The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-10-27
RIGHTS OF MINORITIES.
Senator Sherman Expresses Ills Views On
Obstructive Tactics.

50 dS W IIdhc IL SHOW the prcSeuce Vi
senators who were actually present
but who refused to vote, Mr..
Sherman (O) spoke at some
length. He said the rules of the senate
were made to expedite public business
in an orderly. proper manner, and their
object was to enable the senate to leg
islate. While that was the primary
object of all rules, it was equally i'm
portant to give the minority full and
free opportunity of debate But when
the rules were used by the minority to
obstruct legislation those rules should
at once be altered. Whenever minor
ity used means of obstruction unduly
it created a revolution.
Mr. Sherman said the obstructive
methods which had been pursued in
the last two months had gone far be-
yond anything he had ever witnessed
in his senatorial experience. In fact
obstructive measures had been resorted
to which had never been invoked since
the senate was first organized. 1t was
then a dignified body of twenty-six
members and it went to the extreme
verge of iberality on debate. The
practice of stopping a senator in the
midst of his speech to suggest the ab-
sence of a quorum was an innovation
and was kind of obstruction that had
never been resorted TO before. The re-
fusal of senators to vote was a viola
ton of the rules of good order lie
thought. there fore. probably not at this
session, that the time had arrived when
the senate must adopt rules to prevent
obstruction to publ ic business. There
was a change in he senatc-not on the
score of ability, but due to increased
numbers.
There was no legislative body in the
world that had not some power to close
debate. The proper way to secure a
limit of debate in the senate was at the
next session of congress to have the
committee on rules strengthened in
numbers and have it examine all the
various rules and report Il rule which
would give the minority the full power
to express their opinion and prescribe
the time when and the place where the
final vote could be taken. The present
session had continued two months and
DOlHlnE lldtl uCtil NiOLAC" hOl Il SAuS AC
measure had passed the senate that
was of the slightest Importance. The
house of representatives had performed
its duty, but in the senate there had not
been a vote on any question presented
where there had been any difference of
opinion.
If that continued. the senate would
no longer command the respect of
active and intelligent people-aud the
Americans were men of action in all
departments of action. He said the re-
sponsibility in the present situation
rested upon the democratic senators.
1t was said they could not agree. He
would say to them that they must
agree or else surrender their political
! power. If the senate as now organized
could not make Il law without long and
protracted debate, and if the demo-
/ cratic senators were unable to
meet together and formulate some
proposition, the people of the
! United States would take them
I at their worth. Those on the repub-
| lican side of the senate had remained
! silent. largely desiring to hear from
the other side, whom the people had
honored with a majority. The presi-
dent had expressed his opinion and
while the republicans did not believe
in him or his policy and were under no
obligations to him, yet they furnished
! two-thirds of the votes nearly to carry
out his will while the party that the
president represented stood unable to
formulate policy or to say what they
! desired. If they did not agree with the
president. let them say so, or lei them
formulate something else.
There were three or four important
matters that demand solution and the
senate stood in the way. One was
whether the United States should con-
time the purchase of silver bullion and
! or the whole he thought 1t was not
wise to further continue its purchase
as there was now bullion enough on
. hand to supply all that could be coined
/ in the next two or three years. We
/ simply want to suspend the coinage of
silver, not to demonetize it I'm the
past" said Mr.. Sherman. when repub-
licans were in the majority, we never
Shrank from the responsibility
which is now upon the demo
cratic party. We We're republicans be-
cause We believed in republican
! principles, republican men and meas
/ ures, and whenever a question came up
! IN the senate we never did the baby
act. We ask our brothers on the other
side to NEE; together and consult with
/ each other. If they do not like the
/ presidents plan. give us some other.
and in Gods name let us settle. this i'm
portant question for the people of our
country. If we can agree with you. we
! viii: we will not follow your example.
/ II we do not agree with you we will
! give you manly no
Mr.. Sherman argued in favor OF
strengthening the gold reserve and
said that he had seen letter from the
secretary of the treasury to the effect
that there would be deficiency of at
least $50, OOO, 600. In this exigency the
erection of public buildings and public
! improvements should be stopped 1t
was said it would be unpopular to in
crease the public debt, and yet it was
/ being increased by a great govern
ment. owing to its people. These
are things that cannot be avoided. -
! Mr. Sherman said. You must de-
! eide this silver question one way or
/ another"