The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-06-13
ORGANIZED MINoRITIES SCARE THE
POLITICIANS ... s.ii

Frank R. Kent, in The Charlotte ObserV-
er, writing about how organized mlnorltleS
influence and control national legislation
and keep Congressman and Senators trem-
bling in their footwear, offers, in part, this
of the case:
This condition would not exist if for the most
part members of Congress were not creatures
Of fear, who almost constantly live in a state Of
APPREHENSION about their jobs There are two
WAYS bv which it could be ended, though neither
i likely 10 be taken One would be for the
GREAT mass of voters in a State or district to
show, resentment at the polls against any Con-
gressman who, in defiance of the general inter-
ests, voted for class legislation under lobby
threat. That would end it most effectively be-
cause the voting strength of those outside these
minorities is much greater than all combined.
It, however involves more initiative, energy and
understanding upon the part of the voters gen.
orally than they are accustomed to exhibit or,
perhaps, possess
The other way would be to impress the actual
facts upon the members of Congress. The fact
is, their fear has no real basis The fact is, none
of their organized lobbies-whether they repre-
sent labor or war veterans, or negroes, or wo-
men, or farmerS-iS ever able to deliver the
goods in an election. There is no more labor
vote than there is a soldier vote The idea that
all the veterans vote sohdly against men who
oppose the bonus, or all laboring men against
those who do not take orders from William
Green is ridiculous This notion has been dis
proved so many times that it ought not to be
necessary to argue about it. Take, for instance,
the case of Lewis W Douglas, who in one ses-
sion voted against the bonus and every piece OF
general veterans legislation that came up.
few months later he went back to Arizona,
State in which the proportion of veterans Is
higher than any other. First, he beat IN the prl-
marieS a Democratic opponent who made these
votes an issue, and then beat Republican can
didate who did the same thing in the general
election. Take the case of Carter Glass, OF Nlr-
GINA who never voted with an organized lobby
in his life.
One could give instances without end where
both labor and veteran organizations have DEM
onstrated their complete futilty in general
election. But what's the use. 1t is impossible to
convince scary Congressman, no matter how
much evidence you present. Let one brave man
who defied a lobby be licked and they believe
they are all licked for that reason The truth is,
the average Congressman is rabbit whose cab
bage-leaf mind is so completely concentrated
upon the job of prolonging his silly political life
that ne is always Just one jump ahead of the
filters.
The foregoing is certainly very interest
ing and all informed citizens know it pre-
sentsN the truth as to these matters. Tn,
organized minorities, maintaining lobbie
IN Washington, accomplish their purpose
Aytmeatening, bulldozing and soaring tn
national legislators. Strange that Con-
gressmen and Senators have not learne,
that organizations compelled to adopt sue
tactics to make their influence count i
national affairs, are more often than nc
engaged in nothing more dangerous tina
wind-jamming. As Mr. Kent points on
they can't deliver the votes in a nations
election
However, by vociferous agitation an
much big talk they intimidate the nations
legislators, and some times frighten Co,
gress into the enactment of laws which al
unwise, unreasonable, un-American, an
greatly detrimental to the welfare of tn
icOuntry. Such organized minorities do M
depend on reason and logic to get supper
for their programs but on clustering il
timidation of public servants.
Strange that Washington politicians hav
never learned anything from the career
OF such men as Senator Glass of Virgins
Glass has never played politics, nevt