Bursum Beaten

There is drama in all things, even in misunderstanding. Last week a Senator (Harreld of Oklahoma) walked into the Senate while a vote was in progress. His name was called. He answered "Aye." One portion of the House smiled triumphantly--they knew that this one vote gave them victory. But the Senator who had been out of the Chamber began to think--he had misunderstood how the question was put. He rose and altered his vote from "Aye" to "Nay." The bill was beaten. One set of faces ceased to smile, another set began. This was what happened when the Bursum Bill, to increase the pensions of veterans and widows of the Wars from 1812 to 1904 inclusive, was up for second consideration. It had been passed by both Houses and vetoed by the President (TIME, May 12). Mr. Bursum had summoned it up again to try to override the veto by a two-thirds vote. In the brief debate, which preceded the roll call, Senator Bursum, a Republican, led the fight for the bill and against the veto; contrariwise, Senator Dial, Democrat, led the group who attacked the bill and supported the President's veto. This fact was significant of what was to follow with the roll call. The vote was taken: For bill, Against bill, Against veto For veto

Republicans............ 32 12

Democrats.............. 19 16

Farmer Labor......... 2 0

53 28

Senator Harreld's change to the negative side (he declared that he had thought he was voting "Aye" to support the veto) had prevented the bill from passing with a two-thirds vote. The President's veto had been sustained with the aid of more Democrats than Republicans. This was partly explained by the fact that many Democrats come from southern states which have few Civil War (Union) veterans. It was natural enough to find the Republican insurgents against the President. But where were the regulars--Brandegee, Elkins, Fess, Jones of Washington, McKinley, McNary, Moses, Shortridge, Spencer, Watson, Willis, et al.? All voting against the veto. Where were Lodge and Lenroot? Paired against the veto. Whereas among the Democrats, Glass, Bruce, King, Underwood and others were on the President's side. Following the President's veto only five Republicans--Cameron, Edge, Har-reld, Sterling, Wadsworth--and two Democrats--Fletcher and Trammell-- had been converted to the President's view. Moreover, it remained for Fletcher, a Democrat, to say that the President's remarks were "unanswerable." In view of the fact that most of the Republicans expect to support Calvin Coolidge for the Presidency next Fall, it was a curious spectacle.