Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-18
Bailey's attle-Scarred Resolution
Is Adopted after a Bit
ter Debate.
REFERS TO LORIMER CASE
Taft's Letter to Roosevelt in the
Massachusetts Campaign
Basis for Senators
Action.

Washington, July 16.-The Senate TO-
day indirectly rebuked President Taft
for his course in connection with the
IIorimer case. once blocked from a vote
by the Archibald impeachment proceed
ings. a resolution battle-scarred, in q
protractcd, bitter debate. finally was
adopted, So to %, denouncing ANY at
tempt on the part OF a President" to ex-
ercise the power of his office to influ.
ence vote on questions within the Sen
ate's exclusive jurisdiction. The resolu.
ton was originally framed by Senator
Bailey. who had arraigned President Taft
asserting that he had been 'officious
and meddlesome" IN endeavoring TO line
up regular republican senators in the
Lorimer case
The resolution. as adopted read: RE
solved, That any attempt on the part
of President of the United States 10
exercise the powers and influence of his
great office for the purpose of con-
trolling the vote of any Senator upon a
question involving a right to a seat In
the Senate. or upon any other matter
within the exclusive jurisdiction Of the
Senate. would violate the spirit If not the
letter OF the constitution and invade the
rights Of the Senate.
SIX REPUBLICANS VOTE YES.
Not a democrat voted against the res
olution. but six republicans voted for it.
Republicans who voted for it were Sena-
tors Bourne, Clapp. Fall. GallinSer, Nc
Cumber and Workes. Democrats who
voted for the resolution were: Ashurst,
Bacon. Railey. Bryan. Chamberlain,
Culberson. Fletcher. Gardner. Hitchcock.
johnson. Johnston, Martin, MARITIME,
Newlands O'Gorman. Overman, Percy,
Pomerene. Reed. Shively, Simmons,
Smith of Arizona, Smith of Georgia,
smith of Maryland. Smith of South Caro-
lima, Stone. Swanson, Thornton and TILL
man.
Those republicans who voted against
the resolution were: Borah, Brandegee,
Bristow. Durham. Burton. Catron, Craw-
ford, Cumnins. Dupont, Gronna, Jones,
Kenyon, Massey, Mclean, Nelson, Oliver,
Iage Perkins. Root. Smith Of Michigan.
Smoot. Sutherland and Townsend.
Senator Bailey, who introduced the
resolution denounced the course of Presi-
dent Taft as described in u letter the
President wrote TO Colonel Roosevelt on
January 6. 1910, which President Taft
made public in a recent speech during
the Massachusetts primary. The original
resolution was directed at presidential In
fluence on votes upon the right of sena-
tors to retain their seats.
BAILEY ACCEPTS AMENDMENT
When Senator Bailey concluded, he
accepted an amendment, offered by
Senator McCumber, striking out words
OF condemnation from the resolution
and extending it to other matters
Senate. He also accepted an amend :
ment by Senator Hepburn to insert
the word would so as to make the
resolution more impersonal
The vote was demanded and for an
instant 1t appeared that the resolu-
ton as amended would pass unani-
mously. AT this moment Senator VIM.
Alden Smith took the floor to declare
the President had done nothing i'm
proper. bitter debate followed.
Senators Townsend. Crawford and
Jones defended the President, while
Works, Hitchcock and McCumber
spoke against his course.
Senator McCumber said the presidea-
tial office had been used for 10 years
to abuse the power of Congress He
declared the press Of the country had
upheld the Presidents in forcing Con
gress to do things and that six or
seven years ago ANY one who dared
to disobey the executive prompti7gs
was subject TO immediate execution"