The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-10-19
A REMARKABLE SESSION.
SENATE IN CONTINUOUS SESSION
FOR THIRTY-EIGHT HOURS.
Senator Allen Breaks the Record,
& Speaking Continuously for Four
teen Hours-Foreshadowi of u
Compromises.

Speaking Continuously for Four
teen Hours-Foreshadow of u
Compromise.
Washington, Oct. 13.-The usual meth
DDS by which controversies over legis-
lation are settled, by an agreement to
come to 4 vote, had failed to carry,
and the decision Of a great financial
question resolved into test Of physical
endurance not unlike the games of the
Romans
This peculiar condition is necessity
under the rules by which the senate
operates. There is no manner in which
a vote can be forced except by the
firing out of those whose speech making
obstructs 4 natural and parliamentary
settlement. The method is not new
one, as it has heretofore been resorted
to on numerous occasions.
After some routine business, MI. Al
len Pop, Neb.) took the floor to con-
tinue his speech
Continuous Session.
Mr.. Allen was still speaking when,
at sos o'clock, Mr.. Dubois Rep., Ida
ho) rose and Mr.. Allen yielded to him,
he observed that it was 6 o'clock,
the hour when the senate usually adj
jouIned. He asked the senator from In
diana (VOorhees) whether he was going
to make the motion this evening.
II feel it to be my highest duty" said
Mr.. Voorhees,, mot to make that mo-
ton this evening, but on the contrary
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 from Indiana meant
that the senate was to be held in con-
tinuous session until the pending bill
was brought to a vote or until it was
demonstrated that it could not be
brought to 4 vote.
MI. Voorhees, said it had been suggest
ed to him frequently by letter and
the press to go outside of the rules
and appeal to the presiding officer Of
the senate to sustain him in motion
not provided for in the rules to pro-
coed to vote. II would as soon,"
said he, think of committing open
high treason or private murder as to
commit such 4 crime"
Mr.. Allen then resumed his speech,
and from o'clock until II the debate
continued without any unusual features.
Gradually the senators commenced
to vanish, and as midnight approached
less than a dozen senators were in
their seats. But the thrnderous voice
Of the big Populist from Nebraska
showed no signs of weakening. OF
the twenty-nine books v hich he had
stacked up on his desk only three had
been opened. The remaining twenty
six represent ID so much stored up
ability to talk against time. Occasional
ly he would relieve himself by having
the clerk read extracts, and at such
breathing spells mysterious whispered
consultation We're held with Senator
Teller.
At 10 o'clock Mr. Dubois arose and
remarked as he looked about the cham
Der: "Mr. President, I believe that a
quorum is not present"
The vice president directed the clerk
to call the roll. From the cloak rooms
and entrances the senators crowded into
the chamber. When the roll call had
been completed Mr.. Stevenson an
nounced that fifty-five sem tors were
present-a QuOrum-and directed Sen
ator Allen to proceed. The Nebraskan
promptly took the floor again, and tks
quorum as promptly disappeared
through the cloak room doors.
Mr.. Allen began reading from Chad
wick's political economy. Now and then
he would pause to make a comment on
n striking passage or take Il sip from
the dilapidated, overworled lemon that
lay ON his desk.
At 1916 a. IN. Senator. Dubois again
called the attention of the vice presi-
dent to the fact that no quorum was
present. and in obedience to the cleo
trio signal the occupants of the cloak
rooms again filed hastily into the cham
Der. The vice president announced that
I3 Senators-a quorum-was present.
Mr.. Allen resumed, and at / a. M
Mr.. Hoar YEARLY interrupted to ask
If he was not reading to show that
there was not an oyerproduction of
agricultural products. He wanted to
know Candidly whether the Nebraskan
did not thin. his speech was an over
production.
Mr.. Allen holly a~ked Mr.. Hoar if he
wanted to insult him, wnereupon the
senator from Massachusetts purged
himself, apologiZed humbly and equil-
ibrium was restored.
freaks the Record.
All night long Senator Allen held the
floor, interrupted by an occasional ill
tempered collOquy or a roll call, which
dragged the sleepy senators to their
posts.
The gray dawn found Mr. Allen hold
ing the fort in the great struggle against
unconditional repeal as he had been
when darkness fell from the wings
Of night twelve hours before. He had
broken all previous records For twelve
hours and forty-ive minutes he had
held the floor continuously. The long
est time q senator had previously occu-
pied the floor was on the occasion
of the force bill fight in 1891, when
Senator Falkner remained on guard for
twelve hours. The West Virginian.
however. had two hours breathing
spell during the absence of quorum.
Mr.. Allen seemed almost as fresh
rs when he began. lis voice was still
loud and strong, and the great strain
seemed not to have affected his phys
zeal or mental yigOr. The floor about
him was strewn and Uttered with paper.
a few belated spectators in the galleries
doZed. Senator voorhees, sat in his seat
reading. Senator Mitchell was writing
industriOusly at his desk. Senator Du-
bois, alert and very much awake, occu-
pied the sentinel tower for the silver
ties, while to the right and left Of him
Mr.. Caffrey of Louisiana and Gen. Haw-