The Watchman And Southron

Seating of Smith Splits Party Leaders Divided On the Procedure To Be Followed As Well As Merits of the Case

Washington, Jan. 3.—(A.P.)—A wide open split over the question of temporarily seating Frank L. Smith as a senator from Illinois while his credentials are being investigated developed today in the senate.

Republican leaders had hoped this might be done, but Democrats in conference found themselves in substantial agreement that Governor Small's appointee should be barred from the senate until after the elections committee holds a hearing and makes a report.

Smith, appointed to fill the unexpired term of the late Senator McKinley, whom he defeated in the Illinois primary last spring, still kept the senate guessing as to when, if at all, he would present himself to take the oath.

Senator Deneen (Republican), Illinois, who returned to Washington today from his state after a conference with Smith and Small, gave little encouragement to Republican leaders who had requested him to plead with the appointee to refuse the appointment. They told him to tell Mr. Smith that there was small chance of his being permitted to serve out the McKinley term because of contributions made to his primary campaign by public service corporation officials.

By an apparent prearranged plan the senate paved the way today for the Smith case by referring to the elections committee the credentials of Senator Nye (Republican), North Dakota, whose election has been in no way questioned.

When Senator Nye presented himself to take the oath Senator Reed (Democrat), Missouri, chairman of the committee that uncovered the Smith campaign contributions, moved that Nye's credentials be referred to the elections committee "as the proper form in all cases."

The Missourian explained that he had no personal objections to the credentials but that it was the proper procedure for a standing committee to examine those of all senators to determine whether they were proper in form.

After a sharp discussion, the senate referred the credentials but permitted Senator Nye to take his seat. This course was suggested by Senator Robinson, the Democratic leader, and was approved by both Senator Reed and Senator Ashurst (Democrat) of Arizona, pending action on a resolution that would bar Smith at the senate door.

Both senators explained that they had no objection to the seating of Senator Nye. Mr. Ashurst declaring that he had not been charged with excessive campaign expenditures "and so far as I know was honestly elected."

Discussion of the Smith case was opened by Senator Caraway (Democrat) of Arkansas, who warned Senator Reed (Republican) of Pennsylvania that he could not coerce Southern senators into indorsing Senator-elect Vare of Pennsylvania and Smith by threatening to investigate the negro vote in the south.

Senator Mayfield (Democrat) of Texas followed up Senator Caraway by declaring that Senator Reed of Pennsylvania had been quoted as saying "much is heard from Democratic quarters about so-called zero wards in Philadelphia, but in Texas there are 12 counties where the polls were not even opened."

"That statement," said Senator Mayfield, "leaves the impression that the failure to open the polls in 12 counties in Texas was due to the fact that there was a large negro population in those counties. I venture the assertion in the 12 counties not 3 per cent of the qualified voters were negro voters.

"Our election laws are not written along racial lines. If the negro does not vote in Texas at the general election, it is because he does not want to vote and not because of our election laws."

Under an amendment to the corrupt practices act, offered today by Senator McKellar (Democrat) of Tennessee, candidates for the senate in New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois could spend $20,000 instead of $10,000 in their general election campaigns if permitted to do so by the laws of those states.

Likewise candidates for the senate in Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri and Texas could spend $15,000, while those in states which have only one representative in the house of representatives would be limited to $5,000.