The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-06-05
GAG IN HOUSE
BARS CR|T|C|SM
Of NEWDEAL

A new "gag" has been estab-
lished by House leaders to prevent
insertion in the Congressional Rec
ord of printed matter criticizing
Administration New Deal policies,
it was revealed yesterday.
After effort by Representative
Hamilton Fish, jr., (RO. Of New
York, to insert in the record an
editorial from Hearst newspapers
had been blocked, it was admitted
unanimous consent would be re-
fused for any matter opposing the
Administration.
Unprecedented, Says Fish
Mr.. Fish declared the procedure
unprecedented, adding:
at has always been customary
to extend the courtesy of unani-
nous consent to insert infOrma-
tive articles and speeches on any
side of controversial subjects.
But, the Administration leaders
seemingly fear to face the
facts"
Mr.. Fish recalled that several
times recently insertions for the
Record in opposition to the Admin
istration had been blocked. Unanl-
nous consent is required to make
such insertions.
Objection to the Hearst edi-
torial, which appeared last Sun
day under the title which? Amer
lean Democracy or Personal Die
tatorship?" came from Represen-
tative John O'Connor CD, New
York, chairman of the House
Rules Committee, and from Rep
resentative Scott Cd, of Cali
fornia, who supported Upton Sin
clair in his gubernatorial cam
paign last fall.
No Ban on Praise
While blocking insertion of ma
terial in opposition to the Admin
istration, House leaders frequently
put in text of outside speeches
and published articles of praise.
Mr.. Fish in offering the edi-
torial said:
"Mr. Speaker, I hold in my
hand a very instructive and
patriotic editorial by William
Randolph Hearst, entitled
Which? American Democracy
or Personal Dictatorship pub
liShed in his newspapers last
Sunday, June 2, which should
be read by all American citizens
regardless of party affiliations.
"Mr. Hearst, from long expert
ence in editing newspapers, has
developed a remarkable ability
to produce a clear-cut, forceful
and easily understandable anal
ysis of complicated and contrO-
verSial subjects.
SOUND DOCTRINE
II hope no Member of the
House will object to the inser-
ton in the Record of the sound
doctrine contained in this edi-
torial which is in itself lesson
in American government and a
powerful defense of the rights
and liberties of the American
people, under the Constitution.
"It ought to be read to the
younger generation in every
public and private school in the
country and likewise with profit
in the colleges and universities
and by all those who believe in
American constitutional govern
ment as opposed to bureaucracy,
RECOMMENDATION, collectivism and
state socialism,
ut is a complete and devastat-
ing arrangement of uncOnstitu-
tiOnal methods and the rise of
state socialism in the United
States without the consent of
the people by one of the out
standing champions of the
Democratic party in the last
election.
"The editorial concludes with
a fervent American plea for the
restoration of representative
and constitutional Government
and a Government by law in
stead of by Executive order, or
by autOcratic or dictatorial
methods similar to faSciSm,
naziiSm or communism.
II repeat, it should be read by
all Americans. 1 ask unanimous
consent to extend my remarks
to include the editorial by Mr..
Hearst"