Evening star., 1927-12-01
vARE- SMITH FIGHT
MAY DELAY SENATE
Organization to Wait While
Fate of Senator's Elect
Is Settled.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE

| Conditions wholly unprecedented in
the Senate history confront that body
| on the eve of the assembling of the
| SEVENTEEN Congress, December 6.
| Not only does nominal Republican
| control hang by the precarious margin
of a single vote. but the controversy
over admission of Senators-elect Ware
of Pennsylvania and Smith of Illinois
may indefinitely stall Senate pro
CeedingS.
Questions affecting the eligibility of
Senators-elect are privileged matters.
They take precedence over business
of any other kind. Until they are
out of the way, no other business can
be transacted. Even the message of
the President of the United States
must be sidetracked.
President Sees Delay.
There is. therefore, more than for
nal meaning this time to the Cont
Dental" warning that appears at the
top of all copies of the Presidents
message, circulated. as usual a
week in advance of its projected de-
livery. The notice cautions all those
in possession of advance copies that
some emergency may arise to pre-,
vent delivery of the message" on the
intended date--next Tuesday. Holders
of copies are corespondingly admon-
iShed to exercise extreme care, to
avoid premature publication"
Nare-Smth fireworks will set in be-
fore the maiden session OF the new
Senate is many minutes old. The
clerk will call the roll F,EerythinG
is expected to proceed smoothly and
uncventfully until the name of Frank
l.. Smith of Illinois is reached. Then
some one-it's not yet been deter
mined by the allied Democratic-Re
publican Progressive groups whether
"a Democrat or Republican will take
the initiative-will interrupt the roll
call, ask for the floor, and offer a
resolution to refer Mr.. Smiths right
to take the oath to the standing COM
mittee on privileges am elections.
Protracted Debate.
That will be the signal. prospec-
lively. for protracted debate. On be-
half of the Illinoisan. probably Sena-
tor Deneen, Republican, will contest
the Senate's right to challenge Mr..
Smiths eligibility. Argument opposed
to that view viii ensue. Senator
Norris, Republican Progressive, of
Nebraska. or Senator Reed, Democrat,
of Missouri. chairman of the Senate
slushfund investigating committee.
expects to clear for action at that
juncture. Numerous Republican
Progressives and Democrats are ready
to support them, or themselves to
take the first step, if neither Norris
nor Reed does SO.
How long the discussion about Col.
Smith will go on cannot be foretold.
1t is bound to be bitter and will in all
probability be prolonged. The Illi-
nolsan and his friends have planned a
vigorous defensive battle. A delega-
ton from the State will be in Wash
inston to supply such extraneous aid
as circumstances permit.
Their argument is that the Senate
has no right any longer to deprive
sovereign Illinois" of her full consti-
tutional representation of two seats in
the upper house of Congress. Smith
was barred last Winter as a guber-
Material appointee, and now seeks his
seat as an elected Senator.
Wrangle Over Ware.
No sooner will the Smith case have
oeen dealt with by the Senate and the
roll call proceeded with, than Senator
elect Vare's name will be reached
Then identically the same rigmarole
will be in order. The Pennsylvania
Senator-elect's right to be sworn will
be challenged the Senate's prerogative
will be contested--presumab on
Vare's behalf by Senator David Aiken
Reed Republican. of Pennsylvania
and the Republican Progressice-Demo-
cratic spokesman or spokesmen will
clear for action as in the Smith affair
Virtually the same arguments will be
SnpnnhnS nd nj.
minatory, are in prospect. It will be a