The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-12-15
A NOTABLE HOUR IN
THE u. 8. SENATE.


THE U. 8. SENATE.
On. the sixth Of December while
the United States Senate was in SEES
sion the following notable proceed
ings marked its activities:
Mr.. LODGE. Mr.. President, before
making motion to adjourn ] can
not refrain from calling attention to
the fact that this is q memorable oc-
casion. For the first time in the hisa
tory of the country q Member of
this body has been elected President
OF the United States. He is here with
us today, still q Senator, and I ven
ture to suggest that he may be rec
ognized by the Chair to speak infor-
mally to the Senate before he leaves
his service here. (Great applause on
the floor and in the galleries.)
Mr.. HARDING was escorted to the
Vice Presidents desk by the Vice
President, and he addressed the SEN
ate as follows:
"Mr. President and Members Of
the Senate, am grateful for this
greeting on the part of the member
ship of this body. / am the more
pleased that it affords me an oppor-
tunity to say to you rather infor-
mally some Of the things In my heart
which / could utter probably in no
other way. am conscious of the
fact that am here today under some
what unusual circumstances, and I
am not unmindful that there Is q
delicacy about my position which
one can not escape except through
some form of self-effacement which
does not seem quite possible.
''No Member of this body could be
more reluctant to leave 1t than am /.
/ may say to the Senate that l came
here with very high respect of this
body, and am leaving it with great
or respect than that which came.
II one could always direct his own
political fortunes to his liking, I
should have preferred my member
ship here to any office citizen
may hold in this Republic or else
where in the world. | like the free
dom, the association, the patriotic
sense of responsibility which abides
here. / am conscious of the great
place which Congress holds in this
Government under our Constitution,
and from my service here | am par
ticularly sensible to the obligations
of the Senate. When my responsible
ties begin in the executive capacity
! shall be as mindful of the Senate's
responsibilities as | have been zeal
Gus for them as Member, but l
mean at the same time to be just
as insistent about the responsibilities
of the executive. Our governmental
good fortune does not lie In any
surrender at either end Of the Ave-
nue., but in the coordination and CO.
operation which becomes the two in
a great and truly representative pop
ular government.
This brings me to the thought
particularly in my mind. Something
has been said about the senatorial
oligarchy. OF course, everyone here
knows that to be bit of highly i'm
aginative and harmless fiction. But l
do recognize how essential is the
helpfulness of Congress, and parti-
cularly of the Senate, in the making
of a successful national administra-
ton. want to express today the wish
of 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 sincere request to this side Of the
aisle. One can not promise agree
ment in all things with an opposite
party which is sometimes insistently
wrong; but we may find common
ground in the spirit of service; and
] hope, sirs, for that agreeable and
courteous and Outlines helpful re-
lationship with the opposite side
which has added to the delights of
fellow service during the past six
years.
1--WE are facing no easy task. We
have our full part in the readjust-
ment of human affairs after the world
tumult. We have our tasks at home;
we have our part in the inevitable
work of the civilized world. | am
sure that the necessity of wise So
luton will inspire us to work to-
R6tu6T, W Ldhe COIl1lOH CUuuS6l, W
be tolerate of one another, and to
give the best which is in all of us
to attain the ends which become our
Republic at home and will maintain
its high place among the nations of
the earth.
with propriety cannot venture
upon any suggestions now, even
am speaking as a Member of this
body. Three months of the present
administration remain, and would
have House and Senate join cordi-
ally in making them fruitful rather
than wasted months. There Is SO
much to be done and we have already
had SO much of delay that should
like unanimous recognition that there
are no party ends to serve, but pre-
.cious days are calling for service to
our common country.
/. II can not resist, Mr.. President
and Senators, the repetition Of my
regret that my association on this
floor and in committee rooms is end
ing today. It has been a happy and
a proud experience. Let me express
the hope to one and all that though
there comes change in official re-
lationship, it will not interrupt our
cooperation nor deprive us of the per-
sonal fellowship which l have found
to be great compensation for the