The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-30
SIN GLE HANDED,
FIGHTS HIS PARTY
Dramatic Incident in La Fol
lette's Filibuster at the Risk
of His Life.

From Our Regular Corresponden,.l
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 29-At
1890 o'clock to-day Senator La Fol-
lette began his speech in opposition to
the conference report on the Aidr!ch-
Nreelnnd currency bill.
At midnight he Is still speaking. He
has not rested nor eaten. AT intervals
his secretary appears and sets on the
desk in front OF the speaker glass
of milk, in which raw egg has been
beaten. Lemonade and clear water
have formed his only Refreshments. He
just returned 10 the Senate day or
two ago. after an absence of several
weeks, the result OF general break
down. He looked like an animated
corpse when he began his speech to-
day. His voice was weak and quaver
ing. His form was stopped. Els knees
appeared to tremble when he tried TO
stand alone He spoke for the most
part half sitting on the arm OF his
seat.
But late tonight he looks stronger than
has given way to an animated delivery. and
he shows much OF his characteristic spifit
and Are.
Many Roll Calls.
He has managed to get brief resting spells
OF ten minutes or so at a time. Every M
teen or twenty minutes he makes the point
or no quorum. The chair orders the clerk
TO call the roll quorum IS always re-
vealed. Just as La Toilette expected. But
he has had his brief breathing spell There
IL no rule preventing the making OF the
Senator may please. neither Is there any 70
compel a Senator to cease speaking until
he gets good and ready.
Senator Gore Is the sole supporter Of SEN
ator La FoIlette's flibuster, and occasional
~ the blind Oklahoman comes to the relief
OF the Wisconsin Senator by rising In his
place and saylrjs with all solemnity:
.Mr. President a quorum docs not appear
to be present"
whoever may be In the chair, orders the
secretary to call the roll.
DEMOCRATS Only Onlookers.
La Toilette has time to drink several long
the hbuster.. though every ono Of them
will vote against the bill. They felt that
the country demanded some emergency
should be a recurrence next fall OF the
panic OF the last fall the Republican party
could tell the country that but. for tho
hard times would have been avoidsd.
But they are very we'll satisfied to see a
Republican lead hsh. against ai,s,, the bill.
that the Democrats have not acted Wisely
In declining to obstrruct the passage Of q
Bill which they condemn as vicious.
IT is pointed out that the Democrats. by
obstructng unitedly the passage os a cur
rency bill, could have compelled the passage
palgn contributions.
It is reported that William T. Bryan has
telegraphed several Democratic Senators
urging them to prevent the Massage of the
bill.
Senator La Toilette compelled Senator AL
drich to admit to-day that the bill 1t is
proposed to enact not only permits the Is
srance of currency on railway bonds. which
the Rhode Island Senator had been conf
PEELED to eliminate from the bill before 1t
was put on Its passage In the Senate, but
that 1t also permits the issuance OF money
or bills OF lading, warehouse receipts and
stocks generally.
Using Old SPEECHES.
It was this feature upon which La Fol-
lette based his opposition to the bill. This
gave hin, opportunity to incorporate In his
| speech large portions OF his three-day
speech on the rate bill in 1906, and 1nuci,
or his wo- day speech on the currency ques-
ton when the Aldrich bill was under con-
sdernton few weeks ago.
If La Toilette does not get help he Will
break down. 1t Is the policy of the Repub-
licans to wear him out. 1t is part OF his
policy to keep them present In the chamber
all the time, 80 that they may not steal
away and catch few winks.
fte Is making a game hight. 1t Is one lit
tie man against the entire Republican side.
and he a Republican, endangerlng his life.
perhaps, to defeat Republican bill.
1T somehow looks curious that the strong
Democrats all around him DO not come "a.
lh4A haln~ .s