The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1939-06-15
Helping COerce Congress
Washington, June IL.

Most thoughtful men with any polit-
zeal knowledge or experience will agree
that among the things that make it
most difficult for our democratic form
Of government to function efficiently
are the various organized groups
which exert pressure upon Congress
IN favor of the special interests they
represent.
Formed into countrywide associa-
lions these pressure groups maintain
elaborate and expensive Hobbies in
Washington which bear down on mem
bers of Congress to support the par
hcular legislation to which they are
committed. Aside from the merits of
the measures they advocate, the weap-
gns they use make their advocacy of
fansive and dangerous. Chief among
these weapons is, the political club
which supposed control of large block
NJ voters in districts and States en-
abIes them to swing over the heads Of
members of Congress.
#*#
Their appeal is not to the reason,
but to the fears, of the legislator. He
is threatened with political annihila-
tfUu if he refuses his vote, promised
support if he delivers. Such is the ma
tlre of our politics that it is extremely
hard for a man who wants to hold
his seat in House or Senate to ignore
tina possible consequences of offending
any considerable group of voters.
There are always opponents eager to
capitalize his antagonisms. The result
Is that members of Congress, under
tareats, open or implied, often sup
part proposals which, if freed from
apprehension, they would vigorously
s1Eraunce.
Everybody in politics knows this to
III Al nc IL ID ollS VI GlAS WoLoG SIOW Illo
Bf our political system, dating back
many years. Among the larger lobbies
thgre is now a considerable degree of
cooperation. For example, the farm
Aabby will support a labor measure in
which it has no interest because it
wants support from the labor lobby
for its own bill. 1t is easier for a Pres
l9gnt to resist this kind of pressure
than for the individual member in a
close State or district, because the for
uaer's appeal is to the nation as a
WfzoEe and he cannot be coerced by dis
1sSst or State. That makes the present
unprecedented situation all the more
4d7senuraging.
The simple fact is that this Admin
1szration is the first in history the
beats of which actively encourage, in
darse and promote these organized mi
zBErTties whose sole aim is to coerce
IiaEgress. Instead of encouraging it TO
Iasxazt, the Roosevelt Administration
encourages the bullying groups which
Hhreaten it. The amazing exhibition of
tsaa Government cooperating in it's own
coercion afforded by the Administers
4EsH support of the Workers Alliance
has already been commented upon
A4gge. Mrs. Roosevelt is to be one of
+t5l.s speakers this week at a meeting of
4EEGs organization, the primary pur-
Fssse 0f which is to force Congress to
q1Ugide more money for WPA work
erS-
Tine active support of the Alliance
by the Administration is an indefen-
.sfJa thing which members of Con-
gress who have to submit to the bully
Sg4e Of it's leaders have every reason
w resent. However, an equally extra
prEnary incident has just been dis
closed by the Scripps-Howard papers,
which point out that county farm
agents of the AAA in Alabama are
appealing to farmers to join the Am
erTtan Farm Bureau Federation IN
Swder ito insure continuation of AAA
payments" "There is" says a letter
Er0aI one county agent sent out to
farmers on franked envelopes of the
department of Agriculture, "only one
way to continue to receive these pay
ments; it is through membership in
HI organization which is strong enough
To tell Congress what you want. The
AFBF is the largest farm organiza-
aior in the world, and only through II
have you been able to receive these
payments"
Here is the Administration, through
iGs accredited agent, soliciting mem
5ership in a lobbying organization
she purpose of which is to get more
money from the Government. 1t was
shfs organization which brought pres
sure on Congress for the 100000, 00O
parity payments, put into the farm bill
g few weeks ago. The President had
H0t recommended these increases. He
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