The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-12-06
From Colleagues in Senate
AS Congress Opened for
Final Session
APPLAUSE GIVEN
AS HE ENTERED
Crowd in Galleries Arose
to Get Better View of
President-Elect

Washington, ID. c., Dec. 6.-The third
and final session of the Goth Congress
began to-day with President elect
Harding in his seat in the Senate. The
galleries began to fill early in the day
and were crowded when the gavels OF
Vice President Marshall and Speaker
Gillett fell promptly at noon.
Senator Harding was given round
of applause as he entered the Senate
chamber just before noon. Spectators
rose all over the galleries to obtain a
better view of the president elect, who
entered from the Republican cloak
room with Senator Lodge.
Mr.. Harding was surrounded imme
diately by a crowd of senators who
shook his hand and clapped him on the
back. The president welcomed his
admirers with a broad smile.
Senator Harding spoke briefly and
the Senate then adjourned without
transacting any business to await a
communication from President Wilson.
Senator Harding rose to speak after
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts,, the
Republican leader had called attention
formally to his presence and asked
that he be recognized by the vice -presi
dent.
II am pleased at this greeting by fell
low members of the Senate said Mr..
Harding.
There is still greater satisfaction in
having this opportunity to say TO you
informally some of the things in my
heart which | could utter in no other
way. | recognize that | am here day
under somewhat unusual circumstances
and there is a delicaey about ii that
one in my position cannot escape ex-
cept through some form of self .eiface-
ment which does not seem quite posi-
Bile
''No member OF this body could be
more reluctant TO leave it, | may say
to this Senate that | came here with
very high respect for this body. and !
am leaving with greater respect than
that with which / came. If one could
always direct his own political for
tunes to his liking. | should have pre-
ferred my membership here to any Of
fee citizen may hold in this republic |
or elsewhere in the world
Il like the freedom. the associa ion, |
the patriotic sense of responsibility |
which abides here. ! am conscious of |
the great place which Congress holds |
under our constitution, and am partie-
ularly sensible to the obligations of
the Senate. These responsibilities be
gin IN the executive capacity shall be
mindful of the Senate's responsibilities
as | have been jealous of them as a
member, but ! mean, at the same time
to be just as insistent about the re-
sponsibilities OF the executive. Our
good fortune does not
lie in any surrender at either end of
the avenue, but in the coordination and
which becomes the two in
a great and truly representative popu.
lar government
This brings me to the thought par
ticularly in my mind. Something has
been said about the senatorial oblgar.
ehy. of course everyone here knows
that to be bit Of highly imagina-
tive and harmless fiction. But | do
recognize how essential is the help
fulness of the Senate in the making
Df successful administration.
Il want to express to- -dsy the wish
Z
IF colleague for the confidence and
The cooperation of the members Of
this body in the four years which be-
gin next March g. | do not limit this
sincere request 20 this side of the aisle.
Dne cannot promise agreement in all
.hings with an opposite party which is
insistently wrong, but we
nay find common ground in the spirit
If service, and | hope for that agree
,ble and courteous and ofttimes help
al relationship with the opposite side
which has added TO the delights of fel.
ow service during the past six years.
we are facing no easy task We ,
ave our full part in the readjustment
4 human affairs after the world Ia.
nult. We have our tasks at home, we
ave our part in the inevitable work !
4 the civilized world