The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-12-06
ER1 Asro ,iated PresaI ]

and final session OF the Sixty.stxth
Congress began here today with
PresIdent-elect Harding in his
seat in the Senate. The galleries
began to fEll early in the day and
were crowded when the gavel OF
Vice President Marshall and
Speaker Gtllett fell promptly at
noon. Senators rose all over the
galleries to obtain a better view
OF the< <president-elect who entered
from the Republican cloakroom
with Senator Lodge, Republican
Leader,
Mr.. Harding was surrounded i'm
mediately by a crowd of senator's
who shook his hand and clapDed
him on the back. The president
elect welcomed his admirers with
a broad smile,
senator Harding spoke briefly
and the senate adjourned without
transacting business to walt a
Communication from President
A day OF cooperation and
friendly relations between the
lNhftet House and Congress, was
4 Fore sDS2 seiiat H6f fd0ng in
Ibis address. Though dtsclaimEng
any desire to criticlse the present
administration Mr.. Harding de-
! clare1 It one Of the ambitions OF
his four years as Gnief executive to
Insure Abetter team work between
the two, branches OF government.
Senator Harding rose to speak
after Senator Lodge OF MassaChu-
Isetts, the Republican leader, had
called attention formally TO his
presence and asked that he be
recognized by the vice president.
II am pleased at this greeting
BIZ fellow members OF the senate,
said Mr.. Harding. '"There is still
greater satisfaction in having the
opportunity to say to you intor-
imally some of the things in my
heart which | could utter In no
other way. l recognize / am here
To-day under somewhat unusual
4 circumstances and there Is deli
Cacy about 1t which one in my po-
sitton cannot escape except through
4 some form of self effacement which
does not seem possible. -,
i mo member Of this body could
be more reluctant to leave 1t.
may say to this seante that came
here with very high respect Tor
| lhis body and ! am leaving It with
greater respect than that with
which / came. II one could al-
ways direct his own political for
tunes TO his liking / should have
preferred my membership here to
any office q citizen may hold IN
this republic Or elsewhere in the
world.
II like the freedom, the associa-
, ton, the patriotic sense OF respOn-
sIbilty which abldes here. am
conscious OF the great place which
congress holds under our constltu-
ton and particularly sensible to
the obligations OF the senate
When my responstb Gities begin In
the executive capacity, shall be
as mindful Of the senate respon'
ability as / have been Jealous oi
Them as a member, but mean at
the same time 10 be just as insist
ant about the responsibility OF the
executive.
sour governmental good fortune
does not lie in any surrender at
. either end Of the avenue, but in
me coordination and cooperation
which becomes the two in great
representative popular govern
ment." ,.
"This brings to me the thought
particularly In my mind. some
lfbIng has b cen said about the sen
atorial obligarchy. OF course
everyone here knows that to be q
lbit Of highly imaginative and harm
less fiction, But 1 do recognize
how essential Is the hellessness OF
the senate in the making OF sue
cesaful administration.
II want to express today the wish
Of a colleague for the confidence
and the consideration OF the mem
bers OF this body in the four years
which begin next March 4. DO
not limit this sincere request to
Il this side OF the aisle. One cannot
promise agreement in all things
\ With an opposite party which ia
sometimes insistently wrong, but
we may find common ground in the
spirit of service, and ] hope for thur
p % X F.