The Indianapolis times., 1927-01-22
HIS PRIVATE BUSINESS

Any alarm that might be felt by his aides and
supporters over the effort of Senator James Wat
to prevent Frank L. Smith, the Illinois benef-
clary of insult, utility king, from taking his seat in
he Senate is dissipated by the statement of Watson
that this purely his private business.
1t is true that when Smith refused to stay away
and was rejected by the Senate and refused permis-
son to take his OATH Watson the firing line,
endeavoring to seat him.
To the people of Indiana, this description of the
scene in the Senate will be interesting:
Senator Watson, in arguing for the seating
of Smith, admitted that he had tried to keep him
from presenting his credentials at this session.
This admission caused Senator Robinson (Dem,
Ark), to inquire why he had done so.
"That is my business" retorted the Indiana
Senator.
Senator Robinson insisted that he ought to
enghten the Senate on the subject
II must decline to answer" snapped Senator \
Watson. ut is my private business and not the
business of the Senator from Arkansas of the
Senate of the United States"
Senator Harrison also was curious to know
the reason why Senator Watson sought to pre-
vent Smith from coming to Washington and yet
now was urging that he be permitted to take
the oath.
"If the Senator will go with me out in the
lobby" said Senator Watson, "Ill tell him all
about it."
The people of Indiana may have the right to be
little more inquisitve than the Senate and if
Watson persists in saying that such an act was his
private business, they may be at liberty to
supply their
Especially is this true because of the cloud cast
upon the Watson judgment and the Watson ideal of
senatorial fitness by the vote of his colleague Arthur
Robinson.
Senator Robinson voting to exclude Smith, by
that vote took the position that those who have taken
favors from utilities to aid their campaign are un-
fitted for the high Office Of Senator.
There was no other issue than this 1t was the
sole attack upon Smith who is probably a kind hus-
band, good father a good churchman and prob
ably kind to children
But the Senate of the United States says that
there is degradation in the receiving of sums from
those who seek public favor through the commits
sions of the State and that those who are backed
by the seekers of privilege exhibit lack Of moral
point of view which classes them with the phantom
Boshevik the more common leper.
This being true, what private interest did Wat
son have in keeping the Senate from passing
this question. p
THE Senator, shrewd experienced and in close
touch, knew that whenever Smith appeared to ask
for the oath of Office, that this question would be
raised and that every Senator would be compelled to
go on record.
Watson knew that the vote of every Senator
would show the people whether that Senator be-
lieved that candidates should take the money of
privilege seekers in order to create their political
machines.
At the time he telephoned by long distance over
the thousand miles to Smith and pleaded with that
insult favore not to appear, there nothing else
at stake
NAll that then in the balance was whether
Senators would have to go on record
That was the matter which Senator Watson says
was his private business
Just why Watson SO personally interested in
preventing vote by the Senate the qualification
of Senator's? Just why he eager to prevent
the ruling which made, that those who do accept
such favors are unfit?
How did this privately and personally effect
Genator Watson?
Private business? How come?