New-York tribune., 1903-03-08
LEGISLATION BIZ BATTLE.

% An easy method Of saving Senator Morgan
I,fe would be for his brother Senators who are
concerned lest he talk himself 10 death 10
amend their parliamentary rules so that meas
,,ros ca7, no mt 70 vote after reasonable dis
cusssion The system of legislation by unanf-
mons consent has for q long time appeared
vicious and grotesque, but never was It's gro
tasoueness so evident as now, when one man IS
able not merely to hold up the Senate Whlle
he talks interminably, but to secure courteSieS
fo his advanced years which enable him TO nus
hand his obstructive resources. That is car
rying the courtesy Of the Senate to an unneaEu
of extreme Under the rules which put
premium on hIfbustering the only refuge of
majority against long distance takers is d
trial of nbrsicaI strength. That seems an odd
Irav of reaching conclusions on important ques-
tIons of government in the most digni1ed leg
isIottve r,odv in the world. but it is the con-
vanfionsI thing When It is necessary to leg
IsIste lust keen the topic continuously before
+be bouse without recess or adjournment until
the obstructionists have no power OF taking
left. and. having nothing more to say, must
submit to a vote.
This is a clumsy and barbarous form of clos
,,re br+ If IS the best there is. When, however,
the rules Of the game prescribe unlimited Vaca-
tions and periods of recuperation for the Cd
structfonist whenever he grows weary, the syS-
fem becomes not merely clumsy and barbarous'
hr+ absurd II is as If when two armies were
ranged for trial Of strength, one should con-
sent to truce every time the other grew
weary lest II should overtax its strength. the
Senate parliamentary system is not coue
for discussion and reason, but OF warfare AT
last ANALYSIS legislation depends on physlcai
and vocal strength 1t is ridiculous, there
fore. when issue is joined, to draw back ana 90
nothing for fear Of injuring in the battle some
body who in time Of peace would be regarded
ga > friend. unless. indeed, the prospect OF
killing a friend as a method OF settling ques-
tons appears so stupid and out Of date that
a new system of orderly voting is substituted
bv common agreement The Spanish-American
method of electing officials by trial of battle
I does not prevail here. The duel as means OF
settling private differences is abolished, but the
/ old war code still persists in the Senate.
| Possibly the spectacle Of the venerable Sen
ator Morgan standing up to talk himself to
death may convince humane Senators that
/ better way of reaching a decision Of contro-
verted question than by marching to a vote over
| his dead body may be found. II not, we do not
| see what is to be done but let Mr.. Morgan ne
| sacrifice to his convictions. 1t would he a
pity to have him throw his life away trying to
stop the march Of whole nation Just because
the rules Of tine game leave nobody hopelessly
beaten in debate until he is physically dead;
yet the nation must go on, and If opponents
will not surrender when overcome, but persist
in striking from the last ditch, there is nothing
to do but ruthlessly crush them. Good men
before now have fallen victims to national
necessity. Soldiers have been sent into battle
with the certainty that they would be killed.
If the Senate is to be g battlefield, those who
contend there must make up their minds to
slaughter and be slaughtered. They may re-
speCt the enemy's private virtues and be sorry
for him. but they have to fight just the same.
Civilization tends to minimize fighting and pro-
vide other methods for deciding questions which
used, as a matter of course, to be settled by
force. Perhaps some day its enlightening in
fuence VIII touch the Senate and make legis-
lation possible without sacrifice Of life. A very
simple rule for closure would answer the pur-
pose, and save Senator Morgan from having to
choose between exhausting his strength or
cravenly retreating from & conscientious op-
position while he has physical power Of OBJ
struction. 1t is time for a Senate red cross
convention to limit the cruelty of legislative
warfare.