevailing restlessness and dis
content. although 1t is undoubtedly
following a faltering leadership whose
strategy is to make mere successive
advances and reGrements over the
same ground" The public. he said.
believes enormously that legislation
Is the panacea for many ills which
Congress cannot cure.
Difficulties Greater.
"The normal difficulties of Con.
gress," he continued, have been
augmented since the war by the pres
sure of Pre- paganda. The government
is being administered through the in
f1uence Of propaganda The Senate
and House no longer divide strictly
alignment Is according to groups of
blocs organized for the promotion Of
special interest. as. for instance.
labor and agriculture. The finance
and labor groups have long been In
fiuential factors. The agricultural
bloc is OF recent origin and is justi-
fed as indispensable to the protection
of a large and deserving element
whose situation renders compact or
ganization difficult"
Referring to organized propaganda
Ms "unwholesome practices" Senator
Robinson said 1t could not be pre-
vented without infringement upon
constitutional rights Of free speech.
1T is better to endure the evils of
unrestrained propaganda" he said.
than to stifle free speech. The only
remedy for propaganda is exposure,
full and fair publicity"
Senator Robinson advocated more
deliberation in legislation and re
peal Of unnecessary, vexatious and
admittedly unpopular statutes" He
also urged simplification of internal
revenue and other complex laws and
rigid and impartial enforcement as
the surest means Of compelling the
repeal of obnoxious statutes"
"The violations of the national
prohibition act" he said. are no
toriously frequent, converting the
American people into a nation Of
lawbreakers.