New-York tribune., 1921-03-13
Harding Jolts
Senate's Idea
OF Courtesy
Tradition Is Flouted When
Kansas City Man Is APP
pointed to Office With
out Consulting Spencer
Action May Be Resented
Confirmation Held Up and
Sighted Senator Will
Demand an Explanation
BY Carter Field

WASHINGTON, March 12.-Senators
who had thought President Harding
would go out of his way to respect
Senatorial courtesy" and see to it that
Republican Senators at least were con-
suited about all appointments IN their
own states, got rude jolt today when
the President sent in the nomination
of Charles C Madison of Kansas City,
to be United States District Attorney
for the Western District of Missouri.
The first intimation Senator Selden
P. Spencer, the only Republican Sena-
tor from Missouri, had of this appoint
nent was when it was read by the clerk
of the Senate in executive session. The
Missouri Senator's face was rather red
when he dictated to newspaper men
shortly thereafter the following state
ment:
81 am sure there is some mistake
about the appointment Of Mr.. Madison.
The first l knew of it was when his
name was read by the clerk"
Original Supporter Favored
Further than that for publication Mr..
Spencer refused TO go. But all over
Washington tonight there is buzzing
about the incident Mr.. Madison, it
seems, was appointed because Z. Mont
Riley, OF Kansas City, desired it. Mr..
Riley was one of the original Harding
men in the Missouri delegation at
Chicago
so an original Harding delegate ap-
parently has more prestige with the
President than the Republican Senator
from his state observed another
Senator.
Senator's from : state. if they are Of
the same party as the President, are
usually regarded as entitled to all of
the local Federal Offices, sucn as dis
trict judges. attorneys. marshals, etc.
But even when a President decides to
reward some personal friend by ap-
pointing one of his friends to Office
over the heads of the Senators or of
the national committeeman-who is
sSeposed to dictate patronage when
both Senator'S are Of the minority party
it is customary for the President to
notify the Senator'S from the state in
question before sending the appoint
ment to the Senate.
Senator Spencer would not say to-day
that Mr. Madison was personally OBJ
noxious" TO him. The Senate in the
past has seldom refused TO reject an
appointment in any Senator's state
swhen the Senator would declare that
the appointee was personally obnoxious
This has always applied whether the
Senator was of the Presidents party OF
the minority. 1t has sometimes applied
to national as well as local Offices, foi
instance, in the case Of George Rublee
nominated by President Wilson for the
/. Federal Trade Commission, but de
clared by the late Senator Gallinger, o.
New Hampshire, to be personally OBJ
noxious. Mr.. Rublee was rejected
though at the time the Senate wa
! controlled by Democrats.
Action Was Unexpected
1t has been thought up to to-day tina
Mr. Harding first Senator eve
elected President of the United Safes
] would go far toward meeting these oil,
traditlons about the rights Of Senators
1t had been thought ne would ayoj,
the example of Woodrow wilson. who
IN his first Administration, found hal
dozen of his appointments rejecte.
because they were Objectionable t.
Senators MARITIME, of New JERSEY
o'Gorman, of New York; Reed, Of Mis-
souri,. and others.
Strangely enough, this very plac
about which discussion was arouse
to-day was one of those over whic
Mr.. Wilson Rad his first patronae
trouoies-the United States District AT
torney for the Western District of Mis-
! souri,. Senator Reed, in the first vii
s son administration, forced rejection o
: Mr.. Wilson's nominee for this place
and also of his nominee for postmaste
of Kansas City
apparently Mr.. Harding is going t
do anything that his old friends want,
/ SAD one Senator, no matter what ira
! dltions are shattered and no matte
3, what trouble ensues. That is evidence
) by mis- appointment of his old friene
Dr. Sawyer, who runs a sanatorium a
! Marion, as brigadier general, and O
e q. R. Crissinger another old Mariol
friend, as Comptroller of the Currenc
3 of the United States"
Senator Spencer objected to the in,
: mediate consideration of the nomina
tion, and of course it Will be held W
I Mr.. Spencer hopes to see Presden
, Harding about the incident on Monday
! MnERE GnnEATHERU