New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-02-25
DAWES QUIETLY ADDS
TO HIS PRESTIGE

Until this Boulder Dam filibuster
came along to PROSTATE action in
the Senate the regime of Vice-Pres-
ident Dawes, as its presiding officer,
was one of considerable merit. Even
the desire of the Vice President to
keep the mill running steadily failed
when determined he-men from Ari-
IONA fell to reciting hog and beetle
statistics from the voluminous litera-
ture of the government departments,
or read Greek classics-anything to
keep up the run of conversation.
There are some situations which
even Helen Maria" can't control.
In the good old days the Vice
President was something of a yes
man. in the Senate, sort of puppet
set up on pedestal to run the show
but not expected to be real boss-like
about it Decisions on points of order
made by this presiding officer were
frequently overruled when senators
cited better parliamentary law than
the officer in charge.
General Dawes, it must be said to
his credit, is doing considerably more
than this; and he is decidedly no
puppet-not even a puppet of the
administration. Dawes, in truth, is
running things according to Dawes.
not according to Coolidge.
Up to the Arizona dam filibustcr
there has not been an instance dur
ing the Dawes regime Of an import
ant measure being talked to death.
The senators still had the power to
unburden themselves of day-long
speeches, but it has been evident that
most OF them were inclined to agree
with Dawes upon most topics; in
fact, Pc YES has been more like an
insurgent than a Republican and has
been hand-in-glove with the admin
istration directors on several occa-
sions.
Take, for instance, the farm relief
Bal. The President opposed it: the
Nice-President favored it. When
those in charge of the measure were
in quandary how to insure its
passage through the Senate many
conferences took place in the Vice
Presidents room at the Capitol.
When the modus operandi was de-
cided upon the farm bloc relied upon
Dawes for all the support the pre-
siding officer could yield. and they
got it. Even the open opposition of
Secretary Mellon did not avail. 1t is
now clear that Dawes so arranged
the battle line that victory in the
Senate was secured.
The McFadden branch banking
bill likewise got the support of the
Nice-President. A filibuster threat
ened, and it was the Vice-President,
it is now known, who suggested
cloture. The bill went through under
this pressure applied by Dawes.
The same with the radio bill, lust
signed by the President. Dawes was
depended upon to push it through
the Senate in his own unobtrusive
style.
The Influence of the Vice-Pres
ident in the Senate deserves a little
comment because of its UNIQUE
character. He is entitled to credit for
having the courage of his own con-
Victlons, for not being a puppet of
his administration, for incuring the
dislike of the powers that be. Yet,
II President Coolidge decides to run
tor third time. it is entirely likely
that Dawes again will be the run
ming mate. His influence with the
farm bloc will be such as TO mean
political losses should he be thrown
aside for some one else more likely
to play with the White House. In
this day of standardized thought and
standardized political action such in
depedent men as Dawes, despite the
mistakes that may be made, are re-
freshing.