Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-10-14
First AL-Nirht Session on Sill
yer Repeal.
VOORHEES, DEFIES DUBOIS TO VOTE.
The Latter Thinks Considerable More Has
to Be Said Before - Day Can BE
Namcd-A Question of Gov
eminent

and the world is now watching the de-
.cision of n great financial question by
test of physical endurance not unlike
the games of the Romans. Like the
ancient feats, the multitude falls the
seats of the amphitheater. 1t may
end tonight; it may continue for days.
This peculiar condition is necessity
under the rules by which the senate
operates. There is no manner in which
vote can be forced except tue firing
of those whose speech making obstructs
natural and parliamentary settle
ment. The method is not new one,
us it has heretofore been resorted to on
numerous occasions.
Mr.. Dubois asked Mr.. Voorhees,
whether he was going to make the
usual motion to adjourn that evening.
II feel it to be my highest duty"
said Mr. Voorhees,, mot to make that
motion this evening, but on the con-
trary to ask the senate to stay together
in continuous session until the pending
measure is disposed Of"
Mr.. Dubois said that the statement
of the senator for Indiana meant the
senate was to be held in continuous
session until the pending bill was
brought to u vote or until it was demon
strated it could not be brought to a
vote. lie said there was no attempt ut
filibustering on the part of ant-repeal-
ers. Of the many men that had been
heard in the last few weeks more senat-
ors friendly to silver responded to their
names than anti-silver men. There had
not been time when opponents OF re-
peal could not have stopped the bust
ness of the senate by simply refraining
from voting. There were, he said.
thirty-nine senators who favor uncon-
ditional repeal and thirty-eight who
opposed unconditional repeal. In adj
dition to this the country had been
drifting steadily to the silver side of
the controversy. In conclusion Mr..
Dubois said:
You know as well when you start
as YOU will know when you emerge
from the struggle that you must fail.
WIFI, conditions as, they exist, in the
senate there is no hope of radical legis-
lation. You are as likely to pass bill
for the free coinage of silver as to abso-
lutely destroy silver 1t looks as though
you were trying to convince some one
outside of this chamber of something
which You yourself know. Even if
YOU succeed in convincing these
outside parties, the result will
not justify the ordeal which you
will compel senators to undergo. If
You conclude to abandon appeals to
reason and sense and risk II settlement
of this question as to which side can
stand the most punishment, we give
notice now we shall protect our side
by every means in our power. We will
insist that you furnish the quorum and
that you keep it constantly, if it takes
innume-a bic roll calls. The RESPONSE
bility for what is to follow must rest
on you as well as its physical effects on
individual senators"
Mr.. Voorhees, replied at great length.
He suggested to Mr.. Dubois the wis
dom of the saying: Let not him that
girdeth on his armor boast himself as
he that putteth it Off" 1--WE will see
who fails in this transaction before we
are DONE" said Mr.. Voorhees,. IL feel
nv feet on a rock, and there shall
stand and vindicate great and mighty
principle But before say word up
on that subject, will ask the senator
from Idaho whether he will fix day
to take q vote"
Mr.. Dubois said there were distin.
guished senators who had not talked
on the subject and he nor anyone else
could say when the debate would prob
ably close.
Mr.. Voorhees, started to press the
cues ton further, but apparently
changed his mind and said:
without pressing the senator from
Idaho, / understand the situation.
There will be no day named. If there
could be day named by the opponents
of this bill we would come to an under
standing directly. 1t is because OBJ
struction, pure and simple, Is resorted
to, that we are in the attitude we now
are We regret exceedingly to have to
resort to the methods now before You"
Mr.. Hoar observed that continuous
sessions were not an innovation, recall
ing the fact that the Bland-Allison bill
was passed about 5 in the morning.
Mr.. Voorhees, said this episode in the
history of the senate would result in
reforming the rules of the body. At
the proper time, not in connection
with n heated discussion, he would
vote for some measure by which de-
termination of a question could be
-raacbad s.OfherNyise the body will
lose its proper influence and standing
before the American people and the
world said Mr.. Voorhees,
III believe this body should have
rules by which to conclude discussion
and reach a vote,
The debate. continued all night with
ont anything of note occurring.