Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-24
SENIORITY IN THE SENATE.

eE#- "A liz SSIGtS organization fECd1nS the SENIORITY
ttrule whereby the craftsmanship of committees and
gtt1e relative rank OF committee members are govern
! ed by the length Of service of the member rather
at1an based on questions Of fitness. Senator Nc
4Cunber, Of North Dakota. under the operation of
.this rule becomes chairman Of the senate finance
committee, one OF the most important and power
tut OF the committees in that body. During the
Craftsmanship OF Senator Penrose Mr.: McCumber
stood next to him in rank. and on the death of the
chairman the North Dakota senator has stepped
automatically into the position left vacant,
There is, as It was expected there would be, a
! revival Of the familiar argument that now that
North Dakota has achieved such an influential and
generally desirable position through the progress
sion OF her senior senator to this important commit
,ateeship, it would be a mistake to sacrifice that Do
ssi1on by changing senators. It is pointed out that
lIif Senator McCumber should not be returned to the
ksenate. at the next election, the new senator would
have to take his place at the bottom of the list and
lit would be years before the state would again &C.
teupy the desirable position OF having one of it's
senators at the head of one OF the most important
On more than one occasion the seniority rule
has worked badly. 1t has, operated to place in high
ely important. positions very inferior men while
nothcr men Of greater ability have been kept in the
background. Just how Senator McCumber's abil;-
tiles compare with those Of any other senator who
Knight have been considered for this chairmanship
nis 4 matter which it is not necessary to discuss at
this tune. 1t IS a fact that a state does gain in pres
- ~ ndsMe III suSH d position one OF its citizens
Who is big enough to fill it. Without question, too.
the individual placed in such a position yields
HHgreatcr power than he would in a less conspicuous
ssplsce. Whether or not that is an advantage to his
astste or the nation at large depends entirely ON the
schafactcr OF the man and the use which he makes
sof ms enlarged opportunities.
So far as most of his constituents are aware,
Senator McCumber's ability has been exhibited
Tchledy IN the perfection Of plans to insure his own
Ereeaaection. In putting forth this effort, term after
term, he has deemed it necessary to enter into some
w@pernEzr political associations, associations which
eSthaye not tended to increase the respect in which he
als 80 at home, and which certainly do not con
@ts0nee 20 the prestige OF the state. At the present
@Ntinsse 4 = engaged IN a vigorous effort to place upon
~ fsderal bench a man conspiieruously lacking in
8fensss for the position, and this is at a time when
ffeyHs, the nation needs a judiciary above repqoach
auld shove suspicion. The success Of this effort. Il
g 10es sncreed, win be injurious to the nation. and
49, impair the reputation Of the state.
fhese circumstances, the greater powe,
1eG. cCnmb has, the worse it is for the state
3ENU1d be better that the state should be rnrepre.
Gl1leed titan that il should be represented BY 4 mar
fG110 uhose hands Il Is unsafe to place large powers
E@N EE0I