Evening star., 1934-09-24

Most of the admirers of James M.
Beck Of Pennsylvania seem to regret
his decision to retire from the House
on the ground that Congress has be-
come rubber stamp for the admins
tration. They feel that such men are
needed and few accept the logic of
his position.
Congress needs men Of his type
who believe in American principles"
declares the Manchester IN. H)
Union, which rates him as one of the
outstanding authorities on the Con-
stitution," and tributes to his ability
as constitutional lawyer are paid by
many papers in all parts of the coun-
try without regard to political affilia-
tions.
IF Congress were running entirely
to suit him." says the Chattanooga
Times, "the Representative might very
UNDERSTANDABLE feel that he would do
well to retire: for in that case he him
self would be only rubber stamp, and
what was being done with him would
be done as readily without him 1t
seems to follow that his present feel
ings would be the strongest impulse
toward remaining. The retirement of
dissenting members solely because
they dissented would make Congress
rubber stamp, indeed"
I'm an old book on military tactics"
the Hartford Times remarks, 1T was
remarked that a general is never JUS
tifled in abandoning the field until he
has brought into action his last re-
serves The Charleston CW. Va)
Daily Mail, sympathizing with Mr..
Becks attitude, comments: He could
not alone correct the condition COM
planned Of. But if he had remained
in the race and been reelected, he
could have done his part in this task.
Still, 1t is not improbable that his
course in surrendering the nomination
may help the cause for which he
stands-an independent Congress-by
directing public attention, in an I'M
usual way, to the condition that needs
remedying. There was a dramatic
touch to his action that will serve
this end"
Notwithstanding his big reputa-
ton as constitutional lawyer" how
ever, the Scranton Times declares that
''he had failed to register to any ex-
tent in Congress, and so far as the
public is concerned he was Just an
other Ware Congressman, so that, re-
tiring. he will not be missed" The
Newark News declares that he should
be written down as political de-
featist," and the Williamsport (Pa)
Sun finds that Philadelphia Democrats
suspect that he has seen some hand
writing on the wall" The Knoxville
Journal AYERS: Congress is the one
and only forum in which and through
which the people may. under our sys-
tenn of Government, express their will
in the form of legislation. Its integ-
rity and independence can be MAIN
tanned only by the election Of repre-
sentatives who have the capacity and
determination to sustain that right"
Mr.. Beck's statement that Congress
has become q rubber stamp Is de-
clared by the Wall Street Journal to
CUES: IF Congress delegated powers
which should have remained its own
it did so because large majority of
its members wanted to do that very
thing The courts might decide that
some of its delegations were consti-
tutionally invalid and it would still
be true that Congress did what it did
deliberately, even if not deliberative-
ly. Congress, like the folks back
home, wanted that kind of action. 1t
enacted Q few laws which probably
not one In i've Of its members under
stood. because 1t wanted to save time