Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-11
NORRIS RIDICULES
WATSON QUESTIONS
Senator Suggests Little Jim
Should Find a Place in
kindergarten.

Referring to Senator Watson of In
diana, Republican leader Of the Senate,
Is Little Jimmy Watson" and as q
lobbyist" before he became a Senator,
Senator Norris Of Nebraska, presiding
over the Progressive conference at the
Carlton Hotel, today suggested that
Senator Watson might PROFOUND his
QUESTIONABLE Ito his own political ma
chine" instead of sending it to the
Progressives.
The Nebraska Senator was referring,
he said, TO published accounts Of a
QUESTIONABLE which Senator Watson
had sent to him from New York. The
Watson letter called upon Senator Nor
ris and the Progressive conference TO
say where they stood on prohibition, an
oil embargo. immigration. Government
ownership Of railroads and many other
controversial subjects.
Reply 10 Watson.
After completing his opening address
to the conference, Senator Norris said:
There appeared in the morning
papers a letter directed to me by Sen
ator James E. Watson. I think ought
to make just brief reference to it. In
the frst place, Mr.. Watson does not
appear to realize that we are not pre-
tending to be q political party. This
is not a political party. We are not
here for the purpose Of organizing q
political party. The questions he has
propounded he had best well take home
to his own political machine.
Mr.. Watson, as you all know, is a
Senator from the State of Indiana
He use TO be, before he became a Sena-
tor, a lobbyist representing some OF the
great corporations seeking legislature
favors at the hands of the National
Congress. presume his former mas
ters are better satisfied with his work
in, than the were with his work out
side of Congress.
Says He Is Out Of Place.
THE people Of Indiana are as fine
people as live anywhere. but they
sometimes do comical, funny things
and they certainly perpetrated a gigan-
tic joke upon the country at large when
they elected little Jimmie Watson to
the United States Senate. He has
! really no place here.
He Is out Of place If he should at
tempt TO be here. We can't waste our
time with men that are as far behind
the march Of civilization as he Is and as
far backward. This is not q kindergar-
ten. Moreover, little Jimmie Watson
ought to, TO be in his proper sphere and
in his real class, gather together his
marbles, go out and hunt up that boy
Lucas, and together they could have q
ine game in the backyard Of the White
House"
The statement of Senator Norris was
greeted with laughter and applause.
| In letter TO Senator Norris Senator
Watson said:
The entire country is interested in
the meeting Of those who are pleased to
call themselves Progressiyes that will
be held in Washington tomorrow, of
which, according to the reports OF the
press, you are to be the chairman, and
for that reason I am addressing this
communication to you.
Wants Explicit Answers.
TN order that your position may be
clearly defined and that the people Of
| the country may know to Just what ex-
! tent they will be able to coincide with
| your views, and believing that those
assembled will be pleased to fearleSsly
state their position on all public ques-
tions, am taking the liberty Of ad-
dressing the following queries to you
| hoping that the honorable men as
sembled will see At to give explicit and
unequivocal answers to them in the
Interest of clarity:
Should the eighteenth amendment
be repealed?
"If not, then should the Federal Gov
eminent take over the enforcement re-
sponsibility Of the State?
Should Russia be recognized?
Should the Government undertake
the ownership and operation OF the
railways?
Should the Government take over
and operate the electrical power busi-
ness Of the country?
Should the Constitution be amended
TO give Congress power to override de.
cisions Of the Supreme Court?
Should the Constitution be amended
to deprive the President. Of his veto
power?
should the tariff on farm products
be reduced?
Should the Farm Board be abol.
ished2
SHOULD IL cease its loans to faEmersi
Should the country adopt the doll
system?
SHOULD we liberalize our immigration
laws?
Should we place an embargo on thu
importation Of oils?
Should we place Q tariff on oils7
These interrogat tories are addressed
to you not In any controversial spirit