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Show IT ON THE JOB t 1 Record Reveal' Flagrant Absenteeism Among the Democrats , 1 , Washington, Oct. 20 Considerable amusement has been occasioned In Washington by President Wilson's probably unconscious indictment of Democratic absenteeism In Congress In a letter recently "addressed to Chairman D'oremus, of tho National Democratic Congressional Committee. Tho President says: "America expects every man to do his duty without thought of protlt or ndvantngo to himself. Tho record men make speaks for Itsolf. Tho country cannot be docolvod concerning concern-ing It and will assess it Justly. Every man oug'it now to stay on his Job until tho crisis Is past nnd ought to stay whore his Job can best bo done." How severe Is tho President's arraignment ar-raignment of tho Democratic majority major-ity In tho House of Representatives can best bo seen when uctunl llguros are presented as to how much and how llttlo the Democratic majority has "stayed on tho Job." With a mem bership the House of Representatives, during tho present (63d) Congress of 290, with a majority of 145 ovor all and with 72 members in excess of the number required to mako a quorum, quor-um, It would be reasonabld to sup-poso sup-poso that any necessary business could have been transacted without tho aid of Republicans and yet on 104 roll calls out of a total of 130 tho Democrats failed to maintain a quorum .and had the Republicans not furnished tho necessary votoa no business could have been trnusacteo. Well does tho President say: "A program has been carried through with tho support of all parties," for unless Republicans had como to the rescue a large part of the business done would have been Impossible. Finally, Fi-nally, Democratic absenteeism bo-came bo-came so aggravated that it was found necessary to resort to "docking" tho pay of .absent members. This had only been resorted to . once before, twenty years ago, then as now, in a Democratic Congress. On tho 139 roll calls before the "docking" was put Into effect, there was an average of 103 absent Democrats, and as has been stated, on 104 of theso 139 roll calls, Republicans had to make up tho necessary quorum. ' From June 5 to August 25 tho Democrats Dem-ocrats wero continuously short of a quorum. Well may tho President, sarcastically, it would seem, ndvlse Democrats to "stay, on tho Job." Most stinging Is this rebuke to those who havo so habitually absented themselves. And well does ho add: "Tho country cannot bo deceived and will assess It Justly." |