Courier-herald. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1949-1950, 1950-01-07
Roy Tucker
A Stronger Grip

WASHINGTON, Jam - Although major
changes in the rules governing Congressional
procedure and management have been advanced
by so-called liberals and reformers as an effort
to strengthen Congress, their fundamental effect
would be to give the President and party in power
stronger grip on Capitol HILL
Ironically President Truman and his chief
aides at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue
seek to correct difficult situation that was
created by his predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt,
1t was F.DR's cheerful but careless camaraderie
and anybody who agreed with his personal views
that contributed to the present-day system OF
party responsibility and RIGHTEOUSNESS in Con-
gress and in American politics generally.
TRoUsLE-It was Mr.. Roosevelt who violated
political custom to place such off the reservation
Republicans as Harold L. Ickes and Henry A.
Wallace in his original Cabinet against the
advice of party veterans like James A. Farley and
Cordell Hull They warned that the interlopers
would eventually make trouble for the Democrats,
and they did. .- ...-' MI.
1t was Mr. Roosevelt who welcomed dssi.
dents, soreheads and insurgents of all kind into
the Democratic fold from the 1882 to the 1914
elections. They accepted his invitation, and now
the non-partisan or bipartisan ranks OF union
groups and liberals dominate the White House
and Congress more effectively than the descend
ants of.the party's founders.
1T was in short the Roosevelt philosophy that
had driven Southern Democrats to form a loose,
legislative alliance with the Republicans to block
the social, economic and political program of a
Democratic Administration. .r>ss 49,.
new Capitol Hill rules do not realize it. But their
current move constitutes another reputation of
Roosevelt reform"
cAUCUS-Nor does this new generation of
reformers realize, perhaps, that their recommen-
dations for revision of legislative organization
and conduct would have delighted the hearts of
such ruthless and reviled bosses as Penrose, Can
non, Aldrich and LongWorth. They never had the
control of Congress that the current suggestions
would give to the party In power:
Robert Heller, chairman of the National
Committee for Strengthening Congress, has urged
revival and more extensive use of the caucus as
an instrument for the formation and promotion
of party policy" This was the most powerful
weapon OF the old fashioned posses before the
Roosevelt era.
Under the caucus system, party members are
bound to support party measure after 1t has
been debated and voted on. even though they
disagree with it. Carried to extremes. the caucus
arrangement can be used to strip member OF
his craftsmanship and his right to be listed with
the party which he has defied
cANNoNIsM- caucus disappeared with
advent of Mr.. Roosevelt, although it had been
weakened ever since the revolt against Uncle
Joe" Cannon in 1911. As result, individualism
has run rampant on Capitol Hill, to the disgust
of every Speaker and party leader, including
Sam Rayburn
Nevertheless, return to the caucus, however
advisable to promote legislation, marks re-
sumption of the once condemned "Cannonism."
However to man so politically minded as Mr.
Truman and to one who has suffered SO seriously
from the unruliness of his own party men, there
seems to be no other alternative
Another Heller recommendation should make
"Unele Joe" Cannon grin in his grave, although
it is doubtful if it will ever be accepted by
modern Congress. The Strengthen Congress
group makes this proposal.
aChairnaen who cannot meet the test of party
regularity should be deprived of their chairman
ship"
It was Boss Cannon's decapitation of recalci-
trant cfairmen which led the Democrats and Re-
publican Bull moosers to deprive him of his power
in the 1911 braWl. Because they refused to report
bills favored by the Taft Administration, the
heads of committees-Fowler of New Jersey,
Cooper of Wisconsin, Murdoch of Kansas, Norris OF
Nebraska, Haugen of KanSas-Were cut off,
Today there are several Democratic chairmen
of committees who would suffer the same fate at
the hands of the Truman Barley -Rayburn lead
ership if they could have their way
ApPRopRIATIONS-Althou it might permit
economy in government if utilized properly, the
proposal to consolidate annual appropriations
into single measure might also give the reign,
ing President and party exclusive control OF Con-
gressional purse strings. 1t could spend money
as it pleased.