The Coolidge examiner., 1933-05-05
Our Government
How 1t Operates
SPIRIT OF THE HOUSE
By William Bruckare

ClIdTdCleTlSllc COluuOH TO jill OIL
them, namely. desire, an in
satiable determination, to be vindi-
Gated for what they have done. That
really Is the important factor in the
career of any politician, and he or
she charts a course accordingly.
There is no higher exemplifica-
tiOn of this spirit to be found any
where than among the representa-
tives who constitute the house.
There may be few individuals, in
deed, there must be some, who fail
to keep a weather eye on the trend
of the sentiment In their districts,
but the number Is negligible when
compared with the total house men,
bership of 435. Frequently, one
hears loud pronouncements of in
dependence on the floor Of the
house, vociferous declarations that
the folks ''back home" have been
misled by propaganda or by preach
ments from the opposition for ul-
terror purposes. But that very in
dependence is the finest sort of an
appeal for vindication because it Is
a simple attempt to justify the
course followed, or to be followed.
But there really ought to be no
quarrel with that procedure. Look
behind it. Certainly, after all, the
majority of voters in a congress
sional district sent that individual
| to congress. He is responsible to
them. They know it, as well as he.
When he goes wrong on the "burn-
ing ISSUE" they retire him. Thus,
they attain responsiveness to their
will. The representatives vain de-
sire for vindication of his acts re-
suits in exactly the thing for which
the house was created, a proper re-
Election of sectional and local view
points. melting pot from which
emerges that thing which Is called
'the will of the people"
All of the above is by way of say
ing that the house is highly SEN
sitive body, politically. Receipt of
mail from the home district over a
period of a week, mail that deals
with some particular question, has
been known to change enough votes
in the house to overthrow an appar-
ent strong majority. Take, for ex-
ample, the upset through which the
house passed when 1t was consider
ing the revenue act of 1932-the
tax bill. Under most circumstances,
party leadership controls firmly, al
though rather easily. But party
leaders meant nothing to the house
after scores of its members began
hearing from "back home" in oppo-
sition to the sales tax that lad been
recommended for passage by its
ways and means committee. Repre-
sentatives of all shades of opinion
were panicky. Why? Because they
wanted to have the voters vim
dicate them at the polls in the next
election and they were not sure
they could convince the electorate
of the propriety oftheir course had
they supported a direct tax on
things we buy.
A representative term is only
two years. Once he is elected, he
necessarily must start solidifying
the position thus gained. He knows
that opposition will be out there in
the field all the time, making hay
while he stays In Washington. 1t
may be in his own political party or
in another party. But it usually is
there, just waiting for an opportu-
nifty.
Thus, the successful candidate
must look to his laurels from the
start, and he usually does so by fos-
tering legislation of particular ben
eft to his district. He has to
choose a side. however, on ques-
tionS of Importance to the whole
nation, and on these his ordinary
course-and easiest-is to align him.
self with his political party. Yet
oftentimes that course proves fatal.
So the life of representatives dur
ing his two-year term is just one
attempt after another to guess what
the ma jority in his district desires.
The desire for power seems to go
hand in hand with the desire for
vindicatiOn. 1t always has been
said that, in politics. as In war, the
spoils go to the victor, and the
spoils accompanying control of the
house are worth considering from
the standpoint of well-built political
| fences out in the home district. The
majority party in the house, as in
the senate, gains the chairmanshipS
of all committees. 1t means control
of legislation; it means appointment
of dozens of job seekers, and it
means a voice in management OF
the party throughout the nation.
With that control goes the speaker
ship of the house, an honor of great
est consequence to some member OF
the majority party. 1t is all part
of a great game called politics.
When all things are considered,
however; when all factors and In
fluences and causes and effects are
| UeiOhad fhe scales aDnear to hal