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In Congress: During six years in the House he attracted notice only when, voting for War in 1917, he tried unsuccessfully to restrict President Wilson's authority to send troops to France. During his eleven months in the Senate, he has taken only an inconspicuous part in its affairs. A thoroughgoing Republican regular, he startled his Conservatives only when he broke with them to vote for the rejection of William Scott Vare of Pennsylvania.
He voted for: Tax Reduction (1929), the Tariff (1930), confirmation of John Johnston Parker as a justice of the Supreme Court (1930).
He votes Dry, drinks Dry, supports the Anti-Saloon League.
No agile debater, he shuns the rough-and-tumble of senatorial controversy. Only two formal speeches has he made, a highly orthodox Republican defense of the Republican tariff, an apologia for his Parker vote. (His friends understood that he put aside his own convictions on this case to support his President for Party reasons.) His manner of address is direct, dignified, rather dull. No dramatic sense vitalizes his voice.
In appearance he is taller than his Ohio colleague, short Senator Simeon Davison Fess, or his No. 1 political sponsor, medium-sized Postmaster General Brown. A wide mouth, strong nose, sharp eyes under wrinkly brows, a fine head of wavy dark hair touched with grey combine to give him a certain cinematic handsomeness. In dress he is quiet, neat, careful about his neckties.
Out of Congress: He lives at the expensive but not very fashionable Carlton Hotel on 16th St., often walks the two miles to the Capitol. He motors long distances, goes frequently to the cinema. In Canton, his home, political sentimentalists liken him to McKinley, long a Canton resident and buried there. He is a serious hard-working campaigner. In his current campaign he is being assailed by Negroes for his Parker vote, by Wets who favor his Wet opponent, Democratic Nominee Robert Johns Bulkley. Hard to hold is the Senate seat he now occupies. Frank Bartlette Willis died in it in 1928. Cyrus Locker was voted out of it the same year. Theodore Elijah Burton died in it in 1929.
Impartial Senate observers rate him thus: a modest, intelligent conscientious legislator, somewhat above the Old Guard average, who works hard at his duties without making much public impression. He has the appearance of a leader but no leadership has he yet shown.—ED.