Work Done.
Last week, the U. S. Senators:
Finally rejected the credentials of Senator-elect Frank Leslie Smith of Illinois (see below).
Amended and passed the $89,000,000 appropriations bill for the Departments of State, Justice, Commerce, Labor; sent it back to the House for conference.
Senator-reject. The Senate dealt finally with Frank Leslie Smith of Illinois. It rejected his credentials for a seat, 61 votes to 23, declaring the credentials "tainted with fraud and corruption" and Mr. Smith "not entitled to membership." Democrats and irregular Republicans were joined by Republican-leader Curtis of Kansas in the decision. While a cry went up that the Senate had invaded a constitutional right of Illinois, the Senate's reasons and actions went on record, in effect, as follows:
Smith was public utilities commissioner of Illinois. He entered the 1926 Senatorial primary. Samuel Insull, public utilities boss, contributed heavily to his expenses. Smith was nominated. Corruption was charged. The amount of the Insull contributions ($171,500) was published and discussed in Illinois. Illinois elected Smith notwithstanding.
The U. S. Senate resolved to investigate the Smith election before he reached Washington. The investigators reported that, while Illinois might be satisfied with the Smith election (including the primary), the Senate could not be satisfied.*
When Smith presented his credentials at the Senate door in November, the Senators refused to admit him even temporarily, on the ground that his election had already been investigated and reported on. He begged a further hearing. He received it. But new evidence as he presented failed to alter his investigators' original decision. Then came the final rejection, giving Illinois notice that it must fill the vacant seat in some manner other than the manner it had approved in the election of Smith.
Mr. Smith refused to accept his rejection, regarding himself as an agent of his State, duty-bound to fight out an issue between Illinois and the U. S. Senate. Governor Small of Illinois refused to appoint a successor to Smith, lest the "vacancy" be thus admitted by Illinois to be legal. The Illinois decision last week was to re-elect Smith, if possible, next autumn rather than go to court against the Senate at once.
The Fat Boy. To every school its "fat boy." To every club and circus its "biggest freak." The U. S. Senate, "greatest club in the world," school for Presidents, outstanding sideshow of the country, has Senator James Thomas ("Tom-Tom") Heflin.
Imagine an enormous male doll, bigger than most policemen. Its ruddy skin has a waxen glow. There is a wiglike perfection to its yellow tonsure. Its puffy hands make pawing gestures. Upon its gentle mouth is an infantine wetness. The staring eyes are china-blue and someone has dressed up this prodigious toy in a swaying, broadtailed coat, canary waistcoat, blue velvet tie, patent leather shoes. Its breath is stertorous, mechanical; its tread is elephantine; its vocal chords match its tread—for this doll can talk—and bawl— and bellow. It looks and talks like one of the footmen from Alice in Wonderland.