Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-07-17
SENATE PIQUED.
CONTINUED from Page one.)

1
words of condemnation from the reso-
luton and extending it to other mat
tiers within the exclusive Jurisdiction
Of the Senate. We also accepted az
amendment by Senator Hepburn to in
sert the word Would" so as to make
| the resolution more impersonal.
The vote was demanded and for an
| instant it appeared that the resolution
as amended would pass unanimously,
AT this moment William Alden Smith
took the floor to declare the President
| had done nothing improper and that j.
was impossible to disconnect Bailey's
| argument from the resolution.
Strike out the argument" then sug
gested Bailey.
Some of it ought to be and some
of it may be after consideration.
shouted the Michigan senator
Cummins wanted the resolution
amended so as to apply also to the
use of the office to influence votes for
or against the bill. He said people
would imply by this commission that
such practice was approved by the
Senate. He spoke of reports that
Presidents had warned senator's if
they did not vote in certain way
they would be considered out of the
party. Smith of Michigan demanded
that the senator from Iowa he more
specific.
Il make the assertion that such has
occurred" said Cummins, and in the
interest of party harmony | trust that
the senator VIII allow the incident To
be forgotten as fast as the human
memory viii permit"
Borah suggested 10 the Senate that the
legislative branch of the government was
intruding upon the executive and there
upon read at length from Woodrow Will
sons book on Congressional Govern
ment." In that the author spoke of the
prestige of the Presidential office hav-
ing declined and OF Congress being a
big meeting of idle people, who had
taken power from the Executive
I'm view of what is likely to occur in
the next election l should advise my
friends to go a little slow in adopting
this resolution added Borah.
Cummins said that inasmuch as the
distinguished author seemed in favor of
the recall of everything. he might recall
this statement, after March l.
oGofman challenged the statement
that Gov Wilson favored Recall of
everything.
"Oh. | had in mind the recall of Re
publican Presidents" replied Gummins,
Burton defended Mr.. Taft, both as
President and party leader. The Ohio
senator stirred the wrath of the Demo-
Gratis by asserting Cleveland had gone
to the very verge of violating the Con-
stituton while in office, but added that
he meant no reflection on the former
President.
Townsend. Crawford and Jones defend
ed the President, while Works, Hitchcock
and McCumber spoke against his course
McCumber said the Presidential office
had been used for 10 years to abuse the
power of Congress. He declared the press
of the country had upheld the President
in forcing Congress to do things and
that siv or seven years ago 'Anyone who
dared to disobey the Executive prompt
ings was subject TO immediate execu-
tom
Senator Bailey based his resolution.
he said, on the Presidents speech,
April Is, 1912 when he made public
letter written. Jan. 6, 1871, to Colonel
Roosevelt giving his views Of the fight
on Lorimer.
Mr.. Bailey declared he had purposely
postponed presenting his resolution un-
Ill after the Lorimer vote and contin-
ued &c say that his contention that
President Taft had no right to iner-
fere and appreciated he should not in
terfere. was made evident by the Pres
idents endeavors, according to his
letter to keep his activities secret
g ~ -
use his power to influence the vote,
Senator Bailey charged he acted GRO
neoosly because in the letter of Jan
6, Mr.. Taft wrote he had only read
"such of the evidence as he could get
at" Mr. Bailey declared the President
had not read a line of the evidence be-
cause it had not been printed until
Jan. T.
Senator Borah challenged that state
ment and declared the committee print
of the evidence was available before
the Christmas holidays.
rs il fair to try ard rob a man of
his good name-of what is dearen than
his name-on such evidence as | could
get at2' demanded Senator Bailey. He
went on to quote President Taft's
statement in the letter to the effect that
he had been urging senators to read the
record carefully.
IN Gods name, has the Senate
reached such a state of degradation"
he cried. that the President must
summon senators to the White House
to urge them to discharge their duty
under their oath of Office"
Senator Bailey took up the Presi-
dents reference to his activities leak
ing cut"
The President of the United States
should never do anything in reference
to the Senate that could leak out, f."
he said.
Andrew Johnson was impeached."
Senator Bailey declared, upon aIlega-
| tons which, if true. were less serious
invasiohs of the rights of Congress
| than this letter proclaims the Presi-
cent of the United States to be guilty
Of. But that is not all He has doubt
| less sent other and worse ones. | have
his word for IL that he has sent others
and am justified in saying worse by
| his not making them public"