Salt Lake Telegram | 1927-01-05 | Page 8 | Phipps Scorns Bogey of Hoodoo Seat in Senate-Isn't Superstitious

Phipps Scorns Bogey of Hoodoo I Seat in Senate Senate-isn't Superstitious By RODNEY DUTCHER N NEA EA Service Writer WASHINGTON Jan Sena ji-Sena- for tor Lawr Lawrence nce C. C of Colorado Cob Colo- rado would even be the third man to light his cigar on the same match A little thing like taking the chair which has come to be known as the senates senate's hoodoo seat brings just another confident pooh pooh-pooh from Phipps Superstitious folk who have nothIng nothIng noth- noth Ing better to do have pointed out that the corner chair on the Re- Re side which is nearest the tho rostrum of the presiding officer appears to be bad medicine for its occupants Senator LaFollette the elder moved into it following the death ot of Senator Frye of Maine Then LaFollette died and Senator Senator Sena- Sena tor Cummins ot of Iowa took the seat Cummins died n a year later last Jul July There is a story that fourteen other senators who had precedence for this ordinarily desirable de- de seat hastily refused to have anything to do with it It but you cant can't prove this story by the senators senators sen- sen themselves Other reasons figured In the refusals ot of those who had first call on it they claim However the chance finally came to Phipps Seniority prevails in such cases and In senIority was tied with Capper Edge and leyes Keyes for the privilege Republican senators who previously could hav have taken the seat arid were didn't-were w V ren q-ren ren Smoot Borah J Jones nes of Washington McLean Norris Curtis Curtis Cur Cur- Wadsworth Watson atson Hale Johnson Lenroot Moses and rc- rc Nary ar Senator Curtis party floor leader drew from frons four slips In a hat and Phipps won von Phipps took the seat and now lie he parks himself himsel In hO the best position in the world from which to attract the attention or of Vice resident Dawes when he desires to Interject lr into debate This Is especially es- es valuable during a fIlibuster fIli buster or when thirty or forty senators sen sen- atoms are on the ther feet seeking to be heard at one onetime I 1 ont dont attach any snore more tance to the se seats seat's ts history than to the tact fact that my office was once occupIed by the revered Warren G. G Harding said Senator PhIpps Nobody could want a better seat Some speakers prefer to sit in the second or third row more In the center ot of things but I 1 was ver very glad to get the new position I have only one superstition I never under a ladder when someone Is carrying up a hod or of bricks Anyway Phipps recalled Senator Frye had held the seat at least twenty years before he passed away Under the old system senators flied filed applications in advance for tor these choice seats Subsequently it was decided that the Procedure might be less gruesome If priority of service were made to govern Thus at present Stewart ot of Iowa and Gould of MaIne cant can't be as- as ign 1 definite places until every other senator on the Republican side has waived his rights to the rear seats lit in which they probably will sit lt It may he be recalled that William M. M Butler of Massachusetts was led back to the rear toll following owing his appointment appointment ap- ap to succeed the deceased Henry Cabot Lodge when he cairn cairn- ly Jy wall ed down and deposited himI bunI him bun I self In Lodges Lodge's erstwhile chair