The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-30
WEEKS WILL STICK
 ID CONVENTION IN
 SENATE SELECTION
Statement Draws Request for Recognition of Second of Harding's Official
 Family
By HUGH W. ROBERTS

Washington Bureau, The Age-Heralu, 800 Davidson Building, Washington, lure 27.-(Spe-
 ctRl.)-The Secretary of War.
 John w. Weeks, has no regret for
 his statement that the conven-
 ton is preferable to direct pri-
 maries for the selection of mem-
 bers of the Senate.
 Mir. Weeks does not intend to enter into discussion with the progressive" senators of his own party who have taken him to task. But 1t is known that he still adheres to his conviction. The Weeks statement has been the topic of animated debate on the part of senators in their private offices and cloak rooms. The number of senators who have agreed with Weeks would surprise the nation. While the conventions of old were controlled by the bosses, it Is ad- mitted, 1t is doubtless true that pri- maries are likewise controlled by the bosses with the result that corrup- tion is extended to the electorate. Newberry Cnse
 The Senate has the Newberry case as one point in favor of the conten- | ton of Weeks. On the floor, it was
  Newberry's friends could not have spent s2oo,o00 honestly in securing his election. Pinchot in Pennsyl- vania, confessed to ;n expenditure of S130,00 of ris own moLey in winning the gubernatorial nomination.
 The debate Ion the quiet" has ragged furiously. One side contended that while the average poor man is as competent and as honest as the average rich man, the poor man, under existing conditions, cannot of- fer for Congress with any hope of success. It is contended, also, that the Senate. as Weeks intimated has deteriorated. On tho other side, 1t is contended that the primaries have made senators more responsive to the people. This contention is countered by the statement that this respon- sive attitude has prompted senators to vote in accordance to clamor rath- CT than in accordance to their con viction.
 It has been impossible, however, to secure statements for publication. Senators who agree with Weeks natu- rally say nothing Those who do not agree have spoken. Senator Capper of Kansas, has called for the resig- ation of Weeks. Senator Norris of Nebraska, has intimated that Weeks
 lade his statement because of his defeat in the only primary inf which he appeared as a candidate. Weeks came to the Senate as victor in a convention. When the law was changed, he lost to a democrat in the primary It Is not generally believed, however, that his personal experience caused Weeks to assail the primary. He is extremely conservative in his views. Politically, he is reaction ary." It is known that it is his honest conviction that the primary has not purified politics or resulted in q more intelligent or honest Con- gress.
 More Dissatisfaction
 The fact that a republican sena- tor has called for the resignation of Weeks has reminded Washington that others of the Harding cabinet claimed in the beginning to be one of super men" have likewise been criticised. Republicans and the republican press have clamored for the head of Attor- ney General Daughetry. It has been often suggested that Secretary Nell lon of~the treasury department retire flor the good of the country" It lis understood that when Congress considers the leasing of oil lands of the nation by Secretary Fall, with the sanction of Secretary Denby, to oil monopolists, there will be a de- mand that Fall and Denby resign.
 But none of the cabinet officers will resign, 1t is indicated, if a sug- gestion by the President is necessary The President sticks to his friends. When Senator Newberry was assailed, the President took him as his guest into a theater box. When Senator Freling ghuysen was endangered (and he Is still endangered, it is said) the president visited his home in New Jersey on several occasions Since the beginning of Daugherty's trou- bles, the President has taken the at- torney general on all of his May flower jaunts. And it was a signifi- cant fact that immediately after Senator Capper criticized Secretary Weeks, the President made the secre- tary his guest of honor on week end Mayflower cruise.
 Incidentally, the President agrees with Weeks that senators should be chosen in conventions At any rate, he has stated that his secretaries could say what they pleased. Weeks did not offend the President. That is certain.