The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-04-22
TREATY VOTE
/. AUGURS GOOD
-HAPGOOD
Writer Says 1t Shows SIS Sena-
tors Will Not BIlndly
Follow Leaders.
BY NORMAN HAPGOOD.

a reader OF brllliancy and penetra-
ton has seen in it sign of hostility
to the Administration. This only
shows how difficult it is to be clear
1t happens that | was enthusiastical-
ly on the side of the Administration
in the case under discussion, the Co
lombia treaty. 1t also happens that
| think the Administrator has done
exceedingly well up to date and de-
serves cordial good will.
TREATY VOTE ANALYZED.
But cordially is not inconsistent
with fair criticism. The existence OF
freedom of thought in Congress- 10
o good thing not only for the coun-
try but for the Administration itself.
What was the theme OF my ar
ticle? 1t was simply that the as
pect of the treaty vote that most
Interested the Senators themselves
was what II revealed as the first
test of strength in case where
orders had gone out from the Re-
publican leaders.
What is the situation revealed?
First we have in the Senate thirty
seven Democrats. who naturally on
the whole belong to the opposition.
although they voted with the Ad-
ministration, since IL was Wilson
policy. Then you have seventeen
Republicans. voting or paired against
the policy on which discipline had
been called for. Lastly we have in
LaFollette. France and Ladd. three
independents. and In Mccormick \
man who belongs in the insurgent
group.
In a senate of ninety-six, therefore,
we have something in the neighbor-
hood of ffty-fve (for Wadsworth and
Nelson would usually not bolt as they
did yesterday who will not support
the measures of the Republican lead
ers unless they seem good to them.
My proposition is that such a situa-
ton is more promising than IL dis
cipline were as iron as in the height
of power of Aldrich and Cannon.
RECALLS A NORRIS SPEECH.
At a dinner the other night Senator
Norris made this point clear in a
talk that thrilled those who heard it.
| The gist of IL was like this:
TOO rigid discipline takes the life
and the value out of government. 1t
makes the parties just alike and
special interests. l would rather be
| represented in Congress by a man
who was free and disagreed with me
| than by a man who was a slave of
! the machine and agreed with me"
On the Colombian treaty he said:
| II do not care which side man
votes on in that matter. The impor-
tant thing is that he shall have a
conviction and vote according to his
| conviction"
or course Norris or any other rea-
4 IL a cd o.
| leadership. But the steam roller is
different.
| Senator Harris aroused much hilar-
| ity with the tale of his first vote,
many years ago, when he had just
| come to the House. 1t was February
81, the day before Washington's Birth
day. Suddenly the leader of the
Democrats, who were then in the
minority in both Houses, arose and
! proposed adjournment until the ODD.
Immediately the Republican leader
arose nd opposed 1t. The motion
was lost.
The new member from Nebraska
had not thought much about it, but
he had a sort OF notion it might be
| just as well to pay this tribute to the
| father of his country, so he arose to
be counted on that side. He was the
! only Republican. Dark looks greeted
| him.
He went into the cloak room. One
| tall member was there. He said:
REBUKED BY VETERAN.
Young man you have made a great
mistake. Could you not see il was a
party measure? ! tell you for your
own good 1t will be well for you to
vote as your leaders vote"
The next day Norris thought he
| would look in on the Senate. The
chamber was empty. He asked an at
| tendant:
What is the matter? Where are
the Senator's"
The attendant gave him a look of
scorn. Don't you know it is Wash
ington's Birthday" The Republican
leader in the Senate had been quick
enough to move an adjournme INIT be-
| fore the Democratic leader did, so it
carried. and what was wrong at one
end OF the Capitol building was right
| in the other.
Senator Lorimer was an example of
complete partizanship. often he dI1
| not turn up at roll call unless he was
sent for. Then he came in without
knowing what the vote was about.
| Somebody one asked him hiw he knew
how to vote. He said:
La Toilette and Lodge come just
before me. l get in before they votc.
If La Toilette votes yes ! vote no. u
Lodge votes yes ] vote yes. II they
both vote yes I don't vote"
That may explain why. although I
favored the Colombian treaty, l was
glad to see Senators asserting their
independence 1t may explain why,
although l think the record of the
Administration has been excellent,
like to see as many men as possible
in the Cabinet, in the Senate, in the
House, talking and voting like men,
not like pegs in a machine.
I0Tcnl Ill0 Tn TlIX