The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1893-09-20
V00RHEESURGES ACTION
The Repeal Leader Makes An
other Attempt to Force
a Vote.
He Also Takes Occasion to Sc
verely Roast His Many
Critics.
Situation in the Senate Now
a Mere Question Of En-
durance.

VSS~SeOee
a Mere Question Of En-
durance.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20.-The finan-
cial situation in the United States sem
ate reached crucial stage during the
morning. Mr.. Voorhees,, leader of the
repeal forces, after q sensational de-
nunciation Of the New York bankers
and q defiance to the press that has
been criticising his actions and ques-
tioning his motives, demanded that the
minority senators name q date for a
final vote. and Mr.. Dubois of Idaho
met the demand by positive declara-
ton that the anti-repeal men would OPP
pose the passage Of the repeal bill by
availing themselves Of every advantage
afforded them under the rules and
usages of the senate. Voorhees, retail
ated by giving notice that he would
move for longer and more nearly con-
tinuous session, and the financial situa-
ton in the senate now appears to have
resolved itself into mere
Question Of Endurance.
Immediately after the assembling of
the senate the repeal bill was taken up
and Mr.. voorhees, once more attempted
to obtain an agreement as to when
vote should be taken. He reviewed the
history of the rules of the senate from
its creation, showing that for II years
from 1889 the senate had among its
rules the provision for the previous
question. It was tried fully, and in
1906. when Thomas Jefferson was presi-
dent, it was deliberately abandoned and
never claimed or admitted again.
II am now arraigned." said Mr.. Voor-
bees, before public opinion for not ter
minating this debate. AS we'll might I
be arraigned for not terminating the
tide of the ocean or the northwest
winds. For 81 years this body has been
q law sufficient unto itself. It has
never been found wanting in peace or
war, so that the criticisms of a certain
class will fall as harmless on this body
as they did upon me-"
Met With Defiance.
Continuing, Mr.. VOORHEES, said that
SO far as personal criticism of himself
was concerned he might as we'll en-
brace the present opportunity to say
that they were met with absolute and
stern defiance He treated with scorn
and miserable contempt discussions
coming from New York bankers or
anywhere else as to the motives that
governed him. That kind of criticism
came Che added with great bitterness of
tone) from class of which the Saviour
of the world never spoke with respect,
''and," said he, neither do L" Mr..
VOORHEES, then alluded to the resistance
which Democratic senators had met
the force bill and asked whether it was
claimed that that bill had been debated
to death. It had not been, he said. It
had been voted to death. That was all
that he asked for the pending measure.
If there was power in the present op-
position to
he asked that that power should be ex-
ercised. He was ready to embrace its
fate whatever it might be and his own
with it. But he appealed to the sena-
tors to come to vote. Action, he said,
had to come, and senators might as we'll
know when it would come. Thelaw of
the majority could not be ignored. In
I.
with disfespect. He was the last man
to use a majority for the purpose of
trampling on the minority. A minor
ity had its rights guaranteed and i'm
bedded in the constitution. But" he
added impressively. "what governs in
these United States? What governs in
this body? A majority placed you, sir,
addressing the vice president) in that
chair. A majority placed in their
chairs the officers in front of you.
Every official within the sound of my
voice is the creature of majority. The
law Is voted by majority. The found
atoms of liberty everywhere in this
country, in this land and other lands,
are laid by majorities. Can senators
who are opposing this measure to the
bitter end and in extremes justify them
selves in defying the great law under
lying the principles of American liberty
and underlying the proper government
Of the world"
A Vote Must Come.
After continuing at some length Mr..
VOORHEES, said: IA vote, repeat, must
come. The force bill itself. which has
been so often spoken of, is an evidence
that the vote must come. I think
understand the rules as we'll as any.
body; and now I pause to hear whether
there is any response to the sugges-
lions which have made as to the
agreeing to time when the vote on
this bill may be taken"
Mr.. Voorhees, had not long to wait
for reply to his challenge. Instantly
Mr.. Dubois (Rep, Ida.) was on his feet.
He said that the senator. from Indiana
had been trying to explain to somebody
out OF the chamber why he had not