Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-02
EVILS OF SECRECY IN SENATE
ABOUND, LA TOILETTE CLAIMS
Contrary to Spirit of Consti-
tuition, He Tells Nation
Over Radio.
Public Deprived of Rights and
Unfit Men Are Declared
to Be Favored.

The sternest indictment of the United
States Senate's secrecy rule yet drawn
by one of its present day members
was delivered to the Nation over the
radio lastevening by Senator Robert M
LaFollette of Wisconsin, a leader in the
senatorial fight to do away with secret
executive sessions on presidential ap.
pointments.
Taking the position set forth years
ago by his father, Fighting Bob" La
Toilette, who was the first in high place
to strike out against secret debates and
secret votes; the Senate's youngest
member vigorously urged abolition,
root and branch" of the system.
The question arising out of publica-
ton of what was purported to be a
roll call on the secret confirmation OF
Irvine L. Lenroot, former Senator,
to be Federal court judge, sis no mat
ter of procedure which concerns the
Senate alone" he asserted. 1T is OF
profound importance to all the people
of this Country.
Upon its settlement" he declared,
depends the right of the press to pub
lsh information concerning the public
business, free from censorship. 1t in
wolves the right of the people to have
that information and to hold their
Representatives in the Senate to strict
accountability for votes cast upon all
questions involving the public interest"
Radio Forum Feature.
Senator La Toilette spoke over a ma
tional network Of stations in the Nation
al Radio Forum, arranged by The Star,
and sponsored by the Columbia Broad
casting System. In beginning his ad-
dress he expressed regret that one OF
the advocates of secrecy" was not
present to debate the subject with him.
ut is an admirable feature of this
radio FORUM" he said, that 1t brings
discussion of important issues"
The Senate, he said, is face to face
with an issue:
Shall the Senate transact the pub
lie business, while debating and con-
firming nominees of the President to
Federal Office, in open or secret ses-
sion?" That, he asserted, Is "the naked
question" stripped Of all technicalities.
Then, in brief, concise summary,
he stated his view. "I have taken the
position" he asserted, "that the present
rule of secrecy which requires nomina-
tions of public officials to be debated
and voted upon behind closed doors is
a violation Of the spirit Of the Consti-
tuition.
"It paralyzes any effective opposition
to the appointment Of unfit men for
public office.
"It attempts to destroy the primary
responsibility OF a Senator 70 his con-
stituents.
"It sets up a censorship over the
press which never has been and never
can be enforced, and it impairs the
dignity and the power Of self-respect-
ing body"
The only way the question can be
settled rightly, he declared, is by IAN
amendment to the Senate rules to
provide for the fullest publicity for all
the proceedings of the Senate, and to
abolish, root and branch, this system
Of secrecy"
IF such an amendment is adopted"
he said, 1--WE shall witness a change
of momentous historic importance in
the conduct of the public business at
Washington"
Efforts to Abolish Secrecy.
Senator La Toilette gave a compre-
hensive resume Of the Lenroot case.
He pointed out that on IA different
occasions an effort has been made in
the Senate to abolish secrecy.
The defense of the system, he con-
tinued. has always been made that by
closing the doors on consideration of
executive nominations Senators are per-
nitted ito discuss freely their objections
to a nominee, which could not properly
be raised in open session."
The complete answer" to the argu-
ment that secret sessions promote a
nominees is found in the records of
recent years, he said, pointing out that
nominations of Albert B. Fall, Secre-
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