Evening star., 1933-01-25
Does Congress Correctly
Represent the Country?
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
In q review Of political matters In
your issue Of January 10 Mr.. G. Gould
Lincoln, your able special writer, quotes
q veteran Democratic Senator" as say
ing:
"This is q presidential country tn:
people look to the President for leade, =
ship and for action, not to Congress.
This may be all wrong, but 1t is fact,
nevertheless. Members Of Congress are
not nationally-minded; they cannot
Senate or the House who gives his
them precedence over the particular
interests Of his State or congressional
district will soon be retired to private
life"
The Senator very correctly describes
the condition In Congress which the
people at large have long recognized,
but it Is astonishing that so frank con-
fession is made by q member Of our
highest legislative body. It Is more
than astonishing however, when he
AYERS that congressman cannot afford
to be" nationally minded. Many of us
outside the halls of Congress have
fondly clung to the hope and the belief
that our representatives in both the
Senate and the House Of Represent
atives were elected to conserve the
interests of the Nation at large; that
they were supposed to possess minds
which could envision an entire country
and not be restricted to the limited
view of local sections.
If the Senator is right in his asser-
ton, the question arises, Why Con-
gress? Is this Republic-this Govern
ment of, for and by the people-to be
destroyed by personal ambition con-
trolled by political cowardice? Is it true
that our Conoressmen may not reason
ably be exp: A,d to advocate or oppose
any legislation unless such advocacy
or opposition solidifies their hold upon
their seats and their salaries as Sena-
tors and Representatives?
The Senator is quoted further:
unless the President of the United
States is a real leader and is able to
take Congress by the throat and make
it do what he considers wise for the
whole country there will be chaos here
in Washington"
That is a sad and most distressing
conclusion, and yet it does appear to be
| true. Have We come to the time when
dictatorship in our Government is
indicated? Or should we elect Con-
gressmen who have the ability, the
courage and the integrity to trample
upon their cwn individual selfishness
and serve the people as statesmen and
not as cheap politicians?
There are many Senators and Repre-
sentatives whose honor, ability and
| character are above reproach. Long
may they remain in the seats they
adorn! But unless we get rid OF the
ether class the chaos predicted will GER
tainly come Indeed, from recent events,
it seems to have already arrived. No
wonder the late John Sharp Williams
| told the Senate he would rather be a
dog and bay at the moon than longer
remain a member Of that body.
| No wonder Senator Tydings, within
the last few days, has threatened to
resign. overcome by disgust with actions
discreditable and repugnant to the dig
| nifty and reasoned procedure which
should mark the Senate.
| No wonder Senator Class denounces
the dissenlnators equally guilty as the
originatcrs of lies.
If all Congressmen were OF the same
caliber, the seme mindedness as
Williams. Tydings, Glass and some
| others that might be named, it would
not be necessary for the President to
take Congress by the throat" and make
/ it act wisely and patriotically for the
| Nation. JOHN A. PHILLIPS.