Evening star., 1926-12-08
Politics at Large
By C.. Could Lincoln.

The death Of Senator William B.
Mckinley of Illinois has removed from
the Senate another old school. regu-
lar Republican, who during IA years
service in the House and years In
the Senate won the liking and re-
spect of his colleagues. Senator Nc
Kinleys service. in the Senate was to
terminate March 4 next. He failed
last Spring to win denomination. and
his opponent, Col. Frank L. Smith.
now Senator-elect, has become a
storm center of the "slush fund" issue
raised against the Republicans by
Democratic leaders. 1t was not long
after he had been defeated that Sem
ator Mckinley became seriously i'll.
Some of his friends insist that disap-
pointment over his defeat in the sena.
torial primaries and the knowledge he
was soon to leave the halls of Con-
gress, where he had been actively
engaged for so many years, depressed
Senator Mckinley. He is the second
veteran Republican Senator who has
died since the primaries last Spring
and Summer, after suffering defeat
Senator Cummins of Iowa was the
first.
\ k* X
Speculation Is rife over the probable
successor Of Senator Mckinley. Col.
Smith, of course, has been elected to
fill his seat, beginning with the next
Congress. But in the interim Gov.
Len Small Of Illinois, Republican, has
authority to appoint to fill the va
cancy'temporarily. The rumors range
all the way from the appointment of
Col. Smith to q determination on the
part OF the governor not to fill the
vacancy at all. The last is scarcely
credible, however. That the governor
would leave the State of Illinois repre-
sented by only a single Senator dur
ing the entire last session of tie
present Congress does not appear
either probable or likely from a poll.
tical point of view. The Republican
organization of the Senate and the
administration needs every vote it can
nave in the upper house this session
It has been reported that Gov. Small
will appoint Smith to fill the vacancy,
particularly as he appointed Senator
| Deneen to fill the vanacy caused by
the death Of the late Senator MedilI
Mccormick. Senator Deneen was
then Senator-elect, just as Smith is
now. On the other hand, if Smith
is sent here now, the row over seating
him may be launched Immediately
may cause prolonged debate and
threaten the entire program of legis-
lat1on for the session. Furthermore,
if Smith does not come to the Senate
until Senator-elect William s. Ware
of Pennsylvania, the second of the
so'called gold dust twins" also puts
IN his appearance, the battle lines for
seating Smith will be strengthened by
the supporters Of Ware.
II y *x
The Governor of Illinois has a
chance to send to the Senate a
woman, If he cares to break the pre-.
cedent and have a feminine Senator
in actual service of the United
States. A Georgia governor ap
pointed the first woman to the Senate
several years ago, but she occupied
a seat in the Senate only a few
hours. She had been appointed dur.
| ing recess of Congress and her
successor, Senator George, had been
elected before the session opened. II
was largely a matter of courtesy that
the Georgia woman was allowed to be
seated. Mrs. Medill Mccormick
widow of the late Senator Mccormick
would grace the Senate and has the
ability to hold the office. But Senator
mccormick was an enemy of Gov
Small, and that seems to end all
chance of the appointment of Mrs
Mccormick.
If Col. Smith is appointed to
the Senate. there is little doubt that
his right to serve in the Senate
will be assaifed, even though his an.
polntment now would be unconnected
with the primary election in Illinois
last Spring. Democratic and progress
sive Republican Senators are already
whetting their axes for Col. Smith, ii
ne puts in an appearance here.
| Among the Republican progressives
VINO nave been outspoken in their
opposition to the seating of Senators.
elect Smith and Ware is Senator Nor.
ris of Nebraska. Senator Norris has
recently been in correspondence with
A. M. Roster of Mattoon, ILL.,, regard.
ing Col. Smith and his right to be
seated. Mr.. Roster has urged Senator
Norris to lay aside his opposition to
Smith, pointing out that Smith was
elected by the people of Illinois long
after the exposures before the Sen.
ate slush fund committee, when it an.
peared that Col. Smith. head Of the
| Public Utilities Commission of the
State, had benefited in his campaign
by a contribution Of $125,OO from
Samuel Insul, utility magnate, and
other utility men.
In replying to Mr.. Roster, who had
urged Senator Norris to attend some
OF the harmony breakfasts" at the
White House. breakfasts given by
President Coolidge to Republican
members Of the Senate and House,
Senator Norris said:
Your reference to harmony break.
fasts' does not appeal to me. If these
harmony breakfasts are intended to
cause those who partake to overlook
such things as occurred in the Illinois
and Pennsylvania primaries, then I
prefer to go without my breakfast
Vermont maple syrup and buckwheat
cakes have no charm for me If the
object is bridging the chasm' made by
the fraud and corruption disclosed in
the Illinois and Pennsylvania pri-
marieS."
The wet and dry issue is raising
hob with the Democratic party. While
Senators Underwood of Alabama and
Bruce Of Maryland are declaring for
the nomination and election Of a wet
Democratic candidate for President in
1928, William Gibbs McAdoo Of Cali.
fornia and elsewhere is preparing
to lead a crusade for the dry element
in the party. Possibly he has in the
back of his head the thought that he
may be the selection Of the dry Demo
Gratis to head the national ticket in
192S-just possibly. He Is to make his
start in this campaign in Alabama,
where Senator Underwood has declar-
ed for the nomination OF Gov. Al
Smith Of New York.
Democratic Senators from the
South are wondering what they shall
say when they go into Northern and
Eastern States, where the democracy
is decidedly wet, If they are asked