Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-07-28
ORAT0RY MIXED
WITH WRANGL|NG
Hot Weather Program in Senate
Disgusts New Members.
LONG AND FUTILE SPEECHES
LaFoiIette's Position Not Strength
ened During This Session-EIec-
ton of Hoke Smith as Sen
ator Brings Forcefui Char.
acter to Washington.
BY WILLIS j. ABBOT.

Washington,-Jule Verne in one
OF his lesser stories described the
scientific effect Of surcharging the at
mosphere Of a placid little Flemish
town with oxygen. The result was
first to stir the phlegmatic burghers
to unneard of energy, and, second, to
act them all a-Quarrelling SO that the
very existence of the town was en-
dangered
There hasn't been much oxygen in
Washington of late, but perhaps the
superheating of what there Is has
produced like irritating effect. Its
operations have been chiefly notable
In the senate, where the dignified
statesmen who ordinarily conduct
business with the utmost decorum
have latteHy been verging close upon
the violation Of senatorial courtesy.
But the hot air that has led to fire.
quent bandying of mild epithets has
rot stirred them to useful energy.
Rather 1t has stimulated them to
flights of useless oratory
A New England senator-no mem
Der of that august body will permit
the use of his name when criticizing
the senate-expressed to me his dis
gust with the whole program at that
end of the capitol.
Wall Of New Senator.
Il thought" said he, 'of making a
few remarks on the reciprocity bill,
which affects my state, bordering on
Canada, in a peculiar way that might
be interesting to my associates and
to the country. But finding that even
SO eminent senator as Cummins is
not listened t. end rejecting that this
doned the idea Perhaps it is
the fact that l am novice
that makes it hard for me 70
follow the crowd out into the cloak
rooms when senator Of distinguished
position is delivering an address.
But what Is one to do?
Judging by this session, the aim of
senatorial oratory is neither to in
struct nor to convince, but to kill
time. Why should Senator Cummins
spend practically three days in ar
guing to an array of empty seats in
behalf of amendments which were
promptly killed as soon as brought
to vote? Why should Senator La
Toilette threaten us with a week of
discussion of the reciprocity bill
which he himself admits will be
passed, and which nobody even takes
the trouble to defend? He cannot
hug the delusion that he is appealing
to the country, for the country will
never know what he said His speech
early in the session and confined with
in reasonable limits it might have
been read somewhat in his own state
where the sentiment against reel
procity is considerable. But | don't
believe that now the people will read
any senatorial speeches. There could
be no more certain indication of this
sentiment than the way in which the
newspapers are ignoring the debate.
The press associations sends out but
few lines of the speeches, while the
newspapers give ten times as much
space to a new aviator trying to reach
the capital as, they do to LaFollette
trying to save the nation"
LaFolIette's Position Weaker.
The Wisconsin senator, by the way,
has not strengthened himself during
this session. Perhaps he was con-
fronted by situation which it was i'm
possible for him to bend to his own
advantage. But the fact exists that
he has been forced into the position
of contending for the approval Of his
own state rather than that of the ma
tion--not at all happy position for
a presidential candidate
A few months ago there was serf-
Gus talk of LaFollette beating Taft for
the nomination. AS that died out the
possibility of his being an independent
candidate was discussed and found a
good deal of favor even where most
men are party men. But that talk,
too, is stilled. The fact of the matter
seems to be that LaFollette's votes
have been too often against the prin-
ciple that was supposed to be at the
foundation Of his whole political creed
namely, the reduction of taxation.
True, he has tried and is still trying
to explain these votes But a vote is
one word-yea or nay. The explana-
lions are taking days, threatening to
take weeks. The voters note the vote
and haven't time to read the speech
explaining it.
Which facts, and their effect on La
Toilette, would seem to offer an ar
gument for senatorial brevity.
Hoke Smiths Election to Senate.
The election to the United States
senate of Hoke Smith, now governor
of Georgia, will bring to Washington
a forceful and interesting character
Furthermore, unless his personal be
liefs have changed of late, his coming
will add one more to the Bryan
force on the Democratic side of the
senate. 1 don't know exactly what
the Hon. Hoke ever did for the Ne
braskan except to retire from CIeve-
lands cabinet rather than vote
against him But that one act was