Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-10-21
RIGHTS OF MINoRITIes.
Senator Sherman Expresses His Views on
Obstructive Tactics.

Obstructive Tactics.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1S.-During the
debate in the senate yesterday on Mr..
Dolph's motion to correct the journal
DO as to make it show the presence Of
senators who were actually present
but who refused to vote, Mr..
Sherman (O.) spoke ut 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 inn
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 u 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 dignified body of twcnty.six
members and it went to the extreme
verge Of liberality on debate. The
practice Of stopping senator in the
midst of his speech to suggest the abb
eence 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 viola
ton of the rules of good order. He
thought, therefore, 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 senate-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 1t examine all the
various rules and report a 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
nothing had been done-not a single
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-and 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. II the senate as now organized
could not make 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
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 majority. The presi-
dent had expressed his opinion and
'hile the republicans did not believe
n him or his policy and were under no
obligations to him, yet they furnished
two-thirds of the votes nearly to carry
,ut 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 let 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-
tinue the purchase of silver bullion and
on the whole he thought it was not
wise to further continue its purchase
s there was now bullion enough on
hand to supply NIL 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 were republicans be-
cause we believed in republican
principles, republican men and meas
ures, and whenever question came up
in the senate we never did the baby
act We ask our brothers on the other
side to meet together and consult with
each other. II they do not like the
presidents plan, give us some other.
and in Gods name let us settle this inn
,,orfout ouaatiAn for the oaanle Of Our