Evening star., 1924-04-15
GLASS JOINS FIGHT
ON COOLIDGE LETTER
Virginian Declares Every Senator
of Spirit Must Feel
Indignant"

The democratic assault upon Presi-
dent Coolidge's letter of last Friday
relating to the conduct of investiga-
tions was renewed in the Senate to.
day, Senator Glass of Virginia de-
IAN amazing imputation" upon that
body
Denying any purpose to attack the
President or the Secretary of the
Treasury because of their attitude to
the investigation of the internal reve-
nue. bureau, the Virginia senator said
he arose to express in temperate
way the indignation every senator OF
spirit must feel"
1.-The President and the Secretary
of the Treasury" Senator Glass said
have directed amazing imputatlon
against this body in language OF Of
fense as needless as, in truth, they
are devoid of justification"
It became known as the senator
was speaking that he had decided on
the major points in his address after
conference with a group of influential
men of his party both in and out OF
Congress. His colleagues were near
ly all in their seats, and listened 10
the speech with an air Of expectancy,
which indicated that they regarded
the utterances of unusual significance.
Hits Unprecedented Assault"
Il feel constrained by every con-
sideration of self-respect to repel the
unprecedented assault made by these
public officials upon the integrity of
the United States Senate.
Some weeks ago when the
Senate adopted resolution eX-
pressing its conviction that the pub
lie interest would best be served
by the dismissal from the Presi-
dents cabinet of Secretary Debby
1 hazarded the opinion that we
were deliberately inviting, and l con-
fidently believed would receive from
the President the very rebuff which
he was entitled to make and quickly
did administer.
"Other Executives had done the
same thing, in better behalf, I think,
but not more tersely nor in better
tenor. They were widely applauded,
just as President Coolidge was, and
just as any President must know he
will be, for a vigorous assertion of
constitutional Jurisdiction. That was
quite right-a thing finely done in an
unhappy cause.
But dignified, unyielding asser-
tion of constitutional prerogatiye is
one thing and an unrestrained ar
raignment of a coordinate branch of
the government is another. The con-
stances could it be more deplorable
than when the President of the United
States, through the prescribed medium
of communication, levels at the SEN
ate of the United States accusations
which gravelX impeach it's honor, in
justification of which indictments he
does not, as am sure he cannot, offer
any proof, from the record
For the first time in history, the
senator declared, Chief Executive
has abruptly faced the Senate with
the official charge of having insti-
tuted "a government of lawlessness'
and has pointedly impeached its pro-
bity with a charge of "subterfuge and
insincerity.' In so doing, he added,
the President acted upon "the un-
authenticated suspicious of an avow-
edly partisan senator, actuated by
the personal antipathies and appre-
tensions of a cabinet minister"
1.-The Senate is charged" he de-
clared, with the creation Of a condi-
tion actually subversive of the most
sacred guaranty of the Constitution.
The President himself has not bother
ed to disguise it. Not in line or SEN
tence is there hesitation or conceal
ment. The President intended to be
vehement, he intended to be threat
ening.'
quite intolerable enough it is to
have individual senators go about
their colleagues here are indecent
and engaged in dirty business when
they bring into the light of day the
hidden offenses of maladministration.
Bad enough it is in this fashion To
apply the fagots of misinformation
and vituperation to an already in
famed and poisoned public opinion
which would stop pursuit of the act
ual criminals and punish the Senate
for exposing crime.
For one, I am totally unwilling, :,
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