Democratic Wrangle

Washington correspondents, irritated by the tedious roaring of Senator Heflin of Alabama, have sometimes agreed to keep "his speeches "off the wire." He has been called a modern Ben Gunn,* a "stuffed white waistcoat" and even a "flat tire"; but his oratory is unpreventable. Last week his subject was an alleged $1,000,000 fund of the Knights of Columbus to carry on war propaganda against Mexico; his words might have been confined, unnoticed, to the Congressional Record, had not leading Democratic Senators risen to rebuke him. For three hours, Democrats talked. Republicans smiled, walked in and out, said nothing. As often before, one Democratic cat was eating another. Senator Heflin was pleased. He would get on front pages. Here are some of the words that put him there:

Mr. Heflin: "The resolution [to raise the $1,000,000] speaks for itself. It was passed by the Knights of Columbus, who, of course, are Catholics, and the whole trend of the resolution shows a plain desire for war. . . ."

Mr. Bruce of Maryland, Episcopalian, could restrain himself no longer: "I shall say very little, because it would be the easiest thing in the world unduly to dignify the distempered words of the Senator from Alabama. . . . The trouble in your State is that you have not enough Catholics. You seem to think of the Catholic as if he were a rawhead and bloodybones, a kind of ogre, some sort of monster swayed by entirely different feelings, sentiments, and impulses from the rest of us. If you had a few more Catholics in your State you would not indulge in such a gross misconception."

Mr Heflin: "Am I to be criticized and scolded by the Senator from Maryland, who has made a speech that will please every Catholic priest in Baltimore and bring down upon his obedient head the blessings of the Pope? . . . Mr. President, that is about all I care to say at this time, but I want to assure the Senator from Mexico -- [Laughter.]

The Vice President rapped with his gavel.

Mr. Heflin: "The Senator from Maryland. He made me think of Mexico, and that was a slip of the tongue, but sometimes a slip of the tongue is in the right direction."

Mr. Reed of Missouri rose. Necks craned in the galleries. Mr. Heflin prepared to receive a Voltairian scorching. Said Mr. Reed: "Mr. President, I do not know that we shall gain anything by prolonging a discussion of this kind. I am sorry it has occurred. So that I may remove all taint of suspicion that I speak from interested motives, I remark that I was born and reared in the Presbyterian faith. . . . I do not propose to interfere with the efforts of the Executive to protect the interests of the United States until and unless it becomes manifest that he is pursuing a dangerous course. . . . Sir, I do not believe we are in danger of war with Mexico unless it is stirred up by intemperate speeches and intemperate articles in newspapers. . . . Intolerance, sir, is the child of ignorance. Give me the radius of any man's intelligence, and I will describe the circumference of his tolerance. It is useless for the Senator from Alabama to shout, 'I do not bring in religion.' He has brought in the question of religion; he has thrice brought it in."

Mr. Heflin: "I did, and I am going to bring it again."

Mr. Reed: "The Senator shouted and thundered until the heavens trembled, the galleries shook with fear, whilst the stumps in the Potomac River bobbed up and down in unison with his vociferous periods." [Laughter.]

Mr. Heflin: "And they will be bobbing again."

Mr. Reed: "I dare say they will bob again. I am not going to say anything mean, although I find it pretty hard not to--"

Mr. Heflin: "The Senator may proceed, because I am going to speak when he is through."

Mr. Reed: "Undoubtedly the Senator will; and so will the rivers run on."

Mr. Heflin replied, waving his arms like a fretful windmill, pushing a bound volume of newspapers off his desk, knocking the spectacles from Senator Mayfield's nose:

"Why am I criticized for telling the truth by these two Senators? Is it because of demands made upon them by Catholic constituents? Is it because of a presidential ambition on the part of one? What is it in this thing that prompts two Senators to stand up here and insult the Protestant people of America by attacking a Protestant Senator for daring to tell the truth about the efforts of a Catholic organization to involve our country in a foreign war? . . . I have no apology to make to the Senator from Missouri, and I do not fear in the least the thrusts of his keen lance; for, as Shakespeare said, 'Thrice armed is he whose cause is just.' I am backed by the truth, and I am standing on the bedrock of Americanism. My cause is just."

Senators Walsh of Massachusetts and Ransdell of Louisiana, both of whom are Catholics; and Senator Robinson of Arkansas, Democratic floor leader, proceeded to administer well-mannered reprimands to Senator Heflin. Senator Ashurst of Arizona added the final rebuke:

"The speech of the Senator from Alabama has been taken seriously by a few. It will be remembered that some 15 years ago Halley's comet scorched through the sky. It had a tail a million miles long. It gave off an iridescence; and some persons grew frightened until scientists assured them that while the tail was indeed a million miles long, the whole affair did not have about it or in it an ounce of substance. [Laughter.] Likewise, the speech of the Senator from Alabama gives off an iridescence, but is bereft of even an ounce of substance.

"John Randolph loved books, horses, and dogs. . . . Returning home one evening he found that one of his most precious books had been gnawed by his favorite dog Beppo. Instead of chastising the dog he simply took up the fragments of the book and wrote on one of the remaining leaves: 'Beppo aid this when he was drunk.' As to the speech of the Senator from Alabama, I can say: 'He made his speech when he was excited.' " [Laughter and applause in the galleries.]

The Presiding Officer:* "The Chair must admonish the occupants of the galleries that the rules of the Senate do not permit manifestations of approval or disapproval. Let there be order in the galleries." After a few more words by Mr. Heflin, the Senate went into executive session to discuss the Lausanne Treaty.

Republicans enjoyed this Democratic wrangle, prophesied that it was only a faint tremor of the religious earthquake which is going to smite the Democratic convention in 1928. Democrats saw hope in the fact that every Heflin-baiter had demanded that religious intolerance be ousted from politics. One Jeffersonian, Senator James A. Reed of Missouri, loomed mightier than ever last week. He had clipped the party thorn, Mr. Heflin; he had led the attack which refused a seat to Republican Senator-elect, Frank L. Smith in Manhattan he had reiterated, with stinging eloquence, his political philosophy: "'That people is governed best which is governed least.'" Concerning the present saturnalia of lawmaking, he said:

"To enforce these innumerable laws, regulations and rules a horde of officials, tax gatherers, snoopers and spies swarm over the land like the lice of Egypt, devouring the substance of the people, prying into their private affairs, regulating their trade and business. . . ." That, said friends of Gentleman Jim of Missouri, is his platform and that is the beginning of his boom for President in 1928.

*"Dead or alive, nobody minds Ben Gunn," said Author Stevenson in Treasure Island.

*Senator Willis of Ohio, Vice President Dawes had left his chair, a few minutes before, evidently annoyed by the three hour wrangle.