The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-01-02

0TeSS intends ITO arrest control OF
the destinN Of the nation from d
little group of hG1ad-picked COM
mitteemen" Is here described By
one Of the fighting members" Of
the bloc. ii
BY CONGRESSMAN ROY o.
WOODRUFF,
OF Michigan, Secretary Of the Liberal
written Expressly for Cosmopolitan
News Service.
During the years which have
elapsed since the famous Cannon
fight in the House conditions have
gradually changed. This change
has resulted in placing in the hands
Of three men--the speaker, majority
flo0r leader, and chairman Of the
Rules Committee, more power than
10 held by all the other members
Of the House. In q representative
government this, Of course. could
not and should not, endure. The
fight of the progressive Republi-
cans has been to so amend the
rules that such a condition would
be impossible In the future.
If our institutions are to endure
it is very necessary that something
be done to correct the situation.
We have received some criticism on
account of the fact that while we
had the balance OF power and could
exercise It on the election Of the
speaker, we did not hold up the
organization Of the House until
such time as the House had agreed
upon all the changes in the rules
which we advocate.
Stand Unjustifiable.
Had we taken this stand, our po-
sition before the country and be-
fore the House would have been
quite as reprehensibIe as is that of
the few men in the House who
control things. Our belief Is that
the majority should rule and we
could not justify any further action
than that which we have already
taken.
Naturally we have insisted that
while changes In the rules were
being considered by the Rules COM
mittee It was vital that we have
upon this committee some man
whom we know reflects our senti-
ments on the proposed changes.
At a Republican conference at.
tended by 200 Republicans it was
formally agreed to give us what
we demanded, and there were only
two dissenting votes.
Situation Now Ideal.
The situation as it now stands
is an ideal one for proper amend
ment of the rules. There are many
ora 1icr.s sS1P tho tha
publican as well as Democratic side
who feel as we do about the neces-
sity fof changing the rules and 1t is
agreed among us all that we viii
have no difficulty in taking from
the Few men who now control the
destiny Of the nation the power
that now rests with them.
This, Of course, will result in
making the House a real represen-
tative body wherein the majority
can work its viii. Naturally the
men in both the Republican and
Democratic parties in whose hands
now rests the power to control
things are very much averse to
the proposed changes. 1t is an
axiom that men yield power with
reluctance.
The condition I have outlined has
been responsible in the past for
smothering much needed legislation
Of interest to the people at large.
Under the old regime it has been
impossible to bring from the com.
mittees legislation which would in
anv way adversely affect the profits
Of the, big interests of the country.
Rule for People.
Profits are derifed from only ON
source in the last analysis-the con.
Stunning public-and when profits
are in excess Of what they should
reasonably be, somebody pays the
bill, and it is always the people.
In the past 1t has been exceedingly
easy to bring out legislation Of
interest of those who have wealth.
What we aim for is to make II
as easy to legislate in the interest
of the people as it has been to
legislate in the interest Of the in
terests, and it now seems we are
to be successful.