St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-05
PRECEDENrs FOR srEyENsoN

There is not deliberative body in
this country save the senate, from the
house of representatives down to an an
nual meeting in a country common
school district, that would be willing to
stultify itself by admitting that it conld
not bring the debate OH any matter be-
fore it to an end, and the question to a
vote. If Mr.. Stevenson is equal to his
place and his opportunities, he can bring
the repeal bill to head as Speaker
Narnum brought a bill i'll the Elev-
enth congress. The rules permitted the
moving of the previous question, but
that only cut off amendments, and did
not stop debate. When a minority at
tempted to filibuster by debating a mat
ter on which the previous question had
been ordered, the speaker refused 10
recognize them, anu put the question.
Another precedent was set by John
Quincy Adams, when member of the
house. Morse tells the story in his mon
ograph. In the Twenty-sixth congress
the seats OF five OF the New Jersey
members were contested. The clerk of
the house called the body to order and
DCS li4C iOll CEliI. w lltll new OClSGJ
was reached he called the name of the
uncontested member, but said that he
would omit calling the others until the
house had decided the contest. His
purpose was to gain an advantage for
his party, the house being evenly bal
anced, and the five votes entitled prima
facie to seats would have organized it
against the clerks party and against
himself as candidate for reelection.
Days were wasted i'll confusion, the
clerk refusing to put any question, eX-
cept one TO adjourn. Finally, on Dec. ),
Mr.. Adams rose, and addressed not the
clerk, but Fellow citizens, members
elect of the Twenty-siXth congress-"
After caStigating the clerk and urging
the house to organize itself. he offered
resolution ordering the clerk 10 call the
names of the New Jersey members
holding credentials signed by the gov
crnor of their state. The cry went up:
WHO will put the question:" The old
man eloquent and dauntless said: Il
intend to put the question myself"
And he put it, and it was carried and
the house organized.
In these two instances there is matter
for Vice President Stevenson to con-
sider He is the presiding officer of the
senate. He is charged with the orderly
procedure of the body. He can recog-
nlZe any member he chooses. He can
recognize old Stewart to 90 off on one OF
his long journeys into Gabble-gabble, or
he can recognize Senator Voorhees, mo-
ton that the senate now proceed to a
vote on the pending measure. He will
shock old precedents out OF their boots;
he will horrify senatorial sticklers for
courtesy, but he will do what the senate
should do, bring about a vote, and he
viii receive the plauditS of the country
More than this, he will show himself
to have the stuff in him OF leader; and
that people always admire. 1t is gener
ally conceded that i'll 1896 the Democ-
racy will scan the West closely for fit
successor to Cleveland. If there is
found a man who, occupying a public
place, has borne himself bravely, has
met great emergency capably, that
man will be named as their choice for
president. Such an emergency now con-
fronts the vice president and offers him
his opportunity. We trust he is big
enough and bold enough and strong
enough to seize it and utilize it.