The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-03-05
The YaIue ID FiIlhusterine.

II is asserted by those who indorse the
present rules OF the House and the exer-
else of one-msn power that any other sys-
TEN restores the ancient ilibuster. They
claim that the present method saves time.
This assertion is undoubtedly true. But
this admitted. is flibustering an unmixed
evil? We had an example of a tilibuster
in the closing hours Of the session which
has just ended. The Senate had passed,
and the House had amended. a measure
known as the ship-subsdy bill, When the
proposed law was returned to the Senate,
various obstacles We're thrown in the way
of consideration. and when the session eX-
pired the bill was suspended in mid-air.
If the measure is one that ought TO have
been enacted into law, the responsibility
for its defeat must be laid at the door of
the Democratic party. because IL was the
Democratic minority which organized and
Unanswered the dilatOry tactics. The fact
that the Democrats were willing TO accept
this responsibility indicated. however.
their earnest belief that a ship subsidy is
not desired by the great mass Of the peo-
pie. At any rate they were willing 10
accept the issue.
IF there obtained in the Senate the same
system of rules as in the House, the pro-
test Of the minority would have been flu
tile. and to-day the country would be sub
jected 70 the operation of a law which. in
1.-THE minds Of a very large proportion OF the
population is Of questionable value and
honesty As il is. the measure now goes
over 10 another Congress. where it can
receive closer scrutiny. and which may in
deed decide against its enactment Under
the circumstances. then. is not alibuster
justified? We recall that under similar
circumstances, Senator Carter, of Mon
tana. talked a peculiarly pcrcine river and
harbor bill to death. We do not remem-
Der that the country suffered to any
marked degree by the failure of the BILL
and certainly Senator Carter was not per-
s0nally impeTiled on the contrary. he
was triumphantly returned TO the Senate
at the first opportunity which presented
Itself 10 his State
/ It is undoubtedly true that before the
present rules we're adopted in the House
there were many exciting hlibusters in
that body. Days and nights were some
times consumed in inactivity, while the
minority, through every means within its
power sought to compass the defeat Of
proposed legislation
I 1t was not always successful. To be sure
but before the final vote was taken the
entire country knew that a definite issue
was being sharply contested Actions al
ways speak louder than words. and forty
eight hours Of a flibustcr will do more to
Iaccentuate the position of an opposing
minority than all the speeches which
could be crammed within the bulky pages
of the Congressional Record In the oIden
/ days. the men on both sides of the cham
/ Der fought to the last ditch over legisla-
ton. Their struggles have become his
toric. Who will forget the mastery battle
over the question Of Federal soldiers at
the polls? A score Of other equally great
contests could be named. In those days.
political issues were made upon the floor
of the House Of Representatives. Men
won their spurs in splendid contests be-
cause they were contending for principles
which they believed to be vital
II It shall be urged that the present sys-
TEN in the House is 10 be continued be-
cause it has abolished flibustering. we in
sist that it is only necessary 10 cite the
situation in the Senate 1t would be sad
day for the country if there should be a
one-man power in the Senate. as there is
/ in the House. That one consideration
sums up the whole case.