Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-02

rem were carefully sifted, in speeche:
Of signal ability which dealt exclusively
with the facts of the public record, not
with rumor and hearsay. The nomina-
ton was rejected by the margin Of 6
single vote. Had it been considered
In secret session, it can scarcely bt
questioned that the nomination woulc
have been confirmed. In this connec-
ton, I venture the assertion that hao
the nomination of Roy o. West Of
Illinois for Secretary of the Interior
and Irvine L. Lenroot Of Wisconsin fol
Federal judge been considered in open
session, the majorities for confirmation
would have been greatly reduced II not
entirely overturned.
This leads to what I regard as the
real reason, and very practical one
since the Warren case to enforce the
secrecy rule in all its rigors. It is moth
ing more or less than an effort tt
defeat opposition in the Senate against
the appointment to high Office Of mer
whose connections with special inter
estS render them unfit to serve OF
whose public records cannot be de-
Tended in the open. It is an effort to
suppress the public expression of OBJ
conceal the votes cast by Senators or
such nominations from their con-
Stituents.
Right to Reveal Vote.
have at all times maintained the
right to reveal my votes to the people
Of Wisconsin who elected me, because
in my Judgment they have q right tc
that information. In that regard ]
have taken the position of my father
Robert M. La Toilette, who was the
first in contemporary times to assert
the right Of an American Senator to
reveal his votes upon any nomination
and upon all business of the Senate
I can recall the time when he def1ed
the power OF the Senate to expel him
from that body, under rules which he
believed were adopted in violation OF
the plain terms of the Constitution
He attacked the system of secrecy in
all phases Of legislation when he said:
Evil and corruption thrive best in
the dark. Many, If not most, of the
acts of legislative dishonesty which
have made scandalous the proceedings
of Congress and State Legislatures
could never have reached the first
stage had they not been conceived and
practically consummated in secret con-
ferences, secret cauouses, secret ses-
Sions OF committees and then carried
through the legislative body with little
or no discussion"
The Senate finance committee still
clings to secret procedure. It now pro-
poses to hold its hearings on the pend
ing tariff bill in secret session. To force
public consideration of this most impor-
tant measure involving billions of dollars
and affecting the pocketbook of every
American family, l have introduced a
resolution directing the committee to
open its doors so that people may see
what Is going on and judge for them
selves whether those who are seeking
tariff favors are justified in their de-
mands.
I have not undertaken tonight to
deal with the Senate rules of secrecy
which still exist to control the discus
sion of treaties with foreign nations
behind closed doors. 1t is unnecessary
to do so, because by majority vote
the Senate may decide to consider
treaties in open session and the prac-
tice Of debating treaties in secret has
already been abandoned by the Senate
on every important treaty submitted to
the Senate during the last 10 years.
The treaty of Versailles that ended the
World War, the World Court protocol
and the Kellogg anti-war pact have all
been considered in open sessions.
The last veStige Of secrecy in the
legislative proceedings of the Federal
Government Is thus to be found in the
rules of the United States Senate.
This is no longer a struggling Repub-
lie, setting out on painful and un-
certain experiment in the capacity of
men to govern themselves. The ex-
cuse can no longer be offered by eau
tious and timid men that we do not
have at hand the means Of diSSemt-
mating among the people prompt, re-
liable and complete reports of both
sides of all public questions that are
debated and determined at Washing
ton. These rules can never be en-
forced. They are in conflict with the
whole trend of our times. They are
q relic of kingly power that is dis
credited and abandoned in every coun-
try that claims the character Of a rep
democracy.
The public interest will be served,
the true dignity of the Senate will be
upheld, the struggle during 140 years
by men who believed in democracy and
have been ready to fight for 1t will be
indicated when We have the courage
to open the doors of the Senate.