The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-09-28
AMERICANS PAY
FOR NEGLECT
OF CONGRESS

neglect
For more than IL years, on the
initiative of reactionaries, we have
1t has become a national habit to
hold the President and his administra-
tive aides responsible for the national
welfare.
When reactionaries bleated that
Roosevelt was a dictator, that we
were under zone man rule, that the
peoples rights were being usurped,
we responded by defending Roosevelt,
but without pinning the responsibility
on congress, where 1t rightfully be-
longed.
We were right in insisting that
Roosevelt was not a dictator, but our
best evidence-the many instances in
which congress ignored the Presi-
dents wishes-was overshadowed by
our own appeals for action, which, al
most invariably, were addressed to
Roosevelt rather than to congress.
The Costly Results
The result has been public apathy
toward congress. This apathy is re-
Elected in the fractional participation
in congressional elections.
In 1912 only 1/3 of the people of
voting age elected the congress re-
sponsible for the Smith-Connally act
and other harmful legislation.
And in 1914, although a majority Of
the citizens of voting age went to the
polls = attracted by the presidential
race, the congress was still elected
by a minority of the people.
BrowneIl Reioices
Last April, Herbert Brownell and
the reactionary elements of the re-
publican party claimed a great victory
in Montana and the start of new
trend to their banner and candidates.
A special election had been held to
fill the vacancy caused by the death
of James F. O'Connor, a democratic
congressman. Actually only 37% of
those who cast ballots in the Novem-
Der election, putting O'Connor into the
house, voted for a successor in the
April election.
Brownell was actually exulting over
the peoples apathy, for it is undoubt-
eddy true that when the people fail to
vote there is a trend to reaction
Picking Their Spot
Because we have failed to pin re-
sponsibility on congress, the reaction
aries have found it possible to focus
attention wherever it pleases them at
any given moment. Generally they
have favored making the President
the target, but at times they have
preferred to pin responsibility on the
supreme court, the state governments,
or non-official segments of society, |
such as labor and farm organizations. !
In an era of complex and manifold |
problems the ability to place RESPONSE
bility on different individuals, agen-
cies and groups, is a great weapon in
the hands of reaction. We have a
single responsible group-the con-
gress, and we must insist that atten-
ton be focused on those who are
elected by the people and are regu-
larly responsible to the people.
It's Up To Congress
functioned so successfully during the |
presidential campaign are building |
and rebuilding. The issues around |
which to build organizational strength |
have been decided. But successful |
legislative work, and the stimulating
of interest and participation in the
1916 congressional campaigns, will de-
pend on awakening the people to the
responsibility of the congress for their
welfare.
The public opinion polls give us the
single most alarming fact Of this day:
the fact that only small fraction of
the people can identify their con-
gressmen and senators.
Meaning of Responsibility
To make the congress accept its
responsibility and to make it increas-
ingly responsive to the wishes of the
people, we must make the people
aware of the congress- responsibility.
And in doing this, we should make l
every American feel his personal re-
sponsibility for the kind of congress I
we have r
The people must recognize that re- q
sponsibility for full production and full l
jobs, wages, health ;
security, peace = rests on l.
the congress- Il
If congress believes that the attain )
nent of full production is the respon- 7
'ibility of industry - of free enter p
people must let congress e
know they hold it responsible for that y
lecision n
If congress decides that the health
If the nation should be left almost ex- D
in the hands of the Amer OF
can Medical Association, let congress ii
that the people hold it re- fu
ponsible for that choice. CT
If congress maintains that educa- if,
ion is the job of state governments =
lone, let congress accept responsible q
y for the results Of that decision.
Iothing New
Congressional responsibility is moth III
lg new. The congress has always
ad the power to give the people what
hey want
The action or inaction of the con- iii
ress on every major issue has always iii
ad and will continue to have effects iii
n every citizen. Ill
While national organizations pro-
1ote the basic theme-"Your Future
Depends on Congress-" local organiza- III