It is reported that the U, S. Congress is greatly exercised over "the technique of "pressure politics" by mears of which congressmen are persuaded to adopt certain policies merely because of the weight of representation which ig made to them. Thus recently Congress defeated the movement to adhere to the World Court because Father Coughlin appealed over the radio to nis steners to telegraph to their representatives instructing them to vote against the measure. A similar thing occurred with reference to the Soldiers Bonus Bill which, with a great deal of public clamour behind {t, passed Congress only to be vetoed by the President, While lobbying at Washington can, perhaps, be curbed by Jlegislation such as is suggested in the report which appears elsewhere, it is diMeult to see how it will be possible to prevent Senators and Representatives from - being deluged with telegrams from their constituents instructing them how to vote. It is obvious that if a Senator receives a large enough number of telegrams urging a certain course of action he will, with a weather eye on the next election, follow the wishes of those who communicate with him, no matter what his own judgment fon the matter may be. The transfer of government from Washington. to every telegraph office throughout the the United States has about it certain uncomfortable aspects. Not the least of these is the manner in which democracy in the mass Is being Towed to demonstrate its wishes. "It not always so well apprised of the facts as the men to whom it entrusts its legislation, but some spellbinder over the wireless can persuade the masses very often to the detriment of the nation. It tends. to bring about a new type of polities which does not look at all promising and needs to be nipped in the bid.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.