Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 June 1905 — MACHINE POLITICS. [ARTICLE]

MACHINE POLITICS.

How t Few Republicans Control National I.esfialntlon. A Republican congressman may honestly favor reforms that the people are everywhere demanding, but experience shows me that but one in a thousand has the nerve to be independent when he gets to Washington. The atmosphere of Washington is surcharged with machine politics. In the house of representatives three men rule the Republican machine and the balance obey. Speaker Cannon, Dalzell of Pennsylvania and Orosvenor of Ohio, the majority of the committee on rules, dictate legislation. No bill, even a private one, can be considered without the speaker Is first seen and promises to “recognize” the member who wants to pass It. When It comes to public bills, such as tariff, trust or railroad legislation, If any Republican member should be bold enough to introduce a bill that would reform present abuses the committee to whom It Is referred would never report It unless the triumvirate above named favor Its consideration. This machine, through which all legislation must pass, resents any show of Independence In a Republican member and shows him but slight consideration if he persists In his Independent attitude, aud he soon finds all the avenues of legislation for his district closed to him. The Republican machine at Washington rides just as rough shod over those who oppose its policy as the Ipsser end of the machine does here at home.