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Debaters. Feeling in Congress ran high over the measure. Representative Burton,* of Ohio, was the only Administration spokesman to denounce the Japanese exclusion feature of the bill. Representatives Dickstein, Jacobstein, La Guardia, Sabath and Rosenbloom — whose names are indicative of their disinterestedness — made desperate last-minute efforts to amend the measure to modify the quota basis so as to favor the Italian, Jewish and eastern European stocks. The debate ended with winged words from Representative Tincher of Kansas: "The issue" is fairly well drawn. On the one side— is beer, Bolshevism, unassimiating settlements, and many flags. On the other side, is constitutional government, one flag, the Stars and Stripes and American institutions!"
* Ever and anon there rises to speak In the Lower House of Congress a man who, in respect of learning, is without equal in that chamber. Long since, in college days, he would challenge his fellows to read any two lines of Shakespeare which he could not locate—play, act, scene. Today the story persists that the kitchen-range in his bachelor apartment is piled high with books.
In the Presidency of Taft and Wilson, he— Theodore Elijah Burton of Ohio—was a Senator. He is back in the House now, and from its floor he rose last week to pay the Senate a compliment as rare as it was pretty.
Speaking of the immigration bill as it affected Japan, he was of the opinion that the House should not legislate to exclude Japanese, but should leave the question to diplomatic arrangement. The House should not temper with the Japanese question, for, said he: "The Senate has charge of our foreign relations and is in closer touch with the situation."
In respect of age. Mr. Burton, 73, is surpassed by Speaker Gillett, two months Ins senior, by Representative Fuller (Ill.) 74, Representative Dickinson (Mo.) 75, Representative Greene (Mass.) 83, Representative Graham (Pa.) 74, Representative Stedman (N. C.) 83, Representative Sherwood (Ohio) 89.