The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1959-03-12
with Rep. John Henderson

The birthday of George Wash
ington was marked recently in
the House of Representatives by
the reading of our first Presi-
dents Farewell Address" A
portion of this address, intended
to provide counsel for future
generations of Americans, is well
known. Unfortunately, it is re-
membered for too few of its
particular points of advice. 1t is,
in fact, in its entirety a remark
able document as fresh and chal-
lenging today as it was when it
was delivered in the nations
early years.
One of Washington's little
quoted admonitions has special
urgency for us in the months
ahead as the Congress begins its
work on myriads Of new bills.
In this part of the speech, he
said, LAS a very important source
of strength and security, cherish
public credit One method of pre-
serving it is to use it as spar
ingly as possible, avoiding occas-
ions of expense by cultivating
peace, but remembering, also,
that timely disbursements to
prepare for danger, frequently
prevent much greater dlsburse-
ments to repel it; avoiding like
wise the accumulation of debt,
not only by stunning occasions
of expense, but by vigorous exer-
tions, in time of peace, to dis
charge the debts which unavOid-
able wars may have occasioned,
not ungenerously throwing upon
posterity the burden which we
ourselves ought to bear. The
execution Of these maxims be-
longs to your representatives,
but it is necessary that public
opinion should cooperate"
Public Opinion
Public opinion is no less i'm
portant today that in Washing
tons time. Each day, as | receive
an increasing volume Of replies
in my poll of opinion in South
eastern Ohio, read great
volume of thouehtful comments
on why the writer's feel as they
do with respect to the public
issues on the QUESTIONABLE. It
appears that the issue which
most deeply concerns our people
IS the matter of federal expen-
ditures and the need for the
government to live within its
income without new taxes. This
is being expressed in scores OF
variations which can be inter
preted fairly as a genuine and
sincere alarm over the drift oi
our fiscal affairs into the deer
water Of continued deficit fl
nancing.
In view of the expressions
from Southeastern Ohio, my be.
Wilderment increases as I lieter
to some of my colleagues de-
nouncing the concept of economy
in government and a balanced
budget. / find it difficult to be
lieve that the outlook of the
people of the 18th District or
what is best for the nation is sc
different as the speeches of the
public spenders in Congress i'm.
plies. | am certain that wher
the people view the total mean
ing of the spenders' arguments
that the answer to all problems
real and imaginary, is in layins
out more money-there will no
be widespread acceptance.
Amendments
The Constitution has received
special treatment by way o
amendment on % occasions
Actually, upon l3 occasions since
the first 10 amendments were
adopted at one time. Article
of the Constitution provides tina
Congress on the application o
tWo-thirds of the states shal
call a constitutional convention
Cor the purpose of amending The
Constitution. Two hundred state
applications for such convention
| have been filed, but the conven