Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-12-07
MIR. Harding In the Senate.

MIR. Harding In the Senate.
Mr. Warren c.. Harding, who has been
emphaticaIly designated by the voters OF
the country as their choice for next Presi-
dent Of the United States, is at present a
Senator In Congress from the State OF
Ohio. He is the first member of that
sugurt body TO be elevated 10 the Presi-
dency while In active service as Senator.
One Of his predecessors, James A. Gar
field. also Of Ohio. had just been elected
United State. Senator by the Ohio Legis-
ature when he WAS nominated for the
Presidency, but as the Congress WAS not
n session at the time, be simply refrained
from taking bis seat, and the vacancy was
SLED by the Legislature at It's next sitting.
Nr. Hardings term ss Senator will ex-
plre on the third day Of next March, the
day before he will be inducted into the
Office Of President. In the ordinary course
of procedure he would have resigned the
Senatorial seat Immediately after the
country declared him its choice for Presi-
dent but he is compelled, by a somewhat
extraordinary political exigency, to re-
main in his present position, possibly until
The end Of the term. The Senate is Re
publican only by the scant majority Of
two. and Mr.. Harding is one Of that two.
The other may be said to be Senator New
berry Of Michigan, who stands convicted
and sentenced 20 imprisonment for the Of
fence Of bribery and corruption in securing
his election His case has been carried, by
appeal, 70 the Supreme Court OF the
United States and decision is expected
next month II Is therefore necessary for
Mir Harding 30 retain his seat in the Sen
ate IN order TO insure continuance OF
Republican control Should he resign,
Governor Coz Of Ohio would appoint
Democrat 70 the vacancy, and thus the
control Of the Senate, with the assistance
II Vice President Marshalrs casting vote,
would pass over TO the Democrats.
Itisvcry unfortunate that this situation
should prevail at this time. Mr.. Harding,
i is not unjust TO say, is a somewhat un-
certain proposition as President of the
United States, and il viii hardly add to his
dignity or his prestige 70 be compelled TO
st in the Senate and take part IN the
proceedings Of that body between now and
March 4. 1921, which are apt 70 be dis /
turning and possibly acrimonious. Ii |
would be much better II he could resign !
rom the Senate and spend the interim |
before assuming the duties Of the Presi- /
dency amid the quiet serenity Of his home /
at Marion, giving serious consideration TO I
The grave public Niuties he will soon have !
70 assume. He mayn not have 70 attend the /
senate continuously, however, as he may /
n.r with some Democratic member and
rax not be called upon 10 sit in the
Senate at all after this week
Nir Hardings position as 3 full-hedged
Senator, especially as one whose presence
IN the Senate is so essential TO the main
tenance Of the supremacy Of bis party,
IN the event that emergencies require his
4ctual presence occasionally, would be any
thing but pleasant The divinity that
doth hedge about" a President will be
hls. and vet be will be only q Senator, on
sll-fours with his fellows insofar ss Sen
'forial duties and prerogetives are con
He NAV endeavor TO avoid par
'IcipafrDn in general debate, and il may be
~ down as q certainty that his partisan
'nleagues Will be unduly circuInspect In
aeir intercourse with him, all striving TO
'reate the most favorable impression with
ne man who is soon TO be the head of the
government, with large powers and
specially with large favors- his com
nand Members Of the minority, how
'ver, may not be 50 considerate, and it may
e ID their power, occasionally, to place
Inn IL painful positions For one thing, he
nay be enlightened 10 the fact that the
sane Of putting the President in a hole"
yhicb he and his Republican colleagues Of
he senate have been playing most essid-
Iously for several years, and with evi-
lent enjoyment, is not such unalloyed |
pleasure, after all He may realize what it
means "a the President.
There IL no doubt it would be much
'ettcr for Mr. Harding, and for the coun-
~, II he would resign from the Senate
Even the partisan reversal
bat might follow would be Of less coIse-
Iuei &C thar the injury to the prestige ard
lgniiy Il the high Of ce Of President that
lay q sue from Mr. Harding s en- deavor to
apably fll the dual role Let as hope the
ates wal be kind to him. and that he
al not be called uson, during the seq
ion, TO Join with the undes rable New
cry in saving the prestige Of the Re
lIblican Senate
he wave Of unusual c rlrne keers rising