South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-03-11

NFfNIINEIL tfElhf part
'The first was the celebrated at
tack urOn Sen. Reed Smoot OF
Utah At e. turned out this attack
was originated by political enemies
iu his cwn state. but an incredibly
powerful propaganda mad nuiaIy
spread prejudice. and infIamed the
public against him When tho CYL
dence was nut in. 30 was found that
not only did tho prosecution FAN
20 establish "A single charge against
him. but also that every charge
was Overwhelmingly refuted by IN
disputsbl testimony-
Nevertheless determined att
teupts were made 20 influence the
COMMITTEE and tho senate also So
called popular sentiment was
brought into action. The people
had been worked or 20 such
state Of prejudice that seemingly
fhey cared little about che charges
or tho evidence but were only In
terested in seeing the accused SEN
ator ousted from his seat This
o. a good example 81 the duty of
senator 90 resist temporary pub
DC opinion in such matters.
Attitude stated
The true attitude of a senator
IN such 2 case was well stated by
Sen Hoar Of Mssssc husetts, one 81
the abIest hest and most learned
men who ever sat I'm the Supreme
Council Of the nation one ~ Sen.
IToar's close friends IN his own
state. and a minister Of tho church
10 which Sen. Hoar belonged wrote
the Msssa chusetts sage demand
ing that ne vote against SmoOt.
Sen TToar like myself, was mem
her Of the committee on privileges
and elections.
That noble old statesman CURLY
answered HE friend and fellow
churchmsn about as follows: do
YOU realize that Won arc addressing
Judge who is trying a casa
member Of court who is deciding
controversy T am sure YOU do
not. because IL YOU did YOU would
know that YOU are I'm contempt OF
court and ~ this was a Massa-
chusetts tribunal and not a legis-
lative body YOU could he and ought
10 be committed 90 Jail for con-
tempt"
"I may say that 7 made almost
precisely the same answer 10 one
Of the very few letters OF like e.
feet which Z received from my con-
stituents
The second case Of this kind
in which / participated while i'm the
senate was still more distressing
sim more difficult Indecd, never
i'm my Hfe had 20 perform more
Unwelconne and unhappy duty. For
NAL charges were made that Sen.
William Lorimcr Of Illinois had
occurred his election 90 the senate
by brihing the legislature OF that
state. The committee on PRIVILEGES
and elections appointed n sub-com-
mitteg-to take testimony which
was printed. and it became the
duty or the committee 10 report 70
the senate as to whether OF not
the testimony sustained the char
ges"
Final Meeting
AT The final meeting OF the
committee before the report was
made this testimony. which made
mp a large volume. was on the
table before each senator for
one, had not read the testimony
had not even seen il before Indeed.
found IL 10 be stIll wet from the
press Therefore when someone
moved that the committee report
in favor Of Sen Lorimer. said
that I could not Join i'm the report
az that time because had not
read the testimony
The remainder of the committee
decided 90 report anyway. but I re O.
Trained from joining until I had stu
died the testimony knowing that 7
could JOIN later after ] had given
the case that considerable which I
felt 10 deserved So ] took the vol
ume or testimony TO my apartment.
put aside all other work and en-
gagements and read every word OF
the testimony over and over again.
because 7 wanted 20 be absolutely
sure I'm my own mind
As a result. I was not only horri-
fed. buzz greatly depressed to- md
hat the testimony sustained the
charges-at least that is the way
~ looked 90 me, so there was MOTH
ing for me 90 do except 20 bring in
minority report against sen. Lori
mer and against the report of all
the remainder OF the committee. eN-
cept one. Later on sen. Latimer o.
Tennessee. who had been absent.
joined me
II disHked exceedingly 90 take this
action because Sen Lorimer was an
unusually agreeable. as well as UNI
commonly able man and a very
hard worker. He had been "a con-
gresham for many years and was
liked and admired 10y all his coll
leagues. He was q brilliant. praC-
tcal politician. almost as skillful as
Sen. Quay OF Pennsylvania
Unhappy Choice
'It was not a happy choice for an
erdinary human being like myself
pE would have been easier than 20
have Joined The remainder OF tho
Committee Bon generating Sen. Lori
Ter. and u this had been done. OF
e0urse the fghr upon him would
Dave been ended iu practical effect.
But. mis- clear Judgment and convic-
Son was -hat the evidence proved
BIN Go De guilty under the law. and
was therefore iu the position II a
bdge who feels compelled 90 dIe a
dissenting opinion.
Accordingly did So and because
this fact was put u the position
N leading the night or the floor OF
&c senate This lasted for most ~
t1e session AT the be.dnuir-. most
ef the leaders ~ both parties were
tr Sen. Lorimer. bu, as the debate
Proceeded some OF these men chang
81 their minds Chief 70 these per-