The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-10-29
WAsHTNGTON's ROGUEs' GALLERY

The Washington reporters put Che spotlight on the Gimme Bloc in Congress last week. It wasn't very pretty to look at either. Tn fact, the sight of 1t gave you the same kind of qleasy feeling in the middle that comes when you're good and scared And the way the Gimme Bloc was behaving, there was Q good reason to be scared .. {. Because members of both houses as good as said: Look, it's me first, and then if I get mine I'll maybe be a nice guy and give a thought or two to the welfare of the coun- try"
 The natter the Honorables were chewing up was Senator Lees (Okla.) amendment to the 1S-l9- old draft bill Sen. Lee wanted to dry up the areas around the Army camps. There being Army camps practically everywhere, you wouldn't guess measure was pro- hibition wrinkle unless you looked at 1t Sen. Lee is smart cookie about his brothers in the two Houses He is wise that lots of the Repre- sentatives from the corn bread and by-cracky belts haven't got the "noxie" to nix a blue nose measure T. To show that much fight would cost the office holder his job. His job to him is one grade higher than the fate of his country.
 
 The members of Congress frankly admitted to reporters that they hoped the measure wouldn't lead to a roll call. That would mean that their ballot would be public, with no chance to weasel {. They admitted that the DryS back home were lay- ing on the pressure, and 1t wouldn't be good politics to go agin 1t 1t. They admitted that the measure stood a good chance to win on the "politi- cal" vote .. How do you like that? The United States Is in the worst jam in Its history. It is engaged in a war for survival. And these birds make no secret of the fact that get ting elected is matter much more important to them Politics first then Democracy.
 Whether Sen. Lees amendment is any good or not didn't figure in the candidates plans. That was matter that just never came up A dozen or more years of sloppy dry enforcement proved that Prohibi- ton is the most dangerous piece oi dynamite the country ever tried tc play with It put money into the paws of murderers and allowed them to corrupt police forces, courts and men in high office. It made rumpots of kids in their teens. Il took revenue from the State ane gave it to ex-convicts to let them arm themselves to make monkey out of the law .. But nobody wa thinking of possible evil effects. The only evil effect the Congressmer thought about was the possible los' of their jobs.
 Take Q look at the set-up. HerI was Congress passing law to tak' kids out of their homes and pu them in the Army Nobody know how long the war is going to meet these l8 and 1o-year olds. Lots o them will have their careers blowr to bits. More of them will die il battle Any way you look at 1t their lives have been uprooted y. Not that the kids mind. Most o them consider 1t an honor and privilege to make this sacrifice fo the defense of freedom. They knov it is 6 sacrifice because the flannel mouths have said so in their stuml speeches. The candidates figure 1t all right for kid to give up hi life-but they wouldn't gamble thei jobs on the same cause.
 Before the measure was shuntet off to a committee to cool off til after election, lots of the Honor ables were fixing to take a run out. They weren't hiding the req son for their scram either .. "No for me-" they all muttered. i've go to go home and tell the voters tn reasons they should re-elect me. 1'v got to persuade them I belong | Washington - only not now whel there's so much risk. always be long back with my beloved con stituency when saying in Washing ton might cost me burn on tn seat of my pants" Is that tn right kind of courage for Con Rressman in war time? Can yo respect a lawmaker who throws hi vote where it will benefit only him self?
 Now, what about those who didn hang around to face the issue, be fore the measure was Sidetracked What have they got to say whe they mount the rostrums? The certainly can't have the face beg reelection on the grounds Serving the Public Interest. The scamper out of danger makes lif out of that generality The can't very well claim to be support ing the war effort-when they won stay on the job to vote for dral measure. Hell, they can't even d nounce Hitler, who has becon eyerybodyHs campaign patsy, n' cause by ducking their duty they'i working their fool heads off for hil It's ironic in a way because U delay of the Lee amendment rol them of the old prohibitionists' WI cry of saving the voters sons ITO