Evening star., 1924-11-23
Republicans and Regularity.

Inc Rep0DliCdn leaders or the SEN
ate are inclined toward wise course
in the reorganization incident to the
death Of Senator Lodge. They will. II
is expected. summon to the caucus
which will fll the vacancies thereby
caused all members Of the party who
hold their seats under that designa-
ton. irrespective Of their courses dur
ing the recent campaign. Specifically
Senators La Toilette and Brookhart
will be thus included. despite the fact
that the former headed q third-party
ticket for the presidency and the lat.
ter repudiated the party's nominee
for President in his own race for the
Senate.
Should Senators La Toilette and
Brookhart ignore the call to attend
the caucus they will thereby place
themselves outside OF the Republican
ranks. Should they attend they will
be bound to act as Republicans dur
ing the session. It is for them to de.
eide, and not for those who manage
Republican affairs In the upper house
Of Congress. For they undoubtedly
hold their seats as Republicans. They
were elected as such. This caucus is
for the closing session Of the present
Congress, and has nothing to do with
the organization Of the Senate for the
next Congress. In the next Congress
Mr.. Brookhart's status will be per
haps somewhat different, owing to the
circumstances Of the past campaign,
and yet he will be certified for his new
term as a Republican. He ran for
that Office on that ticket and was
elected as Republican, notwithstand-
ing the fact that in the course Of the
campaign the Republican State COM
mittee declared that he had ceased to
be q Republican through his attitude
toward the party's presidential ticket.
In addition to these two, who &C.
cupy q peculiar position in respect to
party affairs, there are several other
members of the Senate who are Re-
publicans by formal designation and
long service, but who are somewhat
Independent Of the party organization.
They will, Of course, be summoned
to the caucus and will doubtless re-
spor,d. They may not hold themselves
bound by the decisions reached at the
caucus. Unless the caucus should
adopt rule Of discipline requiring
all Senators to abide by the decisions
Of the majority this freedom Of action
will be unrestricted. There is no in.
dication Of such a coercive rule, how
ever.
The questions before the Repub.
lican caucus at this session are per-
sonal. The election Of q leader to sue
ceed Mr.. Lodge, and the selection Of
committee members to fill the va
cancies caused by his death will con-
stitute the chief, perhaps the sole
business. There is small chance, there
fore, Of any compulsory action, for
naturally those attending the caucus
will at least negatively assent by their
votes in the Senate itself to the Sc.
lections Of the caucus. Should any Of
those attending the caucus vote other.
wise such votes will remain for con.
sideration at the next session in de-
termination Of the question Of ''regu.
larity."
The Republican party should pro
coed In legislation in harmony with
the progressive elements. The course
Of wisdom lies in a coalition Of forces,
not in separation and antagonism.
The vote Of the country cast on the
4th OF this month was q rebuke to
radicalism and also q rebuke to the
bloc system in Congress. Yet those
who have constituted the blocs here
tofore, Republicans by name, are to
be considered as party men and their
services utilized in the framing Of the
legislative program for the remainder
Of this Congress and during the next
one, II the Republican party is to
prosper and is to carry out the man.
date given 1t on election day.