The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-12-01
SENIORITY IN CONGRESS COMMIT
TEE CHAIRMANSHIPs AGAIN
UNDER FIRE.

The letter Of Senator Medi1l McCor.
mick, of Illinois, to Senator Henry Cabot
Lodge, senate Republican leader, sug-
costing that the rule of seniority in the
selection of chairmen of the various
committees be abrogated has been made
subject of general editorial discussion.
The concrete proposal meets with gen
eral endorsement. But there is dispo-
sition in certain quarters to intimate
that, coming at this time, when radicals
Of the LaFollette and Borah type are
the ranking members, and next in line
to the chairman Of their committees, the
plan contains q hidden purpose. It is
conceded that the subject will be one of
fruitful debate in party circles until the
assembling of the next congress.
Under a really responsible govern
ment the chairman Of the important COM
mittees of the house and senate must
necessarily be men, regardless OF senior
ity who are actively in sympathy with
the White House policies and who are
prepared to stand or fall with the ad-
ministration's program, the New York
World (Dem.) holds, after admitting the
soundness of Senator McCormick's argu-
ments The World takes the position,
however, that "once the seniority rule
were abandoned the Republican leaders
would be adrift," and that Senator Nc
Cormick might as we'll ask them to cut
their own threats and be done with 1t"
The trouble does not lie with the seniority
rule, in the view of the New York Trf-
bNne (Rep.), because what the majority
requires Is not only new leadership but
new spirit and a new outlook. A bet
ter average of vigorous and open~mtnd-
ed Republicanism Is what will be needed
In the new senate before any change in
leadership can lead anywhere" The
Chicago Tribune (Prog. Rep.) explains it
would not oppose seniority in itself" In
fact, it suggests that long service Should
decide when other considerations bal
ance," but it insists that the country de-
mands the best and that because OF this
the rule should be abandoned SO that
''nen who have the qualifications" of
leadership can dominate the committees
Somewhat similar Is the position Of the
Lansing State Journal Qnd.), which be-
lieves that at is time changes were made
in the rule whereby something else be-
sides years of service would count"
Because all efforts to end selection by
seniority have failed in the past the Mil
waukee Sentinel (Ind.) feels that "it
probably will be better and more prac-
ticable, instead of setting up specua-
tive test OF fitness, to concentrate against
cases of obvious and demonstrated I'M
fitness. Even this most modest task is
bound to cause considerable difficulties.
With the senatorial situation as 1t Is the
Waterloo Tribune (Ind.) believes the
progressives, known as radicals, viii
fight for the seniority rule now, because
they believe-and have right to believe
that the regulars would deny them the
power that comes with control OF the
great committees Of the senate. Unques-
tionabiy the senate could better serve by
abrogation Of the seniority rule, but this
fact is lost sight of in the factional fight
to come 1t cannot be denied, the Pet
ersburg Progress and Index Appeal,
Und.) argues, that 1.-THE seniority rule is
one which has never worked in either
branch of congress in the interest of the
public. But those who undertake to force
either house to abandon the seniority sys-
tenn will be entering upon the fight of