First Fruit

The Senate last week experimented with confirming presidential nominations to the sub-Cabinet in open executive session. The subject of the experiment was Joseph Potter Cotton appointed Undersecretary of State by President Hoover. The experiment was not successful.

Mr. Cotton, a Harvard man and potent Manhattan lawyer, worked with Herbert Hoover in the U. S. Food Administration. Afterwards he became a law partner of William Gibbs McAdoo (1919-21) when the firm of McAdoo, Cotton & Franklin represented the Mexican oil interests of Edward Laurence Doheny. Because of Doheny's subsequent connection with the Oil Scandals, Senate Progressives sought to capitalize Mr. Cotton's service to his discredit.

The experiment came early in a session one day last week. Barely a dozen Senators were on the floor when the Cotton nomination was publicly confirmed without roll-call or debate. Four hours later Montana's Senator Wheeler rushed upon the floor, made loud complaint, had the Cotton confirmation revoked, the nomination reconsidered. Sly Republican Leader Watson's comment: "This is the first fruit of open executive sessions."

Two days later Mr. Cotton was reconfirmed to his post which ranks second only to that of Statesman Stimson himself--but this time, in the more usual closed executive session.