The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-06-12
LETTER

washington, June ll-W1Ln the
Republican National Convention
under way at Cleveland, and the
Democratic gathering due next
week, Washington has been deserted
by the political leaders, especially
since the adjournment of Congress
last Saturday. The hubbub of the
legislative assemblies has been stilled
only to be replaced by noisy and
nerve-wracking political campaigns
The general exodus of Legislators
from the Capital City has been &C
companied by feeling that their po-
litical careers would be drastically
changed at the November elections
Reports reaching here show that a
spirited contest will be conducted
in almost every congressional dis
trict as contrasted with other years
when the contested districts number
ed less than one hundred.
1t seems that in many localities the
resentment against the political
stsins" of Congress, whether of COM
mission or commission, has taken de-
finite form in strong movements to
replace the present incumbents. AT
present the signs point to an election
based more upon the records of in
dividuals than upon their party affil-
iations. The growth of this senti-
ment, particularly in the rural dis
tricts, is quite disconcerting to po-
litical leaders.
If the frank and somewhat caus-
tic letters of various private citizens
received by members of Congress
may be taken as reliable expression
of neighborhood opinion; this is not
always the case as letter writers are
usually in the minority, the record of
the present Congress is not at all
pleasing to the public. However, in
fairness, it must be said that Con-
gress performed as we'll as could be
expected in view of changing political
condition. For instance, it passed
bills dealing with immigration, adj
justed compensation for soldiers,
child labor, taxes, appropriations, and
numerous legislative measures of a
minor nature. is true that the Con-
gress failed to make good extravag-
ant promises for agricultural relief.
Perhaps some significance may be at
tached to the fact that Congress kept
aloof from foreign affairs and the
transportation problem, subject
which agitates organized labor. Re
gardless of the question now absorb
ing the attention of professional de-
bators and politicians as to whether
the Senate is deteriorating, the men,
bers of the Upper House found time
in the tumultuous days of investiga-:
tions to approve 81 treaties with for
eign countries, out of the SO SUBJ
nnitted for consideration
4 There has been considerable crit
icism of the motives which actuated
various legislative measures. Some
good citizens contend that the bonus
and postal salary increase measures
were approved by Congress primari-
ly as a bid for the political support
of the benefciaries or the class of
voters effected by these bills. On
the other hand, the claim is advanced
that Congress passed these measures
because it was regarded as legisla-
ton highly essential to the public
welfare. 1t is, at best, an open ques-
ton upon which the American voters
will render their decision as to the
zeal of the present office holders.
The abandonment of various plans
for agricultural relief indicates that
this subject will be an important
campaign issue. The major propos-
al for legislation of this character is
known as the McNary-Haugen bill
which was subsequently, rejected by
the House. The time was all too
short for an agreement on the SUBJ
stitute measure which would meet
with the approval of the spokesman
for the agricultural interests and the
Administration. Several bills intend
ed to solve the difficulty were intro
duced during the last week of Con-
gress but consideration was denied
these proposals with the abandon
ment of plan for general relief.
Not even the influence of Senator La
Toilette and his band : of socalled
s'insurgents" could stay the fate of
farm measures. The Congress voted
overwhelmingly to adjourn prefer
ring to explain in their home districts
rather than endure long and tedious