Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-02-18
A DISTINCTION WITHOUT a
DIFFERENCE.

DIFFERENCES.
The Unt.ed States Senate is no
longer the great upper chamber,
forming a curb upon the lower
branch and calmly and disposition
a5ely considering measures which
may be brought before it. Its era
Of genuine craftsmanship has passed
and we are now observing It's antics
in dhe glare OF present day politics.
How else are we to consider its ac-
ton in rescrting 10 the antics of
ward organizations. when it essays
to pass a resolution defining the
terms allotted to a presidential Of
fetal who has already spoken plain
iy on this subject?
This is all the more disgusting in
view of lis attitude with reference
to Senators elected from me sover-
eign STATES of Illinois and Pennsyl-
vauia Here is an instance where q
precedent has been made, which is
revolutionary and dangerous. The
Constitution provides that either
branch of the legislative department
OF the government shall be ihe Judge
of the qualification of is own mem
hers. A Sena:tor-elect is not a mem
Der of the United States Senate
until he is sworn in. How then can
the body properly pass upon his
qualification until he is on The roster
of the body itself?
These genNcmen voted to disregard
this precedent or rather to mako
neY one and then before their action
has been forgotten proceed to ell
VIA it thought proper in co
ordinate branch OF the same govern
ment and with the Supreme CourN
representing the coord nate Judicial
Department of the Government silent
upon ;h's same question, although
it would have been proper to ask
Chat department to pass upon this
all important point at issue.
BUD here is the resolution passed
February 10. 1928 by vote Of Sc
20. 26:
/. Resolved. mat it is the sense of
tile. Senate that me precedent estab'
Rshed by Washington and other
Presidents of the United States m
retiring from he Presidential onice
after their second Term has become,
by universal concurrence, a part Of
our republican system OF government
and that any departure from this
eme.honored custom would be I'M
wise, unpatrioic and fraught with
81 peril 20 our free institutions"
E's.s's '"'...'
IN order to be consistent, it will Be
necessary for the United States Sen
ateso pass the following resolution
Just as soon as possible
1T Is the sense OF me Senate that
The precedent established since the
foundation of the government by
which a citizen legally eligible to be
elected to me United States Sen
ate and who has been so elected and
who holds a prima facie righ5 to q
seSt therein must be legally sworn
in and become a member OF the
United States Senate before he can
be debarred, ousted, and denied he
right to the office OF Sena-or has
Become by universal concurrence q
mart of our republican sys'em OF
government, and that anv depar ure
from this time-honored cusOm
would be unwise, unpariotic and
feught with peril 10 our free In
stihitions"
Senator Cole Blease of South
Carolina was right when he sad
Senator Blease charged tina: the
Senate was becoming a super Grand
jury and chief investigator"
"The resolution, he said SIS in
troduced for the purpose Of Shaping
Mr.. Coolidge in the face. There
can be only one hones5 opinion
thai it IS intended to put quietus
on ;he Coolidge movement.
1t may be during the nex9 gener-
alton that the American people will
awake from their presenj lethargy
and send staesmen to Washington
instead of demagogues. When that
is done. prosperity will result and
onerous taxes will be a hing Of the
past, EW