The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-09-06
! new BLOOD ST|RS
STA|O OLD SENATE
Most Deliberate Body in
theNWorld" Undergoing
a Revolution.


/, WASHINGTON. Sept. 1.-THE SEN
ate of the United States In undergoing
q revolution, no: only in its methods
but In It's personnel.
As a result OF the elections last win
ter eighteen new men entered the
chamber. Two deaths during the sum-
mer have caused the addlt ton of one
to this list. with another still to be
named. Two primaries. equivalent to
elections. held for the purpose of des-
ignating succ essors to retiring sena-
tors. have gone against the latter.
AZ soon as Arizona and New Mexico
carry out the fcTmalities incident upon
their admission into the union they
will send four men to the senate. Thir-
ty-one senators will be voted upon at
primaries and by legislatures elected
in November OF next year. Some Of
these will be returned. some will stay
at home.
Thus. 1.-The most deliberative body
! in the world" as Senator Bailey loves
to term It. is undergoing a change in
personnel, the effects OF which It is
difficult to overestimate. Already the
spirit OF independence is in the air.
No longer Is there subservience to the
senate machine. The bogy senatorial
courtesy" is openly Haunted and de-
rided and formal notice has been
served that 1t will not he regarded
when the public interests are at stake.
II a.. M 40 n Sraoh hrao1o uaro h1ou,ip ~
through torpid atmosphere and vital
ixing a function that wac atrophying
through inertia.
Revolt at A:drIeh Tariff Bill.
The Arst revolt came when the pro-
gressive Republicans fought the Aid
rich tariff bill In the extra session of
1909. 1t was supported by progressive
Democrats; and last winter they no
longer had rebellion but a revolu-
etion on their hands.
With the extra session came a band
and for the most part determined to
do what their constituents wanted and
TO discharge their duties to the full.
Hitchcock, Lea, Kenyon, Kerr, Poin-
dexter. Reid. Williams, Works and
others promptly proclaimed their in
dependence and announced their pur-
pose to labor FOR the good of their
states and their country. And they
have done 1t.
Before the new era it was consid-
cred the height of wisdom and pru-
dence for new senator to sit at the
feet Of his seniors, to learn from them
the correct mode of senatorial pro-
cedure, and to receive as reward
admission to counsels, passage of bills
which they regarded as of special i'm
portance and not interfering with the
larger matters of legislation in the
hands Of the leaders. and participation
In senatorial patronage.
Activity Of New Senators.
But the castle walls have tumbled.
The new senators refused to remain
in the background during the extra
session when so many matters OF vital
concern to the republic were being
considered. Lea and Kenyon an
nounced they would not be bound by
senatorial courtesy, and their an
nouncements shocked senatorial pro-
priety. Lea figured largely in the
Scomposition of the Lorimer investigat-
ing committee. He Is man who pro-
misses much to the country.
Kenyon not only took part in the
work in connection with the Lorimer
committee, but, In cooperation with
Kern Of Indiana. put important provis-
ions into the campaign publicity law;
and. in addition to other things. vigor-
ously pressed an amendment to the
antitrust law. substituting imprison-
iment only for violation of the act.
Some wit has described Kenyon and
Kern as the 1.-TWO KS of the Senate"
Their connection in this way is happy.
since 1t describes an interesting
Friendship which has grown up be-
tween the Republican from Iowa and
the Democrat from Indiana.
Fighting For the Right.
! Their intimacy is due to the fact
shat both are progressives In the true
sense OF the word. and both fought and
are fighting for the right things. They
serve together on the committee on
privileges and elections. and, as stated,
they helped to formulate important
provisions OF the corrupt practices act.
They are members of the Lorimer in
Ivestigating committee and were active
in the examination of witnesses. They
fought against senatorial extrava.-
gance.
When Kern sought to dispense with
useless senate employees Kenyon was
with him. Neither will patronize the