The Bismarck tribune., 1922-02-28
BY w. w. JERMANE
Correspondent Seattle Times

washington, Feb. 28-Public men
in this city are wondering how much
truth there is in the tales reaching
them from North Dakota that Senator
McCumber, whose term expires in
March, 1923, is in serious danger OF
defeat for denominations The primar-
les come in June and disinterested OBJ
servers in the state agree that he Will
have the fight Of his life. Some OF
them believe he will be defeated. II
he is, the West will lose the chair
manship Of the most important of all
Senate Committees, that on finance,
to which McCumber succeeded on the
death st or Of B00ites 0te Penrosfer 9fr q Pennsyl.
It was the rdle Of seniority that
gave McCumber that INFLUENTIAL posi-
ton. lBven1if ANEW senator from
North Dakota, were appointed to the
committee next year, which is most
unlikely, itrWould take him genera
ton to climb TO the top, just asst has
taken McCumber.s The finance COM
mittee shapes tax and tariff bills and
in a general way has Jurisdiction over
all financial matters brought to the
attention of the Senate. Its power is
very great, and the man who heads it
is one of the Senate's commanding
Important to West
At the present time, and that will be
true for years to come, the West will
be thinking more about taxation than
anything else. 1t believes the present
rates are too high, and one Of its COM
plants against the Republican Party
is that it has done nothing to reduce
them, although Congress has been
practically in continuous session since
early last April. Now, just as soon as
western man Of ability and high
standing as legislator, reaches po-
sition where he will be able to do
something for the West in the way Of
modifying tax laws, there is talk thai
he may be retired. largely through the
desire of somebody else to have the
job of being senator.
I am not defending cCumber; l
am criticizing the West for the care
less way in which it ever has looked
cut for it's interest in Washington. AS
long as the rule of seniority prevails
no new senator can exert one particle
of influence on legislation. After he
has served one term of six years he is
still young senator. He must have
been in the harness for fifteen to
twenty years before he begins to find
himself in the way Of committee as
signments and ability to get important
results. If McCumber were only one
half as able man as he is, North Da-
kota would return him if she had any
understanding of how to have matters
attended to down here that affect her
in many important ways. The chair
manship of the finance committee nev-
er has gone to the West before; it may
not go as far west as North Dakota
again for several generations.
If McCumber is defeated for renom-
ination and North Dakota ever again
cries aloud for sympathy and help be-
cause Congress is doing certain
things she doesn't like, and failing to
do others that she does like, the coun-
try ought to call attention to the Nc
Cumber case and turn away to the
consideration of other things. There
ought to be in this world no help fol
the fellow who refuses to help him
SELF
Served Both Houses
For the reasons here stated, l was
glad when Washington State in 1926
reelected Senator Wesley L. Jones
who has been in congressional service
for more than twenty years. l shall
be equally glad if it sees fit to re
elect Senator Miles Poindexter this
year. These men have served in both
houses, they are experts on all ques:
tions of legislative procedure, they
have wide acquaintance in the execu-
tive departments, and, what iskmost
important Of all, they have at last, like
McCunjber, climbed up. through the
operation of the seniority rule, to po-
sitions OF real authority and influence
For a state to sacrifice an asset Of
that kind would be like business
man putting into the fire his surplus
capital.
There isn't voter in North Da.
kota who would Knowingly conduct
his own affairs contrary to the estab.
lished rules of business. Politics ir
the national capital is great big bus