Reactionary Mathematics

On a second attempt, Senator Spencer, Republican, of Missouri, got into The Congressional Record a magazine article on The Scientific Political Training of Calvin Coolidge (TIME, Jan. 14). He could not secure unanimous consent to have it printed, so he was obliged to read it on the floor of the Senate whereby it officially became part of the proceedings. As he read, one Democrat after another rose and requested his permission to speak.

Senator Spencer replied to each: "I decline to yield [the floor]."

When the reading was finished, the Democratic storm broke.

Senator Pat Harrison of Mississippi, he of the acrid tongue: "I assume that the Senator agrees with his [the author's] statement that 'Mr. Coolidge is as reactionary as the multiplication table.'"

Senator Spencer: "I don't think it's a very apt phrase. It isn't clear. I don't know myself how reactionary the multiplication table is."

And the Senator from Missouri hurriedly left the chamber.