The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-06-02
CREATES new RECORD.
Senator La Fcllette Talks Contin.
uously for Nineteen Hours.
STONE STEPS INTO BREACH
Missouri Man Takes Up Fight on Com
promise Currency Bill When Wis.
consin Scion Reluctantly" Yields

the Floor.
Washington, June Whatever
else has been accomplished by Sena-
tor La Toilette in his filibuster in the
senate against the adoption of the
conference report on the currency bill
he has gained championship At
1903 a. m. he yielded the floor to Mr..
Stone of Missouri after having spoken
almost continuously for eighteen hours
and forty-three minutes and his voice
seemed to be almost as fresh as when
he began. If Senators Stone and
Gore, the latter being accredited with
Willingness to assist in the flibuster,
can do AZ we'll the filibuster is far
from an end. The Republican leaders
apparently have no programme other
than to try to wear out the flbuster-
ers.
The previous record for long
speeches In the senate was made by
former Senator Allen of Nebraska,
who opposed the repeal of the silver
purchasing clause of the Sherman act,
and he was aided by other senators
who took much of the strain from his
voice by frequently reading extracts
from documents. Mr.. La Toilette had
no assistance of that character. In
fact, his task was made as difficult as
possible by placing interpretations on
the rules of the senate which inter-
fered with his demands for the calling
OF the roll to determine the existence
Of quorum. This ruling was made
after there had been more than thirty
calls of the senate and was based on
the fact that there had been no bust
ness intervening since the former
call, debate being held not to be bust
ness. After Mr.. La Toilette had been
twice recognized by the chair an old
ruling, invoked number of years ago
at the suggestion of former Senator
David B. Hill Of New York, to the
effect that senator cannot speak
more than twice on a. subject in one
legislative day, unless other business
intervenes, was brought up. AS the
senate will continue the currency dis.
cussion under the legislative date of
May 20 Mr.. La Toilette realized that
he could not get the floor again If he
surrendered it. AS result he gave
Rn unprecedented exhibition of endur-
ance His exploit is all the more re-
markable for the reason that his own
party was wholly without sympathy
for 11c nEfNrf ho hoJ L,,4
porters in the Democratic ranks.
Night Long to Be Remembered.
The night was one that will long
be remembered by senators. The heat
In the chamber was oppressive and
the attempts to maintain a quorum
prevented the fifty odd senators now
in the city from getting rest. Finally
the rgeant-at-arms was directed to
keep these senators at the capitol,
which was an almost impossible task.
AS soon as some of them were
brought In they would answer to their
names and depart for their homes.
The Republican leaders were particu-
larly anxious that Senators Stone and
Gore should not be permitted to get
an undisturbed nights rest and they
were routed out Of bed by the deputy
sergeants-at-arms of the senate. They
were brought into the chamber half
dressed, but they did not remain long
enough for their dishabille to be gen.
orally noticed.
Throughout the day and night Sen.
ator La Toilette sustained himself ON
a punch of egg and milk and on one
occasion during a roll call he ate a
sandwich. He husbanded his strength
by sitting on the arm of his chair
as he talked and for the most part
his speech was delivered in a CONVEX.
satiQaal and dispassionate tone.
There have been number of ia
nous filibustering episodes in the his
tory Of the senate, but none, perhaps,
ever has been supported by so small
q body of men as the "lone filibuster''
of Mr.. La Toilette. Never yet has the
senate failed to finally act on meas.
ure when majority of that body ia.
vored such action.
Mr.. La Toilette, at 1903 a. NJ, an.
nounced that he was reluctant to
yield the floor, but he said he realized
that other senators desired to speak.
Messrs. Aldrich and Stone arose 81.
multaneously, the former being recog-
pizod. He moved that when a vote
should be taken on the pending ques-
ton, the adoption of the conference
report, the ayes and noes be called.
This motion was carried and Mr.. AL
drich yielded to Mr.. Stone, who began
his remarks, which he said to some
of his colleagues might be continued
for sixteen hours or So
BY far the largest part of Mr.,
Stones address consisted of the read
ing of newspaper extracts. For the
most part he spoke in low and monot-
onous tones and could not be heard
ten feet from where he stood.
At 1:25 p. M, on motion of Senator
Aldrich, the senate took recess for
half an hour to allow senators to get
their luncheons without being called
back into the chamber. Preceding
this action there had been fifteen
or twenty minutes discussion Of Sena-
tor Stones method of proceeding,
which eliminated in point Of order
by Senator Foraker to the effect that
the reading of documents and papers
as INDUCED IN by Mr.. Stone was con-
trary to the rules of the senate and
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