PROGRESSIVE SENATORS HOLD BALANCE OF POWER
PROGRESSIVE SENATORS HOLD BALANCE OF POWER CONGRESS convened on Monday, December 5th. In the Senate the question of seating Vare and Smith was immediately made an issue when the two Senators...
...Believing that this power should be exercised to further legislation of vital public concern, Senators Shipstead, Frazier, Nye,_Blaine, and myself joined in a letter to Senator Curtis, Republican leader of the Senate, setting forth our position with regard to organization of the Senate...
...An unwilling Senate passed the resolution without amendment...
...that the reported evidence of the committee showed that at the primary there were numerous and various instances of fraud and corruption in behalf of Vare's candidacy and that there was spent by Vare and his friends a sum exceeding $785,000...
...President Coolidge deals with his foreign policy in the glittering generalities and high sounding sentiments which ignore the facts...
...In the United States Senate on Feb...
...San Francisco News...
...President Coolidge has never manifested greater fear that the government might do something that would expose the profits of the Power Trust or interfere with its absolute dominion than in the message under consideration...
...cans the balance of power rn the Senate...
...We shall always have flood and drought, heat and cold, earthquake and wind, lightning and tidal wave, which are all too constant in their afflictions...
...Before the vote was taken on the Smith resolution and after a plea had been made on his behalf for further opportunity to be heard, the resolution was amended to refer his credentials to the special committee in order that he might have another chance to put in evidence and arguments and to provide that he might have the privilege of the floor to speak in his defense, but not to take the oath of offiice nor vote...
...Xo one who gave a single moment's thought could imagine there was any relation between the two...
...that on the 10th of January, 1927, the then governor of Pennsylvania, Gifford Pinchot, filed a certificate in pursuance of law in which he certified that on the face of the returns William S. Vare appears "to have been chosen Senator from Pennsylvania...
...But so far as any legislation for Farm Relief is concerned the President's message shows the same lack of sympathy, the same determined opposition expressed in his veto of the McNary-Haugcn bill at the last session of Congress...
...In the meantime Smith and Vare are not members of the Senate...
...Having obtained these definite assurances from Senator Curtis and the Republican Conference, Senators Shipstead, Frazier, Nye, Blaine, and myself announced that we would assist in the organization of the Senate, reserving our right to pursue an independent course of action upon questions which may arise during the session...
...Susan Goldmark...
...Love lifts the torch and lights the way...
...In another connection the President says, "EVERY OTHER POSSIBILITY SHOULD BE EXHAUSTED BEFORE THE FEDER- AL GOVERNMENT BECOMES ENGAGED IN BUSINESS...
...The real motive back of the sale of Muscle Shoals is camouflaged with the promise that the proceeds of the sale shall be "dedicated" to agricultural research, etc.—the same old excuse the reactionaries have offered throughout the years that the sale of Muscle Shoals has been debated in Congress...
...Muscle Shoals is disposed of by the President in a single paragraph...
...The Administration's Taxation Policy was briefly stated...
...that the Governor stated in a letter accompanying the certificate that he believed that Vare's nomination was partly bought and partly stolen...
...The arguments will then turn upon the evidence in the cases, and although Vare and Smith may take the floor in their own defense, they cannot vote until a final disposition of their cases has been made by the Senate...
...Flood Control is discussed by President Coolidge in his message with the same cold political mindedness that he • manifested in refusing to call an extra session of Congress in the midst of the worst peace-time disaster the country-has ever experienced...
...The President said the recommendations of the Secretary of Treasury had his "complete support", which means unswerving adherence to the Mellon Tax Plan—lower taxes for the rich, higher taxes for those least able to bear the burden...
...In our conference with Senator Curtis he assured us that "a majority of the Republican Conference took the position that there should be no unnecessary delay in securing a vote upon the three measures during this session of Congress...
...It is still more recent history that President Coolidge with the same pen with which he vetoed the McNary-Haugen bill, approved the bill giving banks greatly increased power, which resulted almost immediately in an orgy of speculation of serious consequence to borrowers...
...Some millions of farmers throughout the land will, however, resent President Coolidge's unique proposal that this decrease in acreage be brought about, "ESPECIALLY THROUGH BANKS AND OTHERS WHO SUPPLY CREDIT REFUSING TO FINANCE AN ACREAGE MANIFESTLY TOO LARGE...
...The result of the 1926 elections has placed upon us a responsibility to our constituents which we must discharge...
...The more important question with us is that certain legislation which we think is of paramount interest to the people shall not be pigeon-holed in the various committees of the Senate which are about to be organized...
...Senator Caraway of Arkansas, who knows the situation well, says: "The president's message was a distinct shock and a great disappointment to everyone living in the Mississippi Valley...
...The importance of the control- of the Senate Committees is recognized by everyone...
...We are not so vitally concerned with the individual preferment of Senators upon committees...
...Christmas Message From Western seas to Eastern strand The length and breadth of this wide land, Ring out the chimes Their clear melodious rhymes...
...In the Senate the question of seating Vare and Smith was immediately made an issue when the two Senators "elect" presented themselves at the bar of the Senate requesting that they be permitted to take their seats...
...The resolution citea the fact that §458,-782 had been expended on behalf of Smith...
...For this the deceased Senator should have the everlasting gratitude ot his countrymen.—Waukesha Freeman...
...There is not one word concerning the bombing of three hundred Nicaragu-ans by American airplanes, last July...
...The fact that he is making war in Nicaragua without consent of Congress and that American soldiers are in the field, is not only ignored, but he utters sentiments which arc in direct conflict with his acts...
...The division between the parties with Smith and Vare not seated stands, Republicans 46, Democrats 47, Farmer-Labor 1. The 1926 elections gave the Progressive Republi...
...As the name of Smith was called, Senator Norris of Nebraska offered a x :<olution which reviewed the important facts brought out by the investigation of the special committee of the Senate with regard to Smith's primary campaign in Illinois...
...It recited the further fact that at the time these contributions were received, Smith was Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission and that these public utility corporations had business before the Commission and that it had the power to regulate rates, charges and business of these public utility corporations...
...it does not seek to reclaim lands...
...ORGANIZATION OF THE SENATE AS THIS is written the Senate has not yet organized...
...3) A resolution for a thorough investigation of the policy of the United States in Central and South America...
...As in his speech made in . New York on April 25th, he neglects to state what his administration is actually doing...
...The time is here when Congress must exercise its right to demand a reckoning from the Coolidge-Kellogg administration of our foreign relations...
...that Vare had in no manner controverted the truth of these facts although he had a full opportunity to present arguments and evidence in his behalf...
...In the course of his discussion of the Agricultural problem the President made an astonishing suggestion that will shock the farmers of the country, though the bankers may take to it kindly...
...If finally denied seats in the Senate they will not have the prestige of membership nor opportunity to resign...
...There is no room for cruel hates When love and friendship are true mates, When deep beneath each one's desire Burns clear the flame of friendship's fire...
...It discloses an amazing lack of information upon the part of the President when he compares flood control with irrigation projects...
...The President's recommendations in the matter of Flood Prevention, even more than in relation to other significant domestic problems, reveal a spirit of reaction and absence of statesmanship...
...Upon the resolution as amended the vote was, ayes 60, noes 32...
...He discussed the subject somewhat at length with many assurances of his good will for the farmers and solicitude for farm prosperity...
...But for his efforts in the U. S. Senate the doings of Fall and Sinclair would have probably passed unnoticed until it was too late to recover to the republic immensely valuable properties, of which it was unlawfully deprived...
...It contained not a line of helpful suggestions, nor a single word of encouragement and hope...
...We are a peaceful people and are committed to the settling of disputes by amicable adjustment rather than force...
...La Follette persisted...
...We do not ask that any Senator shall be committed to support any of these propositions...
...He would not permit reactionary senators to shelve the investigation...
...Then Republican leaders sought to stifle the probe...
...THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: THE President's message, presented to the House and Senate separately by their respective reading clerks, Tuesday, December 6, was a reaffirmation of Mr...
...The Vare resolution was amended in substantially the same manner as the Smith resolution had been and upon it the vote was, ayes 55, noes 29...
...He says, "It is necessary to look upon this emergency as a national disaster...
...In any frank discussion of the state of the Union any accounting of this condition of warfare should have been made to the Congress which under the Constitution has sole power to declare war...
...He does not report that 37 more were killed the week before his message was delivered...
...The legislative program Tjf the entire session is involved...
...Senator Curtis referred the correspondence to the Republican Conference which met on December 6th...
...We felt that the legislation upon which we requested assurances of a final vote should be a minimum program, but one containing the measures of most urgent concern to the people...
...After a dramatic speech, full of facts, he introduced a resolution directing the secretary of the interior to furnish the Senate with all ^information pertaining to the leases of oil reserves in the states of California and Wyoming and directing the committee on public lands and surveys to investigate the entire subject...
...It will then report its findings of fact to the Senate...
...The resolution recited the fact that the statutes of Illinois make it a misdemeanor for any officer or agent of public utility corporations to contribute any money to any member of the commission or for any member of the commission to accept such moneys upon penalty of removal from office...
...Even with these facts clearly in mind, it could hardly have been anticipated that the President would specifically recommend in his annual message to Congress that the bankers use the thumbscrews of credit and loans to force the farmers to run their farms as the bankers direct...
...Those who looked for any change in the President's attitude toward Agriculture were, sorely disappointed...
...2) A bill to limit the jurisdiction of Federal Courts in the issuance of injunctions...
...The resolution stated that Smith had in no manner controverted the truth of the facts recited although he had full opportunity to do so...
...Ring out, ye chimes, your clear melodious lay, Love lifts the torch and lights the gleaming way, On Christmas day...
...We are simply determined that the organization which we help to construct shall not function to prevent a final vote in the open Senate upon, these important questions...
...To that end we request definite assurance from the Republican majority that there shall be a final vote before the adjournment of the first session of the 70th Congress upon the following measures: (1) Adequate farm relief legislation on the basis of the McNary-Haugen bill to be reported from committee on or before February 1st...
...A MONUMENT TO LA FOLLETTE THE United States Supreme Court wrote a monument to the late Senator Robert M. La Follette of Wisconsin when it held that the naval oil leases were fraudulent and illegal...
...When the name of Vare was called Senator Norris offered another resolution which recited the fact that a special committee of the Senate had investigated the primary in Pennsylvania...
...After conferences, we limited our request to farm relief,—of paramount import^ice to agriculture, the limitation of the power of federal courts in the issuance of injunctions,—of signal importance to labor, and the investigation of the policy of the United States in Central and South America, which involves the question of imperialism and war...
...Engineers of the highest authority who have studied the problem say recurrence of these awful catastrophies with all the attendant human suffering and loss of life is needless and can be prevented...
...The resolution then declared, "Now therefore be it resolved that the expenditure of such a large sum of money to secure the nomination of the said William S. Vare as a candidate for the United States Senate is contrary to sound public policy, harmful to the dignity and honor of the Senate, dangerous to the perpetuity of a free government, and, together with the charges of corruption and fraud made in the report of said committee, and substantiated by the evidence taken by said committee, and the charges of corruption and fraud officially made by the Governor of Pennsylvania, taints with fraud and corruption the credentials of the said William S. Vare for a seat in the United States Senate...
...The chief value of the project is to create electric power...
...that all of that sum except $171,500 was contributed to Smith's agent and representative with his full knowledge and consent...
...7, 1921, Senator La Follette first told the American people what had been occurring...
...After a thorough discussion, Senator Curtis was authorized to confer further with the five Senators who had signed the letters...
...Flood control is not reclamation project...
...and be it further resolved, that the said Frank L. Smith is j»of entitled to take the oath of office and is not entitled to membership in the Senate of the United States...
...Once more we are reminded that "By their works ye shall know them...
...The President hopes for the best in our relations with Mexico and China and urges us to walk humbly and do good...
...and that $203,000 of the total was contributed by officers of large public utility corporations doing business in Illinois...
...It is to prevent the destruction by water of lands already reclaimed and in cultivation...
...He says the most effective means of dealing with surplus ci"ops is to reduce the surplus acreage...
...In our reply to Senator Curtis we requested that he secure from the Senators of the majority a further assurance that they would assist in obtaining a vote upon these three measures before adjournment of the session...
...Some of those interested in relieving agricultural conditions will agree that this is a suggestion worthy of consideration in so far as the decrease in acreage can he effected "through the or--ganizations already in existence, through the information published by the Department of Agriculture...
...The area affected covers many states and flood prevention is preeminently a question for the Federal Government to deal with...
...and be it further resolved that the said William S. Vare is not entitled to take the oath of office and is not entitled to membership in the United States Senate...
...Speaking to his resolutions, Senator Norris made a masterful speech reviewing the evidence taken by the special committee in the investigation of the Smith and Vare cases...
...Several of our marines have lost their lives...
...Legislation is not affected by their vote...
...With music sweet and laughter gay, On Christmas day...
...Even in the matter of Flood Control he has expressed overwhelming anxiety lest the government err in doing too much for the stricken area, evidently inspired by the apprehension that government operation of power might be involved...
...The nitrate plants are no good for national defense...
...His traducers will be forgotten—most of them have been—but the supreme court, confirming his public serviae, has decreed that "thou shalt not steal" is as much a law now, for all peoples, as it was when emblazoned on Mt...
...So it is recommended that Muscle Shoals, in which the people of the United States have invested $150,000,000, shall be turned over to the Power Trust instead of being op-crated to furnish farms and homes and industry with electric current at cost' as is done in Ontario...
...More than ' 500 Nicaraguans have been killed by our troops while they "prevented a heavy sacrifice of life...
...It is well known that in the 1924 presidential campaign farmers in the depressed agricultural sections of the country were called in by their bankers and told what would happen to their mortgages and their credit if Coolidge were not elected...
...Sinai on tablets of stone as one of the Ten Commandments...
...It is the policy of the United States to promote peace...
...Under date of December 1, we wrote to Senator Curtis: The undersigned Progressive Senators desire to bring to your attention their attitude upon the question of organizing the Senate...
...He dismisses the responsibility as though these floods were an unforeseeable and unpreventable accident of nature when he says: "The government is not an insurer of its citizens against the hazard of the elements...
...The special committee will at once proceed to hear any further arguments and to take any .additional evidence which Smith and Vare may have to offer...
...In the next breath the President says, "Our marine and naval forces protected our citizens and their property and prevented a heavy sacrifice of life and the -destruction of that country (Nicaragua) by a reversion to a state of revolution...
...Senator Curtis replied, stating that while he could not speak for the Republican majority and did not desire to commit himself on legislation in advance, he would make every effort to secure consideration and a final vote upon these measures and would appoint a Committee on Order of Business which would expedite consideration of all important legislation before the Senate...
...The Progressives are'making a determined fight for the investigation...
...But in reality he ignores the fact that existing conditions of the Mississippi River and its tributaries are a constant, not an occasional menace to the safety of this great area...
...Later that year La Follette was nominated as an independent candidate for president and conservatives pictured him as unsafe...
...The resolution then declared, "Now therefore be it resolved, that the acceptance and expenditure of the various sums of money aforesaid .in behalf of the candidacy of the said Frank L. Smith is contrary to sound public policy, harmful to the dignity and honor of the Senate, dangerous to the perpetuity of free government, and taints with fraud and corruption the credentials for a seat in the Senate presented by the said Frank L. Smith...
...A thorough-going investigation of that policy in Central and South America is the first step...
...Coolidge's stand on the important issues to be dealt with in the first session of the 70th Congress...
...It is hard to believe that we have drifted so far from fundamental ideals of independence and freedom...
...EVERLASTING GRATITUDE THE MORE we get of evidence regarding the Teapot Dome business of Fall and Sinclair, together with other similar proceedings, the more fully is the nation conscious of the great debt of gratitude it owes to former Senator Robert M. La Follette...
Vol. 19 • December 1927 • No. 12
