The present exhibition of incapacity on the part of the Senate is another incident in a series which is likely to make that body ridiculous, and the word Senator carry unpleasant associations original meaning, literally, was "the assembly of old men". Of course what this implies is that wisdom and experience are usually the possessions of old men, and that they are therefore capable of making decisions and judging impartially. The Anglo-Saxon Witanagemot was founded on this principle, and was, by name, at least, the assembly of the wise men.

But nowadays wisdom and impartial judgement are taboo in the United States Senate. Pelletier's attorney confesses that he "overlooked a point"--Senator Robinson wants to know who wrote the treaty. Nothing could be more irrelevant, to judge anything logically does not necessitate knowing who wrote it. This tempts us to paraphrase a proverb and say "Suspicion begins at home". We read that in the "Council of wise men" Senator Watson had an audience of six Senators when speaking on how we are going the way of empire. Considering Haiti and Samoa, this danger at least is not to be disregarded.

Popular ballot, however, has not done its worst with the Senate--yet. It probably will keep on electing men of mature age--but. "There's no fool like . . ."