The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-10-23

SPEAKING. binary day ses-
sions. During the exciting struggle over
the force bill az years ago I remember see
ing q number Of senator's asleep In their
chairs in full view of the senate and the oc-
cupants Of the galleries. I remember see
ing one senator led from the loor by q
friend who had forced himself past the
doorkeepers, and who escorted the maud
lin statesman to a secure retreat. I remem-
Der witnessing a painful scene In the mar
BILE room, when a fearful wife endeavored
to induce her recreant lord to enter a car
riage which she had waiting near by, her
hope being to q his reputation from
damage, during the small hours of the
morning, when he was indulging in alto
gether too many small bottles for his OWE
good.
A Historical Night.
Some of the night sessions of the senate
and house have been history making occa-
sions. 1t was a night session which dem
onstrated to the Republican majority Of
the senate their inability to pass the so
called force bill, and when their quorum
failed and they could make no progress
against the obstruction on the other side of
the chamber they concluded finally to give
up the battle.
Efforts TO pass laws concerning federal
management Of elections rave before this
resulted in critical homer and bitter
struggles in congress. The late Samuel j.
Randall made the beginning Of his great
reputation many years ago in flibustering
against what Is now known as the force
bill-a measure which proposed to place
troops at the polls in the south. The ma
jority Of the house favored the bill. OPP
posed to them were the Democrats under
the lead of Randall and n few Republicans,
conspicuous among whom were three men
who afterward attained great celebrity.
These were Garfield, Blaine and Charles
Foster.
The friends of the bill were under the
leadership Of General Benjamin f. Butler.
1t was indeed a climax in which Greek was
pitted against Greek, and the fighting be-
came fast and furious. Mr.. Randall was
the acknowledged leader of the opposition.
For three days and three nights he sat in
the house, directing his forces and persist
emily breaking the quorum. There were
many exciting scenes, and Mr.. Randall, at
that time comparatively a new man in con-
gress. displayed hose qualities of leader
ship which afterward made him famous.
At the end Of the 90 hour session General
Butler for the first time in his life retired
from the battlefield wornout, baf1led and
beaten. In this struggle Mr.. Blaine, though
occupying the chair as speaker, gave Mr..
Randall much assistance land earned for
himself the friendship and admiration of
many southern people, which continued
till the day Of his death.
A Night of Passion.
Mr.. Randall was the chief actor in one
of the most critical episodes in the history
of congress-. 1t was Oh the morning of Fri
day, March ., 1877. The house was in a
deadlock because Democrats were flibus-
tering and trying to defeat the counting in
of Hayes AZ president, In pursuance Of the
decision of the electoral commission. The
deadlock was finally broken at 4 o'clock in
the morning, after a night Of passion,
storm and danger unexampled In the his
tory of congress. 1t was broken by the
courage of Speaker Randall, who absolute
ly declined to entertain any further dila-
tory motions and instructed the clerk to
inform the senate that the house was ready
TO proceed with the count.
1t WAS well for the peace of the country
that a man Of Mr.. Randnll's nerve and de-
termination occupied the chair at that crit
ical moment. Only AZ hours remained Of
President Grants term. Mr.. Hayes was in
Ohio, and many Democrats had determined
to prevent the formalities of counting the
vote which should declare Hayes to be
elected. Mr.. Randall finally cut the Gordian
Knot by refusing to recognize a member
who had risen for the purpose of making a
tlibustering motion. The member asked
ar appeal, bnt Speaker Randall decided
that recognition was n matter entirely with
In the jurisdiction of the chair and was not
appealable. This decision broke the back
bone of the deadlock and within an hour
Hayes was declared to have received a ma
jority Of the electoral votes cast.
A Memorable Night.
There were some exciting night sessions
during the close Of the Forty-sixth congress.
The contention was over an item in y mill
tary appropriation bill providing for troops
at the polls, and the opposition was led by
Mr.. Springer Of Illinois. Five or six days
and parts OF nights were consumed In ILL.,
clustering. and the fight was kept up till the
hands Of the clock In the house showed that
the hour of IL, March 4. had arrived. The
,lerk was then In the middle of u roll call,
md the congress expired while the Alibus-
terers were still In possession Of the hall.
An extraordinary session Of congress was
convened in two weeks. but the opposition