Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-20
Why Not Clear the Atmosphere?

The suggestion made by Julius
1osenwald that Col. Frank p. Smith
retire from the senatorial contest In
Illinois should receive the serious at
,ention of Col. Smith. The fact that
col. Smiths candidacy for the Repub-
Iican senatorial nomination benefited
by more than $125,0 from the pocket
book Of Samuel insult Illinois util-
ties magnate, is public property.
Coupled with the fact that Col. Smith
s., and was at the time, chairman of
The Illinois Commerce Commission,
more properly the Illinois Public IT'LL
tiles Commission, this contribution by
MIR. insult is not calculated to give
the public overconf1dence in Col.
Smith,
Col. Smith, If elected next Novem
Der, in all probability will be denied
a seat by the Senate itself. That
body, under the Constitution, Is the
sole Judge of the qualifications Of it's
members. The power OF the Senate
or Of Congress to deal with primary
elections in the States has been ques-
toned. But the power Of the Senate
50 deny a seat to any man whom 1t
believes improperly nominated or
elected or both cannot be questioned
in any court in the land
George L. Brennan. Democratic
nominee for the Senate. has the same
reason for retiring from the contest
rs has Col. Smith. The testimony
taken by the Senate investigating
committee in Chicago revealed the
fact that insult had contributed prac-
fically the entire sum expended by
Brennan In his campaign. 1t was a
much smaller sum than that con-
tributed to Col. Smiths campaign, it
It Is true, but the principle is the
same Brennan is tarred with the
same brush. The Senate would have
equal reason for denying Brennan
seat IL he were elected as it would
for denying a seat to Smith.
The atmosphere would be greatly
cleared in Illinois If both Smith and
Brennan stepped aside and permitted
the nomination of other candidates
by their respective parties. Excessive
expenditures In primary and general
elections are reprehensible in the ex-
treme But when funds come from
v clearly interested source, the con-
tributions become as reprehensible as
the expenditures, or more SO.
The supporters of Smith and Bren-
nan in Illinois and of Ware, the Re-
publican nominee for the Senate in
Pennsylvania. content themselves
with insisting that these men, If
elected, will be seated. Possibly they
count on the lapse of time to soften
public resentment. In all probability
these men would not present them
selves to take the oath of office in
the Senate until December. 1927. But
they are on shaky ground here. Dem
ocratic and progressive memories are
long even If the regular Republican
orga IMITATION of the Senate should de-
tide to accept Smith and Ware. If
Brennan and Ware should present
themselves. there seems little doubt
me regular Republicans would have
as much difficulty in stomaching Bren-
nan as the Democrats in accepting
Ware.
IL these gentlemen present them
selves in the Senate in December. 1927,
the expectation is that their Creden-
tails Will be referred to the Senate
committee on privileges and cleo
lions, without their being permitted
~ take the oath Of office. Such a
course was followed in connection
With Senator Gerald p. Nye of North
Dakota last year. There was no
tharge of improper expenditures or
corruption In the Nye case. The right
IF the Governor of North Dakota to
ill the vacancy caused by the death
of the late Senator Ladd was chal-
lenged.
If this procedure is followed. after
he committee on privileges and cleo
lions shall have reported. the Senate
self will vote on the question
whether Smith or Brennan and Ware
are entitled to be seated. The QueS
ton will be decided. in accordance
with the usual practice of the Senate,
by a majority vot