The Winslow mail., 1923-04-06

the senate in the last days of the
last session of the Hughes explana-
ton of the International Court pro-
posal was prompted by two things, a
faint hope that it might produce ac-
tion at once, and the larger hope that
the people would read the secretary's
explanation, and would take it to
mean what the administration holds it
to mean, that membership in the tri-
bunal does not necessarily mean en-
trance into the League of Nations, or
even the opening wedge for such an
entrance.
Of course it is impossible to say
what the result of the Presidents
speechmaking will be, but Washington
students of past situations which re-
semble the present one say that gen.
orally the people, if properly ap-
preached, are much more likely to APP
prove the action of a President than
to approve of disposition to counter
action by congress. The President,
the argument is, is an individual and
moreover, he is the President. Furth-
ermore he speaks, directly and per-
sonally, and underlying everything
that he says there is the basic appeal
of his high office, an office to which
the people have chosen him.
Would Go over Heads OF SoIons.
Carrying out their argument the ad-
ministratiOn's friends say that con-
g"ess almost invariably represents
rariety Of views, and that because Of
the conflict of emotions and expressed
opinions in the two houses, the Pres
ident, who has only one emotion and
one opinion to express, is more likely
to be needed by the country. Of
course, all this means simply an appeal
to the people over the heads of SEN
ators and representatives 1t is said
in Washington that this apparently is
what President Harding intends to do,
and his friends express the hope that
with his gift for appealing speeches,
and with the prestige Of his high po-
sition, he will be able to make the
impression that he desires and to reap
the benefit thereof when congress
CO1uGS lOSSJIlC1 OuCS LuOI
The friends of the administration
policy of entrance in the International
Court Of Justice admit that the first
proposal to the senate was discour-
aging There was only one Repub-
lican who, when the Democrats for
support to the presidential plan, was
willing to vote in behalf of the admin
istration endeavor Of course the cir
cumstances in this particular case
were exceptional, and the Republican
senators naturally did not want it to
appear that they were following a
Democratic lead in the matter.
Woodrow Wilson when he was Pres
ident was stricken while making a
tour of the country o. behalf of his
League of Nations proposal. He had
made only a few speeches of appeal to
the people before illness overlook him.
Many Measures Fail.
Thousands of bills failed of passage
at the last session of congress. The
Sixty-seventh congress died, and ev-
cry bill died with it. There must
be a resurrection of every meas
ure which died and was buried if re-
newed life is to be given the legisla-
tion suggested. When congress dies
proposed legislation dies with it.
Moving operations still are in prog
ress. Of course in one sense the de
parture of men disappointed Of re-elec-
ton was a moving spectacle, but the
moving which is taking place now is
such as is seen in many city Of the
country on that moving day of all
moving days, May first. Out Of the
house and senate office buildings per-
sonal belongings of senators and mem
bers are going daily. The men who
failed of reelection will have in their
houses some perhaps more or less pain
I full reminders Of their active days as
national legislators.
Congress, in a way, however. is not
defunct. There are several commit
tees of congress which are here and
are working. The members on these
committees Of course are confined tC
holdover congressman either of the sen
ate or Of the house. One committee
is investigating the street railway sit
uation Of the national capital. There
has been a demand here for five-cent
fares, and so a committee of congress
which is really the city council OF
Washington, will dig into matters tc
see whether or not, as the petitioners
claim, the companies can make money
out of five cents passenger, or wheth
er or not, as the companies claim, they
will go into bankruptcy If any such
cut in rate is attempted.
Prior to this the story has been told
Of what the capitol looks like in sum
mer, and what is done to it in the way
of cleaning and repairing. There are
other things, however, which must be
done by the persons who hold execu
tive positions in the capitol. Contracts
must be made for supplies for the
comfort Of congressman during the
coming year. The lawmakers need tow
els and stationery, and ice, and scores
upon scores of other things to keeI
them contented and more or less hap