Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-20
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memoirs. The work was finished just
before he died.
When Grover Cleveland went to
Princeton, N. j., to spend his last days
he was importuned to connect himself
with many enterprises but he resisted
them all. He did serve as honorary
trustee of an insurance company, to
place its affairs on higher level, and
he also accepted election as trustee
of Princeton College.
Harris0n's Career.
When Gen. Harrison ceased to be
President he resumed the law in In
dianapoliS. He also engaged in lit
erary work and published an interest
ing work on the presidency. Probably
the most restless of all former Presi-
dents was Col. Roosevelt. He became
the editor of magazine and wrote
much for publication. But that was
only one of his many interests.
Mr.. Taft wrote newspaper editorials
for while after he left the White
House, and he also accepted the post
of law lecturer at Yale University.
In view of all these facts, some of us
may be inclined to believe that PreSi-
dent out of Office Is somewhat like a
fish out of water. What is to be done
about it?
So far as their own comfort is con-
cerned, most of our former Presidents
would probably just like Ito whittle."
But it is desirable that they have some
status other than that of a private
citizen. Hence the suggestion of an
ex-officio senatorship. and the consult
ing of influential Senators.
Fess' Statement.
Senator Simeon D. Tess of Ohio. said
1.-THE ideal disposition would be to
make the President, when retiring, a
Senator at large, representing the 48
States. Any man competent to become
the President of the United States
would be admirably fitted for this. Add
ed to this his experience gained as the
incumbent of the Office, which compelS
him to live in an atmosphere of nation
wide interest all his waking hours, dur
ing which time his contact is with rep
resentatives of every geographical in
terest, as we'll as economic and social,
makes him a real representative of
every part of the Union.
His prestige would be sufficient to
! make his recommendation of great
| value. It would also do away with the
humiliation of the head of the Nation
returning to the work-a-day world.
The precipitated declension from the
highest position in the world to one of
the most ordinary, with the inevitable
indifference attached, makes the spread
from the sublime to the ordinary so
great that it should be corrected.
Amendment Hinted.
"The only objection to this DISPOSE
ton is that 1t would require an amend
ment to the Constitution, which might
not meet with favor among the people.
I would be heartily gratif1ed If such a
movement could be consumnated."
Senator Reed Smoot of Utah, chair
man of the committee on finance, said:
IT am not convinced that it would be
a good thing to change the law to pro-
vide that retiring Presidents automati-
caliy be given seat in the Senate. In
fact, without any further knowledge on
the suggestions. would have to OPP
pose such a proposition"
Senator Walter E. Edge, New Jersey,
says: You raise q very interesting
question. I am not quite prepared to
go on record concerning the wisdom or
advisability of an ex-President auto
matically becoming a Senator.
"Offhand, there are many related
questions involved. It would, in effect
destroy the fundamental system Of two
Senators from each commonwealth.
1T would, in an indirect way, some
what favor the British system of giving
cabinet ministers, under certain condi-
tons, seat in the Senate, which has
frequently been discussed in this coun-
try and denied.
while l appreciate that an ex-Presi-
dent would have no executive or de-
partmental authority, still the great
influence he must WELD with those de-
partmentS because of his previous service
might be helpful and, again, might be
considered somewhat discriminatory.
From a practical standpoint I doubt
| very much whether an ex-President
| would want this privilege. From my
experience in Washington, when an ex-
President finally finishes his term he
is extremely anxious to relinquiSh public
responsibility"
| Senator Pat Harrison, Mississippi
said he was not In favor of the change
while Senator George w. Norris
Nebraska, said he had not given much
| thought to the subject. He declared
| that without change in the organic
| law former Presidents could not receive
vote in the Senate. but they might,
| he thought. be allowed to participate in
debates. II have not favored the plan. -
| concluded Senator Norris. but at the
same time / would have no serious
objection If it were done"
Senator David A. Reed, Pennsylvania