The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-02
CALDER swan
SONG FAILS Of
APPROVAL
Other Lame Ducks" Take Is
sue With Criticisms Of SEN
ate Motives.
BY KENNETH w. CLARK.
International News Service.

International News Service.
The Senate's initial swan song
sung by Senator Calder of New
York, and In which he denounced
the tendency toward Governmental
meddling in railroads, the farm
bloc, and impugned the motives
which determined Senatorial votes,
found no support among his col
leagues today.
Curiously enough, chief criticism
came form those, who, like Calder,
are forced out of office by the last
election.
Not only were the parting re-
marks OF the New York Senator
termed ''unwarfanted and unseemf
"" by so.called ''lame ducks" but
denial generally greeted his state
ment that I'VE have been afraid to
face the truth; we have been
afraid to act upon the truth"
Senators Are Defended.
Senator Frelinghuysen of New
Jersey, for instance, said no Sen
ator was so obsessed with the idea
OF party ALLEGIANCE that he would
vote solely for political expediency,
controlled by sectional prejudice
and partisan rancor, rather than
from purely personal CONNECTIONS
dictated by the voice Of Senatorial
constituencies.
This identical opinion was held
by Senator McCumber Of North
Dakota.
II see little cause for uneasiness
in the present conduct Of the Sen.
ate," he said. while at times
things have not always been as
they should be, perhaps. i am one
or those who believe a spirit of
optimism, OF uplift, Of constructive
remedy, rather than destructive
Knocking should prevail"
Peril in Hasty Action.
While Senator Sutherland Of
West Virginia believed ''too hasty
welfare of the Senate than too de-
Hberate consideration" he could not
agree with Calder that Senators
have been afraid to face the
truth"
There IL no similar body in the
world where there is so much in
dependent thinking, so much
thoughtful. independent action, as
in this Senate" he added.
Generally among the Tame
ducks" there was offered the sug-
gestion that the Senate should
adopt cloture--that it was quite I'M
fair to the majority to be ham,
strung by filibuster tactics-relied
upon solely to kill forward legisla-
ton or the party in power. Nc
'Cumber, particularly, urged this
change in the rules.
Patriotism Basic Motive.
The Senate is not tied and ham,
pered by provincialism, by preiu- |
dice, or by selfish interests, Frezi
linghuysen opined.
Though we have our different |
views, and although the currents of |
politics sway us to and fro, under
meath the skin Of every one who |
serves here is better nature, a |
sterling patriotism and love of coun- |
try, he added, appealing for strict |
est adhesion henceforth to the prin-
ciples of the Constitution.
Particular exception to Calder's |
plea for abolition of all blocs, and |
combinations, was taken by Senator |
Brookhart OF Iowa, who has threat |
ened to invade the sedate Senatorial |
halls dressed in overalls, as a SYM |
Dol Of Iowa citizenship.
Says Bloc Got Him.
1.-THE trouble with him." remark
ed Brookhart, mitigating sharp |
statement with q bright twinkle in |
his eyes, lis that the farm bloc got |
him. Farmers must have an organ
iZation in Congress to protect their |
interests, as against those aggres-
sive policies Of big business"
Senator, Page Of Vermont, retir-
ing voluntarily, thought things
were progressing as smoothly as
possible"
Leaving Of his own volition, Sena-
tor Williams Of Mississippi, is going
back to his knocking birds and live
out happy old age-which is lot |
more honest than being a Senator"