The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-22
WATSON'S FLOP
ON SMITH ISSUE
STILL DISCUSSED
Opposed Seating, Favored 1t
and Then Failed to
Vote.
BY Roscoe B. Fleming,

Times StGN C0rreSD0ndent
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-Hoo-
siers here are still commenting on
the extraordinary course adopted by
Senator Watson of Indiana toward
the temporary seating Of Frank L.
Smith, Senator-designate from I'LL
nois and beneficiary of S125,000 in
campaign funds from Samuel insult,
baron of both the Illinois and In
diana public utility fields.
After making a passionate plea for
the seating of Smith, the effect Of
which was considerably married by
contiual heckling from Democratic
Senators as to why Watson was so
eager to seat Smith when he OPP
posed Smiths coming to Washing
ton to claim his seat, Senator Wat.
son was not In the Senate chamber
when the roll was called. The rec
ord shows him paired with Senator
McMaster, as for seating Smith and
i'm that fashion the news of his vote
was given out. But the record also
shows that Senator Edge. New Jer-
sey. arbitrarily paired Watson with
McMaster, thereby allowing edge to
vote for Smith.
How 1t Happened
Edge refrained from voting be-
cause of his own pair with the alb
sent McMaster, but yNlen Watson's
name was called three times, Edge
gazed around for him, then rose
and made his declaration.
AS far as could be learned, Wat
son had left without making any
arrangements to be recorded fer or
against Smith.
The action was said to have been
| taken partially to relieve embarrass-
ment of Senator Robinson of Indi-
ana. who voted against temporary
seating of Smith. Robinson must
run for re election in two years, and
it may be said that his campaign
has already begun.
! Watson, as the Republican leader
of the State, did not want to appear
! in opposition to the junior colleague
with whom he has worked so closely
in double harness up until this time.
1t was the first split between the
! two men on an important vote.
The vote, however. has other inn
portant implications so far as In
diana politics are concerned it puts
Robinson on record as against any
improper Insulation of Indiana
| politics, and it also records him as
against the Coolidge administration
in a far more significant way than
the joint votes of Watson and Robin
son last session against the President
on the World Court and farm relief.
~ Expert Democratic Rule
For the vote, observers says, prac-
tically insures that the Senate will
be organized by the Democrats in
the Seventeen Congress if they wish
to do it, and Coolidge will lose con-
troll. e. Pr" "sT
= Smith will be turned down again
this session. Then, when he comes
to the Seventeen Congress-, under
the precedent established Thursday,
his credentials as an elected Senator
will be referred to the Privileges and
Elections Committee before he takes
the oath. The same course may be
followed with Senator-E Elect Ware of
Pennsylvania, and neither man
would be able to take part in or.
| ganizing the Senate.
The Senate. as a result of the
recent elections, would with full rep
resentation consist of forty-eight Re.
publicans, forty.seven Democrats,
and one Farmer-Ieborite. Setting
aside OF Smith and Ware would leave
the count forty-six to forty-seven,
and the Democrats could, if they
wished, organize the Senate and
have control of important com
mittees, and of the conduct of bust.
ness in their own hands for the very
important session preceding the ma
tional election when Coolidge will
probably be up for reelection.