New Britain herald., 1927-01-20
"And Some Fools, Even D--.- Fools Get Into Legislatives Bodies" Responds Senator Robinson, Democrat.
A Administration Leaders Fighting to Have Smith Sworn in and His Quail tications Investigated Later.
VOTE BY TONIGHT
 THOUGHT POSSIBLE

Washington, Jan. 20 OP) - Ral- lying unexpected force, friends of Frank L. Smith made q desperate fight today to overturn the odds that have forecast his exclusion from the senate.
 Friends Working Hard
 AS the second day of the debate dragged on. with possibility of ac tlon before adjournment, partisans ot the Illinois senator designate priv ately sought by means of personal suasion to wipe out the slender ma Jority that had been claimed against him.
 When yesterdays session adjourn ed. the opposition had the advantage by a handful of votes, and the op- position leaders still were claiming today that this advantage would be held until the showdown. On the other side, however, predictions be- gan to grow rosier.
 States Rights Issue
 The states rights issue again was the dominating note of the whole discussion, on the floor and In the earnest private consultations. The Smith people were seeking support for the resolution introduced by Sen ator Overman, of North Carolina. providing that the Illinois appointee be seated without prejudice to any future inquiry into the financing Of his primary cam paign last year. The argument, addressed by Senator Overman to his democratic col leagues was that not single south ern senator would have been admit ted to the senate after the civil war under the rule now invoked in the case of Smith.
 Regulars Need Aid
 Republican regulars who stand solidly for admission of the Illinois man and investigation Of his fitness afterwards. saw in the democratic ranks their chief hope of winning over the votes needed for major ity. Except for Overman and Blease of South Carolina, the democrats have stood almost as unit In sup port of the resolution of Senator Reed of Missouri, to deny Smith the oath of office pending an elections committee investigation of his pre- primary campaign.
 Smith In, Though III
 Although suffering from an ab- scess in the ear, Smith again went 10 the senate chamber today and | took the same chair he occupied dur ing five and a half hours of debate yesterday. The galleries were not go crowded as at yesterdays session. but there was steady attendance Of senators on the floor.
 Senator Watson. republican. of h. diana. reopened the discussion. de claring the senate was confronted with the question whether 1t could add to or take from the senatorial qualifications set forth in the consti- tution.
 Are there other qualifications he asked. If so. where are they? There are no other qualifications
 Does the senator contend that if man came here with credentials who had been fmpeached. or had contagious disease, or had commit ted a crime on his way to the sem ate, the senate would have to admit i1im?" asked Senator Robinson, Of Arkansas, the democratic leader. d.
 If a state sent leper here. the senate would have to seat him.
 That's my view" "Then, if state sent lunatic here. the senator contends that the senate would have to seat him?"
 "Oh, Everybody knows 8 lunatic cannot take an oath" Watson re- turned amid laughter. Bingham's Argument
 Senator Bingham, republican, | Connecticut, broke in to quote Sena. tor Bayard. of Delaware, in 1882. that the senate could not even bar an idiot If his credentials were in proper form.
 Does the senator subscribe to that?" asked Robinson. T do," Bingham replied.
 Expressing his own disagreement. the democratic leader added:
 "We all know that fools, some- times damn fools, get into legislative | bodies"
 Resuming his speech. Senator Watson reviewed long list of pre- cedents stretching back more than a century.
 Senator Harrison. democrat. Mississippi, asked Senator Watson to tell the senate about the efforts made by republican leaders to keep Smith from coming to Washington at all.
 Now when get through here and the senator and I get out into the lobby. I'll tell the senator all about that" Senator Watson said