Evening star., 1923-03-04
Capital Sidelights
by WILL p. KENNEDY,


oligarchical domination Of legislation
ever witnessed in this republican gov
ernment which stands In history as
a model for all republics. Repre-
sentative Frank w. Mondell OF
Wyoming was House leader, In charge
Of the legislative program uncle
Joe" Cannon. leaving Congress AFTER
nearly q half csntury's service. ana
some years ago caricatured In all the
leading papers as Gear Cannon
while he was Speaker. had the salts
faction of seeing greater powers than
he ever had in his paimiest days
placed in the hands OF the chairman
Of the rules committee. to which the
power of deciding special-priVilege
LEGISLATION was fntrusted when the
Speaker was shorn of authority.
AS chairman of the rules committee,
Representative Philip P. Campbell OF
Kansas carried around some nIteeh
special rules giving certain pieces OF
legislation privileged consideration.
These were the measures that were
to be given right of way. and the
rules were to be called up on Camp
BELLS option. Thus Campbell and
Mondell were absolutely in charge OF
what legislation would be brought UP
for consideration.
Then Speaker Gillett was taken SICK
with influenza, and obliged to be
absent from his duties at the Capitol.
During the last six days, what IS
known as Suspension days" prevail.
On those days the Speaker can recos-
niZe whomever he wishes, and can
refuse to recognize any one desiring
to call up some measure which the
Speaker is unwilling to have come up.
Speaker Gillett proposed that Chair
man Campbell should act as Speaker
in his absence, and on the motion or
House Leader Mondell Campbell was
made substitute Speaker for the re-
mainder of the session.
Thus Campbell. with all those special
rules in his pocket to be called up
when and only when he said so, was
given the additional sole and supreme
power TO recognize for the purpose of
calling up bills only the ones he him
self wanted to recognize.
Never has Congress witnessed such
monopoly. of power. 1t was. of course.
great honor for Campbell to finish
the House as Speaker. and with such
absolute uthority-greater than Can
non ever enjoyed. And don't overlook
that Campbell was leaving Congress.
as was also the man through whose
motion he was given the authority.
and who was the only member to
shape with Campbell authority for
legis slation in the closing days
Frank w. Mondell.
It's an interesting psycological
study how prone and susceptible to
f1attery are the run Of men in public
life. member OF Congress received
from Col Guy D. Gofr, assistant at
torney general, a letter which read:
VIII you be SO good as to send me
an autographed copy of your photo
graph? My admiration for your cour-
age and purpose and my personal re-
gard for YOU will make this one OF
my most cherished possessions l
shall add It with a feeling of gen,ine
pleasure to the collection OF great
men l have known. With the very
sincerest personal regards am as
always. very cordially yours"
Representative Charles Z. Fuller Of
on invalid pensions, had just made a
vigorous speech on the floor against
reckless automobile drivers, and he
G1nousht that was the courage" Col
Hoiden Tinkbamp Fl os
Philip Hill Of Maryland thought II
referred to their persistent fight for
eraiizatiop OF the Volstead act.
House Leader. Mondell thought II
referred to his general attitude
as party leader--and 90 il Went
Each and every one of the scores of
members who received this form let
ter. even though he might never have
met Col. Cor. thought nersonaI
compliment was being paid to him
and his courage and purpose" appre-
Grated and lauded-and they all sent
huesraPnea Them caefin1 phodographs 'ts,gs some Of
After a while some Of them got to
comparing notes. and they found the
letters were alike-and then thew
didn't. feel quite so hattered.
AS a general thing handling his
correspondence is pretty flumdr1Irn.
onerous and vexatious job for a
member of Congress, but occasionally
letter bobs up on the current, of
correspondence that attracts atten-
; ton because of its originality. Such
one was read by Representative
William A. Rodenberg Of Illinois to
his colleagues on the rules committee,
| causing considerable merriment. This
Vas Vas the letter; From Carpet. Alley"
Armenian and. like my am father poos sns
his father before him, I am a CON
scienttous objector. and that ts Univ
nave no country today and why nv
people have been massacred by more
virile people for some thousands Of
years.
Owing to making carpets, we have
grown to feel we were just naturally
meant to be walked upon. And owing
10 our hoiy antagonism to defend
ourselves
mothers and grandmothers have con-
! tributed every racial element known
to history to our family tree-in fact,
we are Almost as mixed as the future
population of America, north md
south, give promise of becoming.
That is what makes us such a desir-
able addition to future America-we
are, half assinailated already-and
though our skins, like our livers, and
indeed our souls, are yellow, we feel
the United States Of America appre-
ciates us since its churchmen are
demanding our admission by the boat
load
"In your proposed bill 1 am sorry
TO see a numerical list and Indirect
occupational barrier placed on the
people of my race. I want to bring
here my wife: my grandmother. my
minor brothers and sisters, all black
and-tan, but beautifully dressed in
American clothes thoughtfully pro-
PROVIDED Tor them. i hope to be able
to support this group of relatives
and near-relatives. but if not I
know You noble people. whose tax
payers are already spending in some
states OF the northeast over 80 per cent
of all money raised in taxes for the
care and keep Of foreign born, Will
admit them to your almshouses. luna
tic asylums, jai]s and other public in
stitutions. so that they can be nearer
me-
X X X
William Tyler, Page, clerk of the
House. noted student and researcher
q o1onp- bfsforicaJ I{nos ho. ,,-.