Evening star., 1925-03-07
Discussion of Nomination for
Attorney General Starts
This Afternoon.
REPUBLICANS WRANGLE
ON COMMITTEE OUSTERS
Borah Denounces Demotion of In
surgents and Calls for Toler-
ance in Party.


afternoon decided to hold open sessions
for the consideration of the nomination
of Charles B. Warren of Michigan to be
Attorney General.
The decision was made after con-
siderable discussion behind closed doors.
The Republican conference of the Sem
ate yesterday voted IS to IL, against
such open sessions. Furthermore. it was
maintained by some Senator's that 1t
would require a two-thirds vote to go
into open session for the consideration
of nomination. Today, however, this
action was taken on a majority vote.
The Senate then took a recess until 2
o'clock, when it will proceed with the
nomination of Mr.. Warren.
Fight Over Dcmotions.
A storm burst in the Senate
when the Republican organization
sought to have the Senate agree to
the demotion of the so-called insur-
gents in the matter of committee as
signments.
No action was taken on the pro-
posed committee assignments. After
a half-hour discussion, at the sugges-
the matter was allowed to go over
until Monday. He said that he had
not had opportunity of looking over
the list of committee assignments,
which had just reached him.
Custer Is Denounced.
Senator Borah of Idaho denounced
the demotion of insurgents and warn
Cd ic .n1 laoc 70 Ia q
step that they might regret in the
next campaign. In the hour of vic
tory and the outset of the present
administration he urged that a spirit
of tolerance prevail.
Senator Watson of Indiana, chair
man of the Republican committee on
committees, defended the course TAX
en- by the Republican conference of
the Senate in declining to consider
the insurgents as Republicans. He
said that political party is a volun-
tary association of individuals organ
lied for an election, that a political
party~adopts its platform and nomi-
mates its candidates and that those
who do not subscribe to the platform
and support its candidates cannot
properly be considered members of
the party.
bOran RAISES euestIOn.
At the outset of the discussion. Sem
ator Borah asked what disposition
had been made in the matter of COM
and Frazier of North Dakota and
Senator Brookhart of Iowa.
He did not ask what had been
done in regard to Senator LaFollette
of Wisconsin,, the fourth member of
the group of progressives who have
been denied entry into Republican
party councils by the Republican
conference of the Senate. Apparently
he differentiated between the three
Senators mentioned and Senator La
Toilette. 1t Is understood that La
Toilette planned to leave the Re
publican party definitely to continue
with a third party movement
IF these men are not Republicans, -
said Senator Borah, why did the
Republican committee on committees
assume to assign them to COM
mittees?'
Senator Watson replied that two
years ago, when two former farm
labor Senators entered the Senate.
they requested that their assign
ments be handled by the Republicans
rather than by the Democrats.
I'VE asked these Senators now
under discussion whether they wished
to be assigned by the Republican
committee on committees.
Their reeipls lead US to believe that
they wished this DONE" he said.
Reads Brookhart'x Letter.
At the suggestion of Senator Borah.
Senator Watson read the letter
written by Senator Brookhart to the
committee in which he said he wished
to be assigned as Republican with
the same right as all other Repub-
licans.
Senator Brookhart said if he was
denied this right he requested the
right to make his own committee as
signments. IF they are not satisfied
with the assignments we have made ''
continued Senator Watson, I'VE are
satisfied to have them reassign
themse to the same committees
we have picked OUT
Senator Borah said this would be a
fruitless thing to do. He continued,
THE able gentlemen who have taken
this action are perhaps better able to
decide what should be done than am
1. But l think that, from the stand
point of politics, and from the stand
point of a working majority in the
Senate, 1T is both unjust and un-
wise
II do not get satisfaction in going
back over the last campaign. These
men should be given positions and
assignments as Republicans. 1t is
signally unjust to their constituents,
for they come from Republican
States. 1t is a good idea, in the hour
of victory, to cast look ahead and
practice tolerance. 1 would not know
where to draw the line Of party 10y
atty in this country. 1 fear 1 might
find myself outside of the line, for /
do not know what the test would be-
Reviews Other Splits.
Senator Borah referred to the split
In the party in 1872, 1876, 1896 and in
1912. He said that If all the voters
and the descendants of voters who
have opposed the Republican organi-
cation at various times were now to
be left out of the party there would
be very small group of those con-
sidered loyal. He predicted that a
time would come in the next two
years when the Republicans would
regret this action. In the campaign
of 1926, he said, every man who goes
into the States would spend most of
his time explaining this mistake.
Senator Borah said: II do not see
where we gain by taking the pro-
posed action, except to engender a
feeling that ought not to obtain al