Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1920-12-09
PRES|DENT-ELECT
ASKS SENATE AID
Harding, in Farewell Address to
Colleagues, Pledges Teamwork.
TEARS SPRING TO HIS EYES
Ohoan's Presence in the Body Marks
the First Time in History That
Executive-EIect Has Attended
Its Sessions.

), ashington, Dec. 7.-Standing at
his desk where he served for six years,
President-elect Warren G. Harding
| bade farewell to the United States
senate and in a brief speech, choked
with emotion, expressed the hope that
| he might have the cooperation OF his
| colleagues in the four years beginning
| March next.
Senator Harding's presence in the
| senate marks the first time in history
that President-elect has attended
sessions of that body as a member.
Harding Bids Colleagues Farewell.
The galleries were chOked with peO-
pie and hundreds stood outside I'M
able to gain admittance. Senator
Harding's voice was low and husky as
he began his farewell. His eyes were
dim with tears.
II am pleased at this greeting, my
fellow members of the senate" he
said ''There is still greater salts
faction in having this opportunity to
say to you informally some of the
things in my heart which l could ut
ter in no other way. l recognize that
| am here today under somewhat un-
usual circumstances, and there is a
delicacy about it that one in my po
sition cannot escape through some
form Of self-effacement which does not
seem quite possible.
mo member of this body could be
more reluctant to leave it,
II say to the senate tina. I came
here with a very high respect for this
body, and | am leaving it with greater
respect than | had when / came. 1t
one could always direct his own polit-
ical fortunes to his liking, | should
have preferred my membership here
to any office a citizen may hold in
this republic or elsewhere in the
world.
Il like the freedom the associates,
the patriotic sense of responsibility
which abideS here. / am conscious of
the great place which congress holds
under our Constitution, and particular
ly sensible to the obligations of the
senate.
when my responsibilities begin in
the executive capacity | shall be as
mindful of the senate's responsibilities
as | have been Jealous of them as
member, but / mean, at the same time,
to be just as insistent about the re-
spOnsibilities of the executive.
Our governmental good fortune
does not lie in any surrender at either
end of the avenue, but in the cO-ordi-
nation and cooperation which becomes
the two in a great and truly represen-
tatiVe popular government.
"Senate OIigarchy' Fiction.
"This brings me to the thought par
ticularly in mind. Something has been
said about the senatorial oligarchy.'
Of course everyone here knows that
to be a bit Of highly imaginative and
harmless fiction. But l do recognize
how essential is the helpfulness of the
senate in the making of a successful
administration.
II want to express today the wish of
a colleague for the confidence and the
cooperation Of the members of this
body in the four years which begin
next March 4. | do not limit this sin
cere request to this side of the aisle.
One cannot promise agreement in all
things with an opposite party which
is sometimes mistakenly wrong, but we
may find common ground in the spirit
Of service, and hope for that agreeable
and courteous and Ofttimes helpful
relationship with the opposite which
has added to the delights of fellow
service during the last six years.
eve are facing no easy task. We
have our full part in the REIMBURSEMENT
of human affairs, after the world tu
multi. We have our tasks at home, we
have our part in the inevitable work
of the civilized world.
II am sure that the necessity Of wise
solution will inspire us to work to-
getffer; to take common counsel, to
be tolerant of one another and give
the best which is in all of us to attain
the ends which become our republic at
home and will maintain it's high place
among the nations of the earth.
with prOpriety | cannot venture
upon any suggestions now, even
though I am speaking as a member of
this body. Three months of the pres
ent administration remain and 1 would
have house and senate join cordially
in making them fruitful rather than
wasted months