Ousted

There are few surprises in politics because politicians talk so much that they have few secrets--real secrets, that is. Such surprises as there are not infrequently come about as the result of politicians unexpectedly suiting their actions to their words. This was the type of surprise which came, last week, from the caucus of Republican Senators. There had been talk, newspaper talk, of ousting insurgents from the Republican ranks. Quidnuncs shrugged their shoulders: "Talk. Nothing but talk. It won't be done." But something was done.

The Caucus. The Republican senatorial conference (the word caucus is not politically in good odor) was summoned to choose a new Republican Floor Leader to succeed the late Senator Lodge and to nominate men for the Republican vacancies on committees. The Floor Leader is ordinarily Chairman of the caucus. Senator Curtis of Kansas, as assistant leader and whip, called the conference and presided. Senator Warren of Wyoming, by virtue of seniority, was entitled to the leadership. He declined, saying that he did not care for the post, and named Senator Curtis as his heir. Mr. Curtis was elected and empowered to choose a whip to serve under him.* The Commitee on Committees was reconstituted and instructed to oopose Republicans for vacant committee posts. Then Senator Edge of New Jersey rose and the fun began.

The Attack. Quoth Mr. Edge: "I presume one of the responsibilities of the members of the conference is to determine the eligibility of members. I notice Senator LaFollette's name has been called. I have no knowledge of the intention of the conference, but, so far as I am individually concerned, I wish publicly to record my protest. He came to New Jersey during the campaign and spoke in behalf of my opponent, George Record, who was running on the Third Party ticket.

"It must be obvious that a Senator cannot make every effort to defeat and destroy a Party and, at the same time, participate in its conferences, deciding upon future policies. I do not question Senator LaFollette's clear right to head a new Party; but, in my judgment, that clearly disqualifies him for membership here. I do not imagine Senator LaFollette desires to participate in our conferences.

"In his statement of last Monday, in which he announces his determination to continue a Third Party fight, he indicates he does not. So, to me, it is difficult to understand why his status should be considered by this conference as eligible for membership."

Senator Ernst of Kentucky offered a resolution making Senators LaFollette (Wis.), Ladd and Frazier (N. D.), Brookhart (Iowa), ineligible for present committee assignments. Senator Spencer of Missouri offered a resolution for a Committee to consider ways and means of ejecting the insurgents. Senator Harreld of Oklahoma objected to naming any of the insurgents except Mr. LaFollette. Senator Howell of Nebraska objected strongly to the ejection. Senator Cummins of Iowa, President pro tem, of the Senate objected less vigorously, calling attention to the fact that he himself had supported Roosevelt's Progressive Party in 1912. But the ejectors were not to be downed. A resolution by Senator David A. Reed of Pennsylvania was adopted with only one or two voices in opposition:

"RESOLVED, that it is the sense of the conference that Senators LaFollette, Ladd, Brookhart and Frazier be not invited to future Republican conferences and be not named to fill any Republican vacancies on Senate committees."

The Significance. The resolution adopted does two things: 1) It excludes the four insurgents named from future Republican caucuses; 2) it provides that they shall not be appointed in the future to fill any committee vacancies allotted to the Republicans. It does not, however, remove any of the four from their present committee posts. It does not formally deny them the right to call themselves Republicans. The force of the resolution is to deprive the insurgents of their nominal places and of future benefits which might arise from holding such places in the group of regulars which constitutes the bulk of the Republican representation in the Senate.

The Expelled. The criterion by which the four insurgents were chosen for expulsion was their conduct in the last campaign. Senator LaFollette, after many years of insurgency under the Republican label, ran openly in an election against a Republican candidate. Senators Ladd and Frazier, although nominally Republicans, are really Senators nominated and elected by the Non-Partisan League of North Dakota. They have been persistent insurgents and, in the last election, openly endorsed LaFollette against Coolidge. Senator Brookhart, an equally vigorous Republican insurgent, although he did not openly endorse LaFollette in the last election, practically did so by denouncing Coolidge and Dawes.

A fifth man generally classed with these four, Senator Norris of Nebraska, was not expelled with the other insurgents. He took no overt part in the campaign for LaFollette, although his sympathies were well- known. Hiram Johnson, though hardly a member of the LaFollette group, has maintained an equally strong opposition to the Administration. He, too, kept silence as to his attitude in the last campaign. All other Senators bearing the Republican label* gave at least lip-service to Coolidge, Dawes and the Republican ticket.

The Attendants. Of the 51 Republican members of the Senate, 34 were present at the caucus which did the expelling. The group included most of the regulars. The absentees included most of the insurgents and the progressives in sympathy with them. The only one of the expelled members present was Senator Ladd, who maintained silence throughout the proceedings. Norris was absent. Borah was absent, but he never attends. So was Hiram Johnson. Senator Lenroot of Wisconsin was also absent, perhaps in order to avoid voting against a man whom his own constituents had so frequently approved.

Comment. Of course nearly every one had remarks to offer.

SENATOR LADD: "I have tried to represent the sentiment of the people of North Dakota. My conduct will not be changed one whit by any action by the Republican conference."

SENATOR FRAZIER: "I never got anything from them, so I don't see how they can take anything from me."

SENATOR BUTLER: "I am heartily in accord with the action."

SENATOR NORRIS: "They believe this resolution reads four men out of the Party, but it actually reads out all of the hundreds of thousands of voters who supported them."

SENATOR PEPPER: "I should have been reluctant to go back to Pennsylvania and face the Republican voters of that state unless some such action as this had been taken."

SENATOR BORAH: "I do not agree with the caucus action, but I shall wait to say what I have to say when the matter reaches the floor of the Senate."

THE WHITE HOUSE: "The President has no opinion other than anyone else might have."

Results. All the results of the Republican action cannot be anticipated but--during the present session, the Republicans will at no time have a majority. There are 42 Democrats, plus 2 Farmer Laborites, plus 4 expelled insurgents: equals 48 or exactly one half of the body. Because there is one vacancy (caused by the death of Senator Brandegee of Connecticut), the Republicans have only 47 so-called regular members. Among these is Norris, who may as well be counted with the expelled insurgents, and other progressives who will not always be found with the regulars. Connecticut will hold a special election on Dec. 16. It seems probable that Lieutenant Governor and Governor-elect Hiram Bingham of that state, who is the Republican candidate for the vacancy, will win. But he cannot assume his seat until some time in January. At any rate, the regular Republicans will fall short of a majority throughout the session. After Mar. 4, the Republican ranks will be strengthened by three additional senators. Meanwhile, the Democrats will doubtless twit them on their division.

* He chose Senator Jones of Washington. * Senator Wheeler (LaFollette's Vice Presidential candidate) was not, of course, subject to Republican expulsion since he was elected as a Democrat.