The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31
TRICKERY USED TO
 BEAT LAFOlLETTE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1.)

 storm clouds from which rain had fallen tc cool the atmosphere and quicken the lazy southern breeze.
 With joyous vigor statesmen turned from the strenuous closing hours of the session and read in the glorious falling of the cloak of night prospects for the future of the country bright as the hues of the rainbows.
 Symbolic, too, of the close of the ses- sion, was the weather of the day, fitfully cloudy with intermittent showers scarcely noticed, then a dashing downpour of rain. Tine first session of the Sixtieth Congress dragged along with occasional fruitless promises of spirited contests and great enactments and ended in struggle spectacular, intellectual, shortlived.
 Senator Lafollette gave color to the dying session. For IS hours, alone and almost unaided he resisted the passage Of the Aldrich-Vreeland emergency cur rency bill. Buoyed up by the hope of democratic assistance in tho eleventh hour, the Wisconsin senator, weakened in strength by recent illness, held the Sen ate in debate by indomitable will.
 Record for Speaking.
 Althought defeated he has the Senate record for continuous speeckmaking.
 Forced by physical exhaustion to yield, Senator Lafollette, after speaking from 12:S0 p. m. Friday until T:43 a. m. today retired reluctantly to seek much needed rest and left the battle to his lieutenants, Senators Stone of Missouri and Gore of Oklahoma.
 It is not charged that these senators betrayed a trust, but they did not measure up to the expectation of their leader With great promise Senator Stone began his speech before wearied and depressed Senate. On his desk was a great mass of literature and documents and his appearance in- dicated robust health. It soon became apparent that he was performing or fulfilling promise perfunctorly. His colleagues, democratic and republican, gathered about him and whispered Whether he heark ened to their blan- dish ments or pitied their distress is not known. He had slept well for six hours. Many of his colleague had had but fitful maps in 30 hours. After speaking seven hours, though still strong in voice, he interposed no ob- jection to a recess while all might re- cuperate. During the recess he was the central figure in an animated con ference of democrats and republicans. After recess, he soon yielded to Sena tor Gore, the blind senator from Okla homa. whose physical infirmaties ne- cessarily curtailed his staying quail ties as a debater. He could not read ; he was forced to speak from memory Gore Does We'll. Senator Gore did well. Two and a half hours is lengthy speech for a b1ipd man Ha uas a actuatad bv o do,, ble motive. His opposition to the bill was genuine and he did not desire it to be enacted into law. He was angered by the suggestion of intimidation which lay in a threat should he assist the flibuster to strike from the public | buildings bill an appropriation of $5O,- | 900 for Oklahoma City.
 When Senator Gore turned to yield l to MT. Stone the Missourian was not on | hand to continue the filibuster. The 1 other democrats sat silent and expect ant. Senators Culberson, Clay and | Bacon were expected to speak in op- position to the bill but they made no move.
 l leader of the Senate, accepted the of l fer and asked for a vote on the cur rency bill.
 With the currency bill out of the l way the Senate and House entered
 with zest upon the work of the closing hours. The public buildings and the general deficiency bill sailed smtDtlf | through on well oiled grooves | The currency bill was signed to-
 night by the President and is now a law
 I The President signed the govern
 ment employees liability bill" granting | compensation to employees injured in | the government service tonight. Tn act grants one years salary to the l injured man or woman, and the same
 amount to their families in case of l death.