The Omaha morning bee., 1924-04-14
COOLIDGE AND THE SENATE.

l. !. boned the pointed remarks of the president
=. ,ha senate may have some effect on that body.
Democratic leaders shouting for hnisn ngn.'
Promotion of discord for partisan ends has been
the aetuating motive of the democratic caoal from
the start "Coolidge's goat has been tnef goal
Public interest has been adjourned by these ghos'-
dancing democrats The republicans have tamey,
resignedly or patiently, as the mood might De-
watched the proceedings, except when, as IN the
case of Senator Couzens, they have aiaeo Ill the
riot for personal reasons.
Now the president has asked the senate to come
down to earth, to get busy and fill its appointed
function in the general scheme of government Ihe
senate has its place, most important one, unoef
the constitution Its powers and authority are plain
ly marked, and its duties as we'll The senators
themselves seem to be more concerned about their
powers and authority than their duties
Critics of the president have complained that ne
has not followed the plan of Roosevelt, or even that
of Wilson These presidents, it is shown, drove
congress into action Roosevelt used the big stick,
Wilson the schoomaster's gad, but they got action
Such critics ignore the real difficulty or brush 1t
aside In each of the congresses through which
Mr. Roosevelt passed his program the republican
party had a clear and we'll controlled majority 1t
was not curded by the bloc system, nor did any
group of republicans deliberately vote with the demo-
Gratis for the purpose of defeating the presidents
plans
Likewise, when Mr. Wilson was president he had
a party majority in both house and senate This
majority held together not SO much because the
president was good president, but because party
coherency and responsibility was stronger When
the war came on Mr. Wilson's chief opposition arose
from the ranks of the democratic party Fortunately
he had the support of the big republican minority
and was able what he wanted
Contrast this situation with that in which Mr..
Coolidge is placed. While the republicans have a
nominal majority of six in the senate and II In
the house. actually the presidents party is in a
minority The La Toilette bloc in the senate con-
tans enough votes to overturn any party plan, to
defeat party discipline and to thwart the president
at every turn. Could Roosevelt or Wilson or any
president discipline this group and hold them in line?
Conditions in the house much the same. Men
who were elected as republicans have openly acted
with the democrats Only party group has held
together consstently-the democrats. They have
opposed everything the White House has suggested
and with the aid of republican votes have so far
defeated the president at every turn.
Charging that the president is playing politics,
these schemers have done nothing but play politics.
Now, the president has openly challenged the senate,
demanding that 1t restore the orderly processes Oh
government by law 1t is time. The bloc system
has checked the progress of responsible party gov
ernment. The legislative branch of the government
has tried exat itself the executive. 1t pro-
poses also to subordinate the judicial. Not since
1860 has there been such direct challenge to the
constitution of the United States as is presented
: by the senate at this moment. Nor is 1t for the
benefit of the people, but purely and admittedly
for partisan advantage.
Over-Sunday rest may bring little soberer mood
to the minds Of the senator's We do not expect the
zealots will cool out in short time. Not all
the senators, however, belong to this class. ma
orty of the membership reasonable men,
capable Of giving thought ahead of party to the
needs of the country. These will have chance to
say whether the course mapped out by Wheeler,
Hefin and their kind is to be pursued, or il the
government is going to get back the right track
The president has pointed the way. He has shown
the danger. 1t is up to the senate.