Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-31
LA FOLLETTE'S FiLIBUSTER
FAILS AND SENATE PASSES
EMERGENCY CURRENCY BILL

WASHINGTON, May 30.-At 4:30
today the senate adopted the report OF
the conferees of the two houses of con-
gress on the Aldrich Vreeland emer-
gency bill by the decisive vote of 4S to
22, and thus was taken the last con-
gressional step necessary toward the
enactment of emergency currency leg
islation, the legislation toward which
congress has directed it's principal eff
| fort since it convened last December.
| The result came unexpectedly soon,
| but not until the senate had been worn
out by filibuster which, while not
largely supported. made up in intensity
what it lacked in numbers.
| The obstructive tactics were begun
| by Senator La Toilette, Republican, of
Wisconsin, wnen the report was taken
up by the senate yesterday, and after
being prosecuted by him all of last
night, the filibuster was continued to-
day by Senator Stone, Democrat, of
Missouri, and Senator Gore, Democrat,
of Oklahoma.
Mr. La Toilette broke the record as
long distance speaker; Mr. Stone
held the floor for six hours and half, al
most without interruption and Mr.. Gore
spoke for something more than two
hours.
1t looked for a time as though the
iIllSAb NC ctpiC " SOhtAiiNc
their tactics well into if not through
the night, and during the afternoon
CONSERVATION was created in the sem
ate by the report, this time well
authenticated. that Senator Jefferson
Davis of Arkansas was on his way to
Washington and would be prepared to
assist the filibuster with a two-days'
speech, provided the objectors could
hold out until Monday morning. AS
many of the senators had been in their
seats almost continuously since IL
o'clock Friday, the prospect of the con-
tinuation of the performance, disagree
able as 1t was in itself, added much to
the unpleasant aspect of the case.
Recess Is Relief
Accordingly, there was general relief
when, at 1870 p. m. suggestion for
recess was received by the Republican
leaders from the Democratic side.
The fact soon developed after the re-
cess was entered upon that the party
friends of Mr. Stone had been consult
ing among themselves and had reached
the conclusion that If given an oppor-
tunity they could dissuade him from
further persistence in his course of on
struction and when, after reconvening
at o'clock, he retired from the floor 1t
appeared as if he had been induced to
permanently surrender.
He was followed by Mr.. Gore, the
blind senator from Oklahoma, and that
gentleman had proceeded for about two
hours when Mr.. Stone returned to tbs
senate chamber and created some dis
may by stating that he had determined
to resume his address as soon as Mr..
Gore should conclude.
He, however, afforded the Republic
cans their anxiously- sought opportu-
nifty when he again retired from the
chamber a few minutes before Mr..
Gore had finished speaking. and was
absent when that auspicious moment
arrived. Some Democratic senators had
the intention of speaking
briefly on the merits of the bill, but
the holding of the subject before the
senate for any further time had in 1t
such possibilities in the way of con-
tinuuation of the filibuster that in the
interest of speedily disposal of the
measure and early final adjournment
of congress, they were persuaded to
change their minds and forgo their in
tention OF expressing their views.
The end of the filibuster came with
a suddenness that was almost start
ling. When Senator Gore concluded,
after having spoken for two hours, it
was the opinion among those not in
the confidence of the leaders, that the
end of the fight was still long way
off, and even the leaders were not cer-
tain that it was not. 1t was generally
that Senator Stone would
attempt to resume his speech, and that
Senator La Toilette also would make
fight to regain the floor.