The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-07-17
SENATE REBUKES TAFT
FOR FIGHTING l0R|MER
Passes Bailey's Resolution Criti-
cising President After Draw
ing a Few Fangs.
Not SEVERELY CONDEMNED
Also Wording Is Changed From
the President" and Directed
mt n President"


Texas to-day passed resolution prac-
,,caly rebuking President Taft for his
activity against Senator William Lorimer.
The resolution was introduced by Senator
Bailey yesterday. and after being modi-
iied to-day by various amendments was
,ssssed by a vote of 81 to %.
All of the Democrats were for the reso-
luton. The following is the form of the
resolution as it was finally adopted:
.Resoired. That any attempt on the
part Of q President Of the United States
10 exercise the powers and influence OF
mis- great Office for the purpose Of con-
trolling the vote of any Senator OH a
question involving right to a seat in the
Senate or any other matter within the
exclusive jurisdiction of the Senate would
violate the spirit il not the letter of the
Constitution and invade the right Of the
Senate
On motion Of Senator McCumber OF
North Dakota certain concluding words.
and should he severely condemned by
the Senate" were stricken out. Senator
McCumber proposed another amendment
Dy which were inserted in the resolution
the words "or any other matter within
the exclusive jurisdiction of the Senate
As originally drawn the resolution
simply related to interference in any
question affecting the right to seat in
the Senate. This was 80 pointe d in it's
reference to the Lorimer case that Sena-
tor McCumber thought it ought to be
HaA nai tnA ba
modification. Senator Hepburn pro-
posed change which was adopted.
Bailey's original resolution recited that
certain acts violate the spirit il not the
letter of the Constitution"
Senator Hepburn thought this prac-
,ically condemned President Taft by
applying the condemnation to existing
conditions and contemporaneous activity
by the Executive. On Mr.. Heyburns
suggestion the words would violate"
instead Of the word violate" we're sub
stituted. Senator Bailey drew another
tang from his resolution by changing
the expression that any attempt on the
part of the President" and making it
read that any attempt on the part OF a
President"
Senator Cummins made n violent pro-
test against inserting the words -exclt-
.ively within the Jurisdiction Of the Sem
ate" He pointed out that by condemn
ing activity Of the President in matters
limited To the exclusive jurisdiction"
"f the Senate the resolution by mpli-
cation approved the Presidents 4 activity
and influence when eXerted to control
legislation that IL within the jurisdiction
of both houses
The vote on the resolution was a fol-
ows:
Yeas Democrats Ashurst Bacon Bailey
Bryan. Chamberlain. Culberson. Fletcher.
Gardner. Hitchcock. johnson. Johnston.
Martin, MARITIME. Hughes. OGorman. Over
man. Percy. Pomerenc. Reed, Shively
simmons, Smith of Arizona. Smith Of
Georgia. Smith of Mary land. Smith of South
Carolina Stone, swanson, Thornton and
i.i'nan -. Republicans Bourne. Clapp.
rail. Gallingcr. McCumber and Works q.
Total 81.
Nays Republican Borah. Brandcgcc.
Brstow. Burnham. Burton. Catron. Craw-
ford, cnmmins. Dupont. Gronna Jones.
henyon, Massey. Mclean, Nelson. Oliver
'asr. Perkins. Root. Smith of Michigan.
Nuoot. sutherland and townsend. Total.
Alr Bailey made IA bitter attack on
. President Taft. He described the Pres
dents activity in the Lorimer case as
-oficious and meddlesome." Mr.. Bailey
particularly denounced President Taft
for language used in the Presidents letter
20 Col Roosevelt about the Lorimer case
He declared that 1t was far better that
zen corrupt Senators should sit In the
senate than that the Constitution should
b" ravlshed TO oblige presidential politi-
cans"
senator Borah Of Idaho came to the
'escue of the President and contributed
some interesting history OF the Taft
Roosevelt correspondence. He explained
that President Taft never would have
written the letter to Col. Roosevelt about
N" lorlmer matter but for himself
j had heard from an entirely reliable
source that Col Roosevelt had decided to
write an article for the Outlook ON the
l.0riner case and decided that it might
do more harm than good and went to see
President Taft to urge him 10 use his
influence with Col. Roosevelt to prevent
i4fn from writing the article" said Sena-
tor "orah, Il went to the President be-
rans" thought that he had more infu-
enc" at that time with Col Roosevelt
han any other one person in the country.
And ] want to say hero that ! doubt il
n" would ever have written the letter
lad not asked him to do 30"
senator Borah made his explanation
u Ia" Presidents attitude so clear that
senator Bailey agreed to withdraw the
hnElase he had used earlier in the day
'oNard President Taft.
The debate was cnlivened later when
senator borah read extracts from Gov.
woodrow Wilson's book on constitutional
government in which the author charged
''it congress had been usurping the Ex-
'1HuYe functions and declared that the
ONCE al President had refrigerated be-
'!s" there was no longer a strong man
N u" Whit" House whose influence was
""lg!' to bear on Congress- such as had
'hardoi"rlhsd the earlier days of the
rspuhhr
suppose that DR., Wilson thinks
''a' ia" ancient dignity Of tn" President
I' Do" restored when he gets in the White
,''n-'. snggested Senator Cunmins of
iowa. "br. Wilson is in favor of the