The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1944-04-13

On my part there is no desire to ride
| the coat tails of anyone else, but the
| temptation to have a round at some of
our yelping Congressman is just too
| much to resist.
a few days ago one member sought
to defend himself by referring to
cOlumnst and radio commentator as
Il second rate commentator. He didn't
produce any facts, he just flung words
of condemnation.
Now if Il man says You stole Il
thousand dollars, you had better start
thinking up an alibi, instead of calling
names. If Il radio commentator says
you consort with Nazis maybe it
would be better to prove you don't,
than just to call him an inveterate
liar. Maybe he lies now and then, but
maybe this time he is telling the truth
and can prove it.
Congressman who rave about con-
spiracy to knock hell out of the dignity
of Congress would be more convincing
with what is supposed to be Congress
sonal dignity, instead of resorting to
gurterSnipe charges against men who
write columns and discuss public af-
fairs on the air.
Clare Hoffman and Martin Dies are
two Congressman who have been at
81, Ent
have been yelling their heads off.
Drew Pearson and Walter Winchell
are the two cOlumniSts most often at
tackled by these and other Members of
Congress. Both have presented what
they claim are facts. congressman
would do well to deal with fact state
ments. If they have been libelled there
are courts for trying the charges. No
body is going to be greatly impressed
by Congressional name calling. Adjec-
tives don't amount to much in proving
a case either way.
Drew pearsOn'S column has, Il time
or two, been rather nasty toward this
writer, but that doesn't make him Il
liar. or even Il mean and nasty man.
When he alleges Il fact the thing to do
is diSprove it, if that's what's wanted
1t all comes down to the fact that
all the charges and caumny in the
world cnn't destroy the dignity of
Congress from the outside, if it COM
ports itself with dignity and intelli-
2ence from the inside.
But if congressman play around
l., II.
that is made public, if Congress plays
dirty politics with world issues, if
Congress suffers self seeker to do their
Self-Seeking from important committee
charmanships, if Congress lets rabbe
rOuserS get by without rebuke, then by
what right do congressman charge
critics with destroying the dignity OF
Congress?
It's just about time for Congress 20
do something to protect and maintain
its own dignity FROM WITHIN -
not from without.
It's about time for Members of Con-
%reSS to act, in private and in public
as if they We're conscious of being
elected members of one of the most
exalted bodies in the world Some of
them seem not to be aware of that
fact.
There are CongrcsSmen-and that
term is meant to be inclusive of both
IIouSeS-who can't believe that any
thing done by our Government is hon
est and sincere.
They cry from the house tops about
4 -,
ciSmS make no use of discrimination
The fact that the world is in the
midst of II war that will decide our
whole future and the whole fate of
freedom means nothing when chance
offers opportunity for Il political wise
crack or Il chance to perhaps win an
other vote or two next November.
There is too much pettifogGing and
maudlin yammering in ollr Congress
and if Congressman want to talk about
their dignity they had best first get
some of it.
1t is time for great craftsmanship.
What does it matter who is elected or
defeated if the war is lost? II is time
to forget about self and act for Amer
lea.
But YOU can bet your bottom dollar
that the Congressman who are willing
to act on that basis, forgetting self for
the greater good would, if counted
total up minority and perhaps not a
very big one at that. There have been
great men who have dared to be right
cost what it might. Some congressman
ought to read the biographies of some
of those who so dared. 1t might do
them good .-CMW.