xt7wwp9t2q46_17 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7wwp9t2q46/data/mets.xml https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7wwp9t2q46/data/59m61.dao.xml American Liberty League 37 linear feet archival material English University of Kentucky This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed.  Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically.  Physical rights are retained by the owning repository.  Copyright is retained in accordance with U. S. copyright laws.  For information about permissions to reproduce or publish, contact the Special Collections Research Center. Jouett Shouse Collection (American Liberty League Pamphlets), No. 20 "The Legislative Situation" Speech of Jouett Shouse, March 7, 1935 text No. 20 "The Legislative Situation" Speech of Jouett Shouse, March 7, 1935 2013 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7wwp9t2q46/data/59m61/59m61_20/Am_Lib_Lg_20_001/Am_Lib_Lg_20_001.pdf section false xt7wwp9t2q46_17 xt7wwp9t2q46 ir *
Pamphlets Available  
B
ir
• •
Copies of the following pamphlets may  
ple obtained upciln Enpplication to the · ·
eague’s nationa ea quarters: S
American Liberty League—Speech by  
Jouett Shouse A
_ The Tenth Commandment
Why, The American Liberty League?
Statement of Principles and Purposes
Progress vs. Change-——Speech by Jouett * * *
Shouse
Recovery, Relief and the Constitution-—
Speech by Iouett Shouse I
American Liberty League—Its Platform
Ari/I Analysis of the President’s Budget Speech of
essage
N. R. A.—Its Past, and Recommenda- JOUETT SHOUSE
tions for the Future
AnRi:5lI;l` (.gIi;d:oi4i2i;zg;(ii>(ii)(lei(i;(i0 Emergency i President, American Liberty League
Economic Security—A Study of Pro- March 7s 1935
posed Legislation I
Democracy or Bureaucracy`?—Speech by
Jouett Shouse
The Bonus——An Analysis of Legislative
Proposals ·
The Constitution Still Stands—Speech gf- C4
by Jouett Shouse Y   4*
InHation——Possibilities Involved in Exist- U EZ   u
ing and Proposed Legislation  
The Thirty Hour W`eek——Dangers In- IP" Y WV
herent in Proposed Legislation
The Pending Banking Bill—A Proposal
to Subject the Nation’s Monetary
Structure to the Exigencies of Politics
* AMERICAN LIBERTY LEAGUE
National Headquarters
Wdte to NATIONAL PRESS BUILDING
AMERICAN LIBERTY LEAGUE WASH‘NGT°N· D- C-
NATIONAL PRESS BUILDING I
WASHINGTON, D. C. * *
Document N0. 20
 4

 When the League was or-
N0H'P&I`tiZaU ganized its sponsors stated
wlihe Legislative Situationtt V Attitude that one- ot the main ob-
Maintained j€Ct1VCS 1H 1tS educat1onal
*   program would be to
l study and to report on important legislation
IT is now approximately six rnonths sirtee the J under consideration by the Congress. Assurance
formation of the American Liberty League was was SiVe¤ that it Weuld he WLIOHY ¤0¤·Pa1't1Za¤»
announced. Inasmuch as it is an organization thet it ttetild a¤a1YZe f1`0m a taetttal stand-
which appeals to the public for support an 2 Pemt extetme Ptebleme ard hare tts teeetm
accounting of its activities appears desirable.   mettdattena wrtheut P1'eJud1ee UPQI1 the ¤1e1`1t¤
The Leanne is unique in the recent history   of the proposals under consideration.- Totthat
of pnbiie eiieeirs in American It has attracted course It has adhered unswervmgly. It 1S ne1ther
nationwide attention end it has been the re_ r for nor against the present administration. It is
cipient of criticism so violent and so wide- aeither fer net egetnat attYi’e1tttea1Pat‘tY· It is
spread es to eonstitnte inspired propegendtt neither for nor aga1nst any individual official in
its purposes here been misrepresented end public l1fe.· Whateverrposition it takes is based
maligned. Its objectives have been falsified. urea detimtelY emmerated Pt't¤etP1eS and finds
its tdtirnete aims here been distorted Some its foundation in the desire to do what will tend
of the criticism heaped upon it has been sincere. toward the welfare and Pt'eaPet`ttY and hap-
Much of it bee been selfishly political. Part, at piaeee ef the Whale peeple of the Nation rather
least, has been instigated by the fear of having than aHY Small graup ar a¤Y eeleeted few-
the League fulfill its announced function of Beginning immediately after Congress con-
dealing frankly and fully in a non-partizan way t vened, the League has placed before its mem-
with pending public questions. Among its de- { bership and before the public successively seven
tractors have been those prominent in the Gov- ·   discussions of important legislative matters. It
ernment, as well as other ambitious politicians I has commended the position of the administra-
masking behind whatever garb, and publicity- “ tion whenever it could, but it has not hestitated
seeking demagogues who would resort to any _ to criticize where criticism seemed necessary in
method to obtain newspaper notice. Some t the public interest,
Sought te deett`eY the League betete it could   Immediately after the President presented his
start and there were those who tried to place   Budget Message to the Congress the Research
every peeaihie impediment in ite way- The OHIY t Division er the American Liberty League pre-
amwer t° be drawn fmm all at this is ccmclusive   pared a factual review of the recommendations
and Pereueewe ergumem aé t° the definite need made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1936.
ef the Leegu e te the pubhe eetelee at Amemee L It was the first adequate analysis that came from
at the present juncture. But let lt be recorded any source sn d it dis si os s d t o the nnbiie im_
ton1ght desp1te obstacles, despite calumny and t t r t r th d d bu d st
misrepresentation, despite criticism of all sorts, _ POI: an ee urea 0 e reeemmeu e e
the League is still here and is going to continue Whlch Prevmusly had me been .reVee1ee· .
along the lines on which it was projected—to The next factual Study whleh the Liberty
render to the American people a constructive Q League pleeed before the Public .weS e review
_ service in s time of grove d sneer and serious g of the Nauonal Recovery Administrstion Wlth
irnport_ s recommendations for 1tS future. This was fol-
2 3
1-

 lowed a week later by an analysis of the Emer-   excessive, and iirgetl that tne Cengress giVe rresr
gency Relief Appropriation Bill which proposed   oaretnl oonaitleration te tne aPProPriatione
to place in the hands of the President the , wlneli Wore requested, in ortier re helji them
gigantic sum of $4,880,000,000 to be expended r within pileper hnotgitiz gitllecggd ;;te;`e:1eudt;i
in an wa that he might see iit, without the 1 eeonomy at S ou _
slightgst reietriction by Congress and without the   government. in titme ef tinanoial. danger-
exercise of the constitutional duty of Congress   tn the utteusstett °t_ the Natttmal RBCOVCIZY
to deal with questions of policy relating to the i Ailminietrrillgioié tne Point gre: bmsde tnetdtgge
ex enditutee 4 agency o e overnmen a een erea e ·
$`hen came the only detailed analysis that has   eeuee ef an emergeneY¤ tnet enY eonttnuunee ef
been made of the Economic Security legislation   the unusual Executttc _auth°t1tY °°ut°tt°u tmdct
on which extended hearings were later ordered   tt Shuutu be fer etgmrtei Pitgultti that Jael $1:6
by th e Committees ef Cengteee t emergency passes ere s tou e no a emp o
· · t enact permanent legislation for the control of
BO£?.1E,I;EiilL1da0cg1 §;1;¥ta®uaig..E§;;.f;(?uaIi)§ ti; i American industry, that self-government in in-
first of this week an analysis of the bills now t dusrrr sireuid be the gmt] m any Pt‘°‘”_t‘f Pt°'
pending which P1, (Wide ter the imposition upon mote recovery, that there should be a minimum  
industry et e thit_ty_hem, week_ of bureaucratic regulation, that law-making by  
Let ue analyze briefly the peeitieu taken by litxecutive order and some other improper prac- 1
th e Liberty League upon each et these impeb t1CCS of NRA should cettse, that undue encroach-
tent matters. ment upon the sovereignty of the States must
In the dieeueeien et thc be avoided and that provisions of law respect-
The Budget Bud e et Message attention ing relations of employers and employees
Message was called Spooii—1on11y to shgeid behisir telieetir rer¤es·M_ h d th P _
Analyzed th e statement made by mee IS ana ysis was pu 1S e e resi- i
the President early lest dent 1S understood to have recommended the
yeet, that every ettert Should be made to ba]_ extensionnof the present NRA Act for a period
ance the budget, including expenditures for ef two Years- Tnet is Pronet’lY a reaaonalillt
recovery and relief, for the fiscal year 1936, and Q eatiStaetorY selurien ef tile preblem at this
when he suggested that a debt limit of $31,834,- ` time- Tne reorganization now under way aP·
()()(),()()(), which hc estimated as the tote] by Jung I parently contemplates the elimination of many
30, 1935, ebeuld rgpreggnt the maximum debt te   of the most undesirable practices that formerly
s be placed upon the Nation. Despite this declara-   prevailed and decisions by the Courts will soon
tion it was pointed out by the League that this t clear the air as to the exact powers which may
year the President suggested an increase of the be exercised as well as those which may not.
debt to $34,239,000,000 and that he approved To permit the NRA to die upon the expiration
regular expenditures, entirely apart from relief date of the present legislation the middle of
and 1‘€C0V€1‘Y» more than a billion dollars in next June would involve too drastic a readjust-
excess of the similar appropriations made under ment by industry aud, therefore, thg reeem.
nie administration tor tne year l93‘t• Tne mendation of the President, in view of present
League asserted, as had the President himself in conditions, and particularly with n series of im-
mesr striking iensusae er Marek ioi i933» ther poitent Court decisions immediately impending,
the soundness of the N3t1OH’S financial structure ` Seems wise
will be jeopardized by a debt burden which is 5
» 4
1 i

 In thg guglygig of the V r Ill tl16 study of the dall-
EC0110I1'1iC complicated bill relating r Irittettiori gers of inflation the ad-
Security to Economic Security the Dangers ministratien was eem'
Program Liberty League took the Illustrated mended fer its refusal te
position that gxigting con. lltl.llZC thi} pOWC1` gl.VC]1 it
ditions due to the depression warrant a most in MaY ef 1933 and the dangers innerent in
Sympathgtic attitude, toward bgth ungmplgy. 1 lI1H3lZlOI1 WCIB p0lI1lZCd out l2ll1°Ol1gl1 ICCCIHQ CX-
ment insurance and old age pensions. Atten- Perienees in Russia. Gei`manY and Franee· A
tion was called, however, to the fact   the p   iHStaHCC WaS cited in GCrH]any• There
legislation is not of an emergency character, that ‘ the entire mortgage indebtedness ef the PeePie»
it should be given most careful consideration J estimated at ten bii—ii0n d0iia1`S in 1913. eeuid
by the Congress, that any legislation enacted bave been Paid ei? in Nevember ef 1923 with
should be based on sound fiscal policies and t ene Ameriean eent_ene cent. mind yea- But
should not impose an excessive burden upon the Wniie indebtedness was WiPed evt. aieng Witn
Federal Government or a burden upon industry ‘ it went the endewrnents of nesPitais and eei‘
such as it may be unable to bear at the present iegesv Pensiens end annuities and nxed ine0¤1€
time Without Seriously rctarding recovery. It r of all the small salaried classes. The danger of
was also urged that inasmuch as four different innatien enee begunv the difficulty ef eentreiiing r
subjects are dealt with in the pending bill it it was strikingiY veieed·
might well be separated into several independent — In the recent stndY ef the tnirtY'neur Week
measures in order that eaeh should reeeive the bill issued on last Monday the administration’s
study to which it is entitled. Attention was also attitude in ePPesitien te the bin was Painted
ealled to the eiieot of proposed oltl age pensions out and endorsed and there was emphasis on the
upon the tinanoes of the Government in future fallacy of the argument that this bill, if enacted
years as voiced in a report of the President’s inte lnwv would increase Pnrcnasing Pewer er
Committee on Economic Security. It was urged surnurete industrY· eu the ether hand. the
that any old age annuity system hased on eon_ position of the Liberty League is that the bill
tributions hy employers and emplovees should would retard recovery through higher prices
be self-sustaining and that to the greatest ex- and reduced eensumptien, that While purport-
tent possihle all Social insurapee plans should t ing to aid one class of citizens it would in reality
involve reliance upon the cooperation of the injure an cresses» tnat it inVeiVes an unwar-
States. It was further pointed out that while t ranted attempt to control production in viola-
there may he iustifioation for the exercise of t tion of constitutional principles and that it
the Federal taxing power to assure laws for up_ would be impossible to enforce even with a vast
employment insurance in the different States, new bureaucracy larger and mere P0W€1‘f111
the attempt in the hill now before Congress to than any heretofore established in our Federal
compel the States to write into their laws cer- Gevernrnenb
tain controversial features with reference to This brief review of these Various imP01‘ta¤t
labor is an improper use of Federal authority. matters upen wnrcn the League bas takell a
The Bonus pamphlet issued hy the Liberty definite stand shows that in frequent instances
League was hased upon approval of the Position It has been able to endorse the position of the
taken by the President in his letter of December acministratien md tnat it hes been glad te give
27th, last, to the Commander of an American such enuersernenr WneneVer tbe ePP01'tu11itY
Legion Post in Texas. °rrered·
5 7

 Now let us enter into some discussion of the had enooutaged and nnaneed the invasion of
Eme1'ge¤eY Relief APPYOPYMUOU Bill Whieh in' fields of private enterprise by Government
volvcs an appropriation of $4,880,0%,000 and agencies. We did not hesitate to say that if a
which has been 3 Subject of Pretfeeted een- continuance of such policies was to be tolerated
U`0VeI`SY in the Senate and before the e0‘mu'Y· in case Congress should turn over to the Presi-
What has been the position of the American A dent this gigantic sum of $4’88(]’0(]0’()()(), the
Liberty League on this meeeure? Ce1'tei¤1Y We American people of all classes would fare far
have had no quarrel with the administration { better by the application of a system of direct
upon the question of adequate relief for the do]e_ C
uII.Cm.P10yBd• In 01-IG ofthe HIST; announcements i When the Emergency Relief   was Hirst
after the eI`¤‘5auiZatien_ef the League em` EXeeu' before the Senate an amendment was adopted
tive Committee six months ago made this state- whieh would have eotnpe]]ed the Payment of
menii the prevailing wage scale on all expenditures
"The American Liberty Leesue ihereushiy ree- made under it. Clearly the President was right
ognizes the obligation of our government to come in objecting to that amendment. The Principle
to the relief of the men and women who are in . . . .
distress because of unemployment through no fault Whlch he cuuncmtcd In hm January message of
of their own, or are suffering from affliction over Paying less thee the regular wsse Scale for Work
which they could have no control. And this we relief, in Order that men on relief would take
firmly believe can be done without violation of our advantage of the gppgytuuity fer regular em.
Constitution or of American traditions.” ploymcnt whenever Offered by Private Butch
Therefore, with the general objective of the bill prise, was a sound principle that deserved en-
, the League was entirely in accord. dorsement at the hands of Congress.
When the President in his message to Con- The objections raised by the Liberty League
gress on January 4th laid down two principles, ‘ to the measure in the form in which it was sent
namely, the return of care for the unemploy- to Congress from the White House were that it
ables to their own communities and the sub- was clearly unconstitutional under the decision
stitution of work relief for the dole wherever rendered by the Supreme Court this year in the
possible, we heartily endorsed his stand. Per- Amazon Petroleum case, and that it represented
manent dependents should never have been an utter abdication of the important power of
placed upon the Federal rolls and unquestion-   Congress over appropriation of public funds.
ably the line should be drawn sharply between ' These objections were urged as earnestly as pos-
those who are willing to work if work is pro- j sible, both in written documents and in public
vided and those who try to compel their sup- speeches.
port at the hands of a paternalistic government. While the final form the
We commended the attempt to draw this line $4¤880s000s000 bill will take cannot at
and we pointed out that there are desirable Relief Bill this moment be predicted,
undertakings, not costly and not superfluous, in [mprgved it is gratifying that as re-
which work relief can be utilized. On the other ' ported out the second
hand, we called attention to the fact that the time from the Senate Committee on Appropria-
Public Works Administration, the purpose of tions it contains an allocation of funds, flexible
the creation of which was solely to put men as it should be, yet representing a general ex-
back to work, had not succeeded in that objec- pression of the views of Congress as to the pur-
tive, that it had allotted funds for extravagant poses for which the money is to be expended.
buildings and other unnecessary projects and Though a marked improvement over its original
S 9

 form, there is still question whether the bill Into this (jougross should inquire carefully
IIIBGIZS COI1Blltl1ti0l1&l 1‘Cql1i1`CIl1€I1lLS 38 laid il0Wl1 I and if there are tg be power projects created,
in the Amazon Petroleum case. It will be Y6- whether along the Missouri River, the Arkansas
ealled that in that case the Supreme C0l11’t maiiii River, or any other river, the authorization must
this important point: be granted specifically by Congress and not
"If section 9 (c) were held valid, it would be idle assumed under a general appropriation bill for
to pretend that anything would be left of limitations 5 Purposes of relief and emp]0Ymcnt_
“P°“ thc P°w°" °f the C°“g"?SS t° delegate ns la`? There are other factors which should be taken
making function. The reasoning of the many deci- _ ,
. . d 1nto account and upon which the Senate should
s1ons we have rev1ewed would be made vacuous an _ _ _ _
their distinctions nugatory. Instead of performing c' act before It PaSS€$ the blu- I-•aYlUg asldc the
its law-making function the Congress could at will question as to Wl16tl1C1‘ O1' 110t it is possible to
and as to such subjects as it chooses transfer that initiate enterprises that would within a year
function to the President or other ollicer or to an ad- absorb the four billion dollars provided for
ministrative body. The question IS not of the 1n- k 1, f h h ld b 1, ,t t, t
trinsic importance of the particular statute before wor I.? 16 ’ t crc S Ou c_a um a lon aS_ 0
us, but of the constitutional processes of legislation thi? ultimate 00St of 3HY Particular uudcrtaklug
which are an essential part of our system of govern- that may be formulated. The fear has been
m¢¤t·°° voiced in important quarters that, without
But apart from constitutional features there li111itHti0Il by COI\g1`€SS, C€I`t&iH gigantic 6I1i€1‘·
are other points of the relief bill upon which prises might be begun with a portion of this
Congress should pass. Here is a list of enum- money which would requ1re the expenditure
erated projects for expenditure of the four of many additional billions before they could
billions: be completed. lt is not a question of the good
Roads, streets, highways and the elimination faith of the President. lt is a question of the
of grade crossings. All right. duty of Congress as custodian of the taxes of
Rural habilitation and relief in rural areas. the people to see that neither by intent nor
If wisely allocated. All right. inadvertence could `any such situation arise, and
Housing. Good, if not an unwise duplication to effect this purpose Congress should lay down
of existing facilities. a flat rule that would compel the completion
Civilian C0¤$€I'V&i$i0¤ Corps- AH excellent within the limitations of the appropriation here
Plan for taklng cal`? Of. the Youth o O " given of any undertaking commenced out of it.
Flood relief, sanitation, prevention of 8011 The president Seems Confident that the pas.
erosion, reforestation. All of them worthy ends. Sage ef this hill will ehahle him to Substitute
Projects for professional and clerical persons. ‘ Werk relief fel. the (lele_ If the appropriation
Miilybfff then} ccrtaéugr need help' is made let us hope that result can be realized
u lc dpmjcits 10 _;iatcS_ andTi?ca1 gcvcmk speedily. But regardless of a worthy optimism,
mcmstan Inga 6 acm? canon d Cmd tw; are certainly months will be required before the
ORB? 0 q}1?§mn° S It Propose tf) up male change can be made, especially in view of the
utility facilities at the expense of investors 1n . . .
. . . . . lack of preparauon for expend1ture as evi-
cmstmg plants? IS It the mm of the admm- denced b the administration’s own witnesses
istration to expend this money of the taxpayers b f thy Senete Cemmittee Ae e eeeult the
for further competition by government with in- C Orc 6 , °, °.
7 . present methods of direct rel1ef must cont1nue
dustry. Does the Pres1dent purpose the estab- _ b f , t f ,d bl
lishment of other projects similar to the in a vas? num Cr 0 ms anccs or a mum cm Y
Tennessee Valley Authority? (mgm. t1mC’
10 R 11

 There 81`6 two qu6Sti0¤B dollar for every minute since the birth of Christ,
Issues appertaining to di1`€0t 1`6· and therefore four billion, eight hundred and
That MuSt licf with which tho ad- eighty million dollars means four dollars and
Bc Faced mi¤iSU'¤ti0¤ h3S thus fa? eighty-eight cents for every minute since the
refused to deal. One of birth gf Christ,
them is the payment of relief to workers on This is s sum of monoy almost iuealculable
strike. The other is tho paymont of roliof to   in its size and in its potentialities. By the bill
aliens. ln both important principles of public p as sent to Congress from the administration it
policy are involved and Congress should mako f was to be turned over to the President without
declaration concerning both in connection with ’ shy suggostion ag to the method of its oxpcndi.
the pending bill. ture, without any limitation save that it should
Is there any good reason why this Govern- 4 be used for relief and without any declaration
ment should continue to support at the expense of policy on important questions involved.
of its taxpayers a huge horde of aliens who have The power is still huge, but Congress has
not made a pretense of attempting to become injected certain directions and it is to he hoped
American citizens and, insofar as can be told, that before the bill is completed others will be
who have no idea of taking any such steps? included in addition.
What nation would support our citizens who The American Liberty League was the first
were alien to it and who became a burden upon organization to call attention to the implica-
it? By what right are our people taxed in order tions of the bill and its inherent dangers. We
to supply money for these aliens? have done all we could to induce changes in the
The Relief Administrator and his assistants bill, but, as pointed out tonight, we have favored
state frankly that the only question which they V much that was involved. We have not sought a
consider is the need of relief. Assuredly it is the reduction in amount. We have been thoroughly
duty of some branch of the Government to take in sympathy with the objective. We have op-
a definite position in this connection on behalf posed local allotment of the funds involving a
of America and American citizens and to refuse Congressional "pork barrel.” We have felt that
to pile up further the burden of taxation upon the President was right in his contest over the
our citizens of this and of future generations to \ so-called McCarran Amendment. We have asked
care for those for whom we have neither re-   only that Congress should make the bill conform
sponsibility nor obligation and some of whom P to the definite specifications of the Supreme
at least, from many standpoints, it would be Court as laid down in the Amazon Petroleum
highly desirable for us to deport. ' case, and should enunciate necessary policy.
I have gone into detail with reference to this That is the record. It gives striking evidence
relief bill for each of several reasons. It in- of the attitude of the League. We are neither
volves a larger appropriation than was ever for nor against the administration. We shall
before contemplated in a single measure save support it when we can. We shall not hesitate
in time of war-four billion, eight hundred and to oppose it when that course seems necessary.
ie;g`h;yl;;1;ll1on dollars——and all of It to be spent • The Constitution provides
° . . . Executive three separate and dis-
Do you realize what a billion dollars means? .
. . . E11c1‘0aCl11‘I1€I1tS t1nct departments of our
Dr. Kemmerer of Princeton University uses a .
striking illustration to drive the matter home. L On Congress G0BcrnIl1CHt— Execullvm
A billion dollars, according to him, means one _ _ Lcglslauve and Judlcal
12 The Legislative branch has the same responsi-
13

 bility to perform its duties as does the Execu- gf the country ag a whole, It will continue to
tive branch. Unfortunately over succeeding produce factual analyses and to offer such sug-
years we have witnessed ellereeellmeilt \1P0¤ gestions as seem in the public interest without
the powers of the National Legislature. The the taint of partizan prejudice or personal bias.
President is supposed to suggest; the Congress During the coming weeks, as in the last two
is supposed to act. In acting it may either ac- months, from time to time it will give to the
cept or reject the advice of the Executive. The ·— American people the benefit of careful study
legislation that it passes should be written by of important matters. In all that it does it will
the Congress. It should welcome helpful and f attempt to prove constructive and will hope to P
constructive suggestion from any source, but in ~ prove serviceable.
no circumstance should it allow itself to be used . It welcomes to membership any American
merely as a rubber stamp to give form of law to citizen, man or woman, who believes in the
measures sent to it by the Executive. principles enunciated by the Constitution under
Under the stress of the depression and the which we have lived for a hundred and fifty
need of emergency measures with which to try years, who believes in the American form of
to combat it, Congress, during the past two government as we have known it and who de-
years, has exercised little volition. It has seemed sires to do his part to uphold and defend the
content to pass measure after measure sent Constitution as the living voice of the Declara-
down from the White House and it has per- i tion of Independence.
mitted in one of its branches the imposition of To join the League is very simple. All that
"gag rule” which prevented either debate or U is necessary is to write to the American Liberty
amendment upon these measures. Fortunately League, National Press Building, Washington,
there is a growing disposition, evidenced by re- D. C. Membership blanks and other literature
cent events, for Congress once more to assume will be sent upon request. No monetary pay-
its proper function as the Legislative arm of ment is required. Subscribingymembers are wel-
the Government. It is a healthy sign, one to be Q come, but those unable to contribute are like-
commended and it should be welcomed by the C wise welcome. I
Executive. If an increasing disposition is shown If you believe in the principles for which the
to encourage Congress to write legislation the League stands you can help to make our work
justified resentment of Executive encroachment 1 more valuable by joining with us, because with
will subside and proper Presidential leadership an increasing membership our voice will be-
will be welcomed. ‘ come more and more effective in connection
The American Liberty y with such legislative recommendations as we
The League League has no delusion may make.
Plans f01‘ as to its place in the sun.
The; Future It does not for_,an instant
consider that it has been
ordained by any power, either human or Divine,
to act as a super advisory body over the Con-
gress of the United States. It has no intention
of attempting to express its opinions upon all
the legislation that may come before the Con-
gress. It will select only those measures which I
seem of outstanding importance to the people
14 ‘ 15