The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-02-01
CONGRESS

The people of the country will do we'll to think
before they lend themselves to it.
It is easy to ridicule Congress. There are lots
of funny folks wearing the frock coat and black Stet
son hat that go with the office The chubby chin
whiskered farmer, drawn by the cartoonists to rep
resent Congress, is figure that amuses us all. And
that is all right Ii it helps to keep Congress in its
place, 1t serves good purpose.
But what is Congress- place?
There are three branches of the United States
Government-the legislative the executive and the
judicial And OF these three, the trainers of the
United States Constitution had in mind that the leg
slatve branch should be the most important
1t is the one branch that comes directly from
the people. that is compelled to maintain direct
contact with the people, that, in short, really repre-
sents the people. The makers of the Constitution
provided that the executive branch should have Ger
tain powers and the judicial branch should have
tain powers. All other powers they decreed should
rest with the peope-through the legislative branch
of Congress.
The more than Congress loses its power, the far
Their the country departs from democracy. Cripple
Congress and the people lose, to that extent their
control Of their affairs-their right to say now
much they shall be taxed; their right to say whether
they shall or shall not be led into war
Keep this in mind the next few months
The assault now being prepared against Con,
gress has to do with the handling of foreign affairs.
The Senate will be rebuked for interference in the
matter of Mexico and Nicaragua. the House tor Gin
terferng" in the matter of China.
Why shouldn't Congress interfere? Congress
must vote any declaration of war that may grow
but of our foreign relations Congress must vote
to draft the millions of young men that are called
TO the colors Congress must vote the taxation that
is put upon all the people when war is declared
And Congress must face the people on these ques-
tons.
This being so-and having the authority specific
fere when il the country drifting toward war
through the inaptitude of executive officials (whose
salaries Congress pays.) War With Germany or
Great Britain, or Mexico, wouldn't be war between
Frank b. Kellogg and Germany Great Britain or
Mexico. 1t wouldn't even be between kellogg
and the ruler at the moment in one of those countries.
1t would be war between all the people of our coun-
try and all the people of the other country
That is the situation when war results as it
SO frequently does from bungng diplomacy
But, say the critics of Congress, delicate diplo-
matte negotiations not be carried out by mass
meeting like Congress-
Is that true? Is diplomacy such a furtiye mole
in-the-corner business that it can only be done in
the dark? Well, we've had that kind of diplomacy
in the past and the record made isn't one to inspire
generation.
Students of government generally admire the
achievements of the British government during the
past few generations. With an empire scattered all
over the globe, with delicate relations to maintain
with people OF every color language and religious
creed, the bumbling, haw-hawng Britishers seem
always to muddle through.
Right now they appear to be working themselves
out OF the most difficult situation imaginable in
China, situation infinitely more complicated and
precarious than Americas, a situation that has
called for resourcefulness and ingenuity
If they fail it will be because of strong arm tao
TICS such as the dispatch of thousands of additional
troops to China at this time
If they succeed it will be because China was
made to hear the voice of the people expressed
through Parliament, In criticism of these war-lke
gestures. For Parliament is ringing with criticisms
ana oDJectons, earnest and angry, from the who
directly represent the people of Great Britain.
The man who happens to be in charge of British
/torelgn relations can not hide in his Whitehall office
In times of popular concern. He can not send notes
to Parliament Withholding information desired by
that body as incompatible with the public interest"
He must appear before Parliament and openly ex-
plain what he is doing and why.
That has been true in Graet Britain now for
many generations. Who shall say that it has not
contributed to her success in foreign affairs?
1t may be that the British system despite the
confusion 1t entails, results in certain contact be-
tween the minds of the British people and the peo-
pies OF other countries. And the people are less in
cllned to go to war over private commercial inter.
ests than governments are. That may be the ex.
PLANTATION. In any case, the system seems to work
congress, under our system, can not summon
CABINET officials to defend explain their policies
IN open session. 1t can interrogate them-to some
extent-through various committees It should never
cease doing this-when occasion demands And the
occasion demands in the matter of Mexico
The State Department never yet has made clear
70 congress. and the people, what is behind its dan
gerous maneuvering. The State Department to cite
familiar instance, never yet has explained it's
monstrous effort to unload utterly baseess Boil.
sheyik scare on the American people as part of it's
effort to justify break with the Mexican govern.
ment
Members of Congress will do well to study the
United States Constitution afresh to discover the
powers that Congress has
The American people will do we'll TO hold Con.
gressmen account IL Conpross through faar ne