New Britain herald., 1929-11-20
SHOULD SENATORS
 TELL ON FRIENDS?
Capital Divided on BrOOAlart-
 Is He Hero or POIeCat?

Washington, Nov. 2O-Argumcnt r&&es houy here over the question: Should a senator tell?'
 And is the Hon. smith Wildman Brookhart of Iowa simply a brave and honest public servant, or does he qualify for membership in the "polecat Club" as was suggested in a letter 10 him which he read on the Senate floor?
 Brookhart certainly had a good story to unload. If anything were needed 10 prove the existence of a social lobby it was the tale of how this simple gentleman from the mid dle west was invited 10 q booze par ty' and placed between Otto Kahn and one of J. ?. Morgans boys, each of whom tried to educate him on matters pertaining 10 railroad l"gis- lation. And how such distinguished republican senators as Smoot anc Edge were there. too. not 10 men ton AIr Ware. or Mr. Moses, who urged BrookhaIt 10 go.
 \ Question Cf Ethics
 Int the general opinion is against Mr. Brookha~t. Most members of Congress. lobbyists and newspaper mon agree that Mr. Brookhart, even if put 10 torture. never should have squealtd on his hosts In these con- tontionS the point of a gentleman honor is heavily stressed, although some of the Iowa statesman's loud est critics arc those who would Suf- fer most severely if undue publicity were to discourage gentlemen with plenty of money fro mCiving booze parties" in WashiAgt on'S best ho- tcls
 Tho minority point Of view is that Erookhart's disclosures are not 10 be compared with tn" conduct of a gues; who sees liquor served at private party and then goes and calls up the prohibition agents. I}roOkhart has always been a radical on rail road legislation. If these "Wall- S,rertors," as he calls them. tried to get him rickled or otherwise at tempted 10 wangle him away from his convictions, well, it just served them right.
 Tho senator Isn't Worried
 Rrookhart himself is losing no sleon over the ethics of the case,
 "Thero'5 no ethics in covering up crime," said he to his correspond cnt
 "Whcn a fellow invites me down to a dinner and tries 10 get m" 10 I1,lIIipt. aires can attempt 10 sWcrvn me from my duty. I'll trade Lly ethics for his any time.
 "T was thc only progressive there, ont of seven or eight senators. But there was Gooding Of Idaho, who vas a progressive in railroad mat tors and they tried 10 work on him, too.
 "Thars tho most important social lobby that has h+eN HrCUHd here that bunch of Wall-&trcctcrs with their bionrial banQucts for republi- can HenHtors.
 "H you drink some booze. that makos you still more agreeable and willing 10 listen to thrLr.
 'l lO0 kllON NItt -tI li'N Il'lf checked up on my personal habits. But they found out. all right Denies HCldlng Secret One asked Mr. BroOkhart why he had refrainod so long from telling the world about th" "boOZe party and Walt Streets attempt 10 influ- enca him. Mir. Broollhart denied that he had. He had only mentioned it recently on the senate floor, apropos of something or other. and his ref crcncc had caused so much excite mcnt that everyone began 10 demand more details. From the outset he re fused 10 nurse the ugly secret in his own bosom.
 Right away I told the vice prosi dent of the National ". C. T. l.. about it." he explained. That's Mrs. Ida F, Wise Smith, who is also pres ident of the Iowa w. s. Y. |. Shes a fine woman.
 No, she wasn't excited about it. She knew the kind of thing that was going on down here.
 "I mentioned it to quite q lot Of people and told the story in many of my speeches"