Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-12-03
VIRGINIA SENATORS
PATRIOTIC EXAMPLE.

The etymology of the word "poli'
tics" as given by former Mayor OF
Alexandria is not strictly correct
There are always some men In poll
teal life who will not sell thell
birthright for mess Of pottage. inns
his been shown in every stage Of the
history of the United States. The man
who said 81 would rather be 1ght
than President" represented the hon
est souls who are called to a public
life.
The State of Virginia is at pre-
sent represented in the United States
Senate by men who decline crowns
with no strings attached to their de-
clarations. The Gazette few days
ago called attention to the patriotic
acts of Messrs. Martin and Swanson
in refusing to be used as bludgeons
in the chastisement Of Senators Kern
and Clarke. The senior Senator turn
ed his back upon the position OF
leader of the majority in the Sen
ate and the junior would not allow
his name to be used as the success
sot OF Mr.. Clarke as president pro
tempore of the Senate.
1t is unfortunate that the waters
have become troubled at the begin
ming of the session Of Congress, and
republican papers are gloating over
present conditions in the ranks of the
democratic majority in the upper
house. We had hoped that other SEN
ators would profit by the example set
by the Virginians. as all should rea-
at any crusades against Sen
zoe lrke and Kern are blows at the
as,l! tration.
!ip Danville Register in this con-
aaction st.ys:
virsinis,a& il Ca:.<ress have set the
,ggn6ry a nJiewnrtng example OF the
I s"aosGs. I'D q 81 ISL ambitions ana
,itercsis t!ic vatfnre of their party
I'D tho cagnty 81 s2a:ge. Only few
ip,.s a&a sss.la Martin of Virginia
refusad 10 ps.u.G tits $50 of his name
in connection with candidacy for the
floor leadership of the majority. Fol.
lowing close upon the heels Of that
announcement. is the action of Sena-
tor Swanson in positively refusing
to permit the use of his name IN con-
nection with the post Of president pro
tempore of the Senate. Mr. Swanson.
like Mr.. Martin, declines to permit
himself to be used as an instrument
of vengefulness against Senator
Clarke, Just as Mr.. Martin had refus-
ed to aspire for the honor conferred
upon Senator Kern in the last proceed
ing Congress.
90 1t seems that many Democratic
! senators resentful of the course ot
the Arkansas senator in uniting with
Senator Smith, of Georgia, in leading
a bolt against the Administrations
ship purchase bill, had settled upoii
the junior senator from Virginia as
the man deserving of honor and as
one who could defeat Senator Clarke
for it.
Senator Swanson is impelled il?
this matter by sincere desire to con-
serve and promote party harmony OF
3 the eve of a Congress before which,
much legislation is to come up. He
realizes fully the wisdom and the nee
cessity of subordinating all personal
differences to the welfare Of party
and country and steadfastly declines
to profit by an honor or advancement
won at the price of party division and
discord. His course and the manly
patriotic example he has set will con-
stitute powerful influence for the
conservation of Democratic harmony
and the maintenance of party power
in the councils of the nation. It takes
big man to thrust aside distin-
guished honor thus.
The Richmond Journal contains the
following:
This coming session of the Congress
does not begin very well. Inc report
of the preliminary caucus operations
VI LIE beIlOtIdtS az NV Sii~oA -
ing. We are told that Senators
Clarke, O'Gorman, Varduman, Hard,
wick, Bankhcai and Hitchcock, Dem
ocrats who voted against the admin
istration ship purchase bill. have
served informal notice that if Sena,
- TT3s:ke is defeated for reelection
- pre- ident pro- tempora of the Sen,
4la taey will defeat "thc aalministra.
Jn7 dams for this Congress-"
le meaning oc This is th&t these
senator's have determined il, advance
to punish Or deprive the country tc
avenge q personal gr:srauce. Thei,
position is that they will rot consider
whether any proposed a;liuin: stratior
measure is or is not vital for the in.
terests of the republic. wh@:her it is
or is not necessary for the welfare
of stheapeople, at..laIge ana the cob
stittenGes they Sare Chosen ard trust
edTto. represent. They will yot, to de
feat the administration by way o
ystriking back if Senator Clarke is de
posed.
Tins SIS politics SO nstro~, 50 sn,sl