Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-10

Washington. Sept. This city has
become the headquarters Of more ma
tional organizations and associations
than any other city in the country.
This is evidence of the growth of
Washington as a great national center,
but it is even more indicative of the
manner in which the federal govern
ment touches upon and affects every
activity and every interest of the
American people.
A recent compilation. admittedly in
complete, lists almost 800 Of these or.
CARNATIONS. They run the gamut of
human activities-commercial. profess
sional, political, patriotic, industrial,
social, artistic, educational, fraternal,
scientific, financial religious, philan-
thropic, and what not. Their estab-
llishments range from modest quarters
in office buildings to magnificent edi-
fees that represent investments run
ming into the millions. They give en-
ployment to thousands of men and
women. They expend millions of dol
lars annually.
They represent the selfishness and
unselfishness, the achievements and I'M
dertakings, the aspirations and dreams
of a great people. They seek to do
everything, from rehabilitating convicts
to immortalizing the nations great,
from lobbying bills through congress to
scotching the demon rum, from prac-
ticing practical politics to intoxicating
high ideals of citizenship, from preach
ing peace to preparing for war, from
! encouraging art to controlling world
affairs. and from advancing the cause
of labor 10 protecting the interests of
capital.
Some are constructive, som destruc-
tive. Some are boosters, some are
knockers and all are p~ropagandists.
Some do their work to an accom-
paniment of brass bands and invite
the whole world to know what they
are doing. Others are secretive and
like Providence work in a mysterious
way their wonders to perform.
Most of these organizations are
here to influence legislation or govern
mental action of one kind or another.
1t is not to be inferred that their eff
forts in this direction are anything
but legitimate, as they represent peo-
pie and interests that have a right
TO be heard in matters Of that kind.
Members of congress sometimes grow
FESTIVE under the pressure and impor-
tunings to which they are subjected,
! buG LuSN lNlNSAiGN 49, AoSN Abo~ 80
the long run they receive valuable in
formation and assistance in their law
making.
Secret Of Their Success
The secret Of the success of these
! ORGANIZATIONS is that administrations
and congresses come and go but they
stay on forever and keep everlastingly
at whatever they set out to accom-
plish. The Anti Saloon league, for
example. 1t has been in Washington
for many long years and the prohibi-
ton amendment and the Volstead law
are the evidences of it's triumph
Then there are the women who fought
early and late for suffrage. The
nineteenth amendment would not have
been added to the constitution if i,
had not been for the campaign wageC
in and from Washington.
In the contests owe prohibition an(
yoman's suffrage there were organi
cations on both sides and the result
in each instance is perhaps signifi
cant of the fact that affirmative
propaganda Is more successful thar
negative. In other words, it is easieI
to get something done than it Is t.
prevent its being done. Those Wit
are seeking a modification of TIL
Volstead law so as to permit tn
manufacture and sale Of beer and lgh
wines see a ray Of hope because the,
have now put the Anti-Saloon leagu
and the friends of prohibition on tn
defensive. Similarly the advocates o
the soldiers bonus believe that the,
have the better of their fight becaus
they are on the aggressive and cam
p~aigning for a bill while their op
ropApfS are AGAINST If
No one kind of legislation brings a
many organizations into action as doe
a tariff bill. and here again expert
ence would seem to indicate that thos
who want something fare better tina
those who merely oppose. Perhaps
is because proponents of q measur
or one Of its specific provisions ar