The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-06-12
The Currency Bill Passai by
Congress Is a Radically
VICIOUS MEsSUl.RI';|.EI. ] Re
Senate Majority surrenders to Forces
of Plutocracy-La Follette's Brave
Fight Inefgectual-Wisconsin May
sWingto the Democracy-Fairban
True to the Trasts.
BY WILLIS j. ABBOT.

4oy WILLIE Os SADoS
Perhaps it was because this ha
been fighting and a singularly il
tempered congress that it closed it:
first session with burst of hilarit,
and uonpartisan good fellowship 'sucf
as has never before been witnessed IL
the house OF representatives. There
were songs, professions, wild dances
on TIE part of distinguished statesmen
general eulogy Of Speaker Cannon
even from that side Of the chambel
which has been denouncing him as ar
autocrat-as, of course, he is-song.
by members OF the press gallery and
songs in return from the floor directed
toward the press gallery. One incident
unparalleled in the history Of congress
was what might be called battle OF
the pictures. A big photograph Of the
speaker attached to broom was
borne into the hall at the. head OF
procession of members Of both politi.
cal faiths, who joined in singing verses
in his eulogy. Thereupon militant
Democrat, Hefiin of Alabama, looking
upon Uncle Joe as receptive presi-
Dental candidate, discovered q por-
trait Of Mr. Bryan in the Democratic
cloakroom, attached it to broom and,
at the head Of procession of Demo
Gratis, brought it into the chambtt. a
struggle ensued between the two fac
,tlons. each striving to hold the por-
trait of its champion the higher. 1t
was settled finally by a Republican
tossing the Cannon picture into the
press gallery, whence it was proudly
The Democrats tried to do
the same thing with the Bryan picture.
but missed their aim, and it fell to the
speakers desk, narrowly missing his
head. AS it was heavily framed it
might have led TO a serious accident.
The scene must have been a curious
one to people not familiar with the fa-
cility with which an American legisla-
tive body can turn from serious busi-
ness to horseplay and back again.
Every five or ten minutes a messenger
from the senate would appear in the
center aisle to announce the passage Of
q bill, and at the tap Of the speakers
gavel perfect order would be restored,
only to have pandemonium break out
again the moment the business was
ended The speaker seemed to enjoy
it as much as any one, but asked the
press associations to send out little
concerning 1t, because, as he put 1t,
t'the boys on the floor and the boys. in
the press gallery understand this sort
Of thing, but there is the diplomatic
gallery crowded with representatives
of foreign legations, and what they
must think Of this sort Of frolic stumps
me-"
The Last Hours of the Senate.
There was less good humor and more
dignity in the senate as its session
drew to close. The attempt Of Sena-
tor La Toilette to defeat the currency
bill by talking it to death left good
deal Of bitterness at that end Of the
capitol. It was gallant fight that the
Republican insurgent made, and / am
inclined to apprehend that some west
ern and southwestern Democratic SEN
ators are likely to suffer among their
constituents for leaving him to make
it almost unaided. Beginning at 1890
o. IN, he talked continuously until aft
er o'clock the next morning, breaking
thereby the record for long distance
oratory. There have been other fill
busters who occupied the floor for a
longer space Of time, but that was By
aid Of the device Of sending long docu-
ments to the clerks desk to be read,
during which time the speaker had an
opportunity to rest. 1t was in this
way that Senator Tom Carter talked
the river and harbor bill out Of exist
ence and Senator Carmack in later
congress slaughtered the ship subsidy
bill. But this year rule was brought
in prohibiting this practice, and all quo
tations which La Toilette desired added
to his speech had to be read by him.
The fact that he has been for nearly
two months sick man made his per-
formance all the more extraordinary.
His only aid came from Senator Stone
of Missouri and from Senator Gore OF
Oklahoma. The latter's speech was in
no sense filibustering device, though,
delivered at the time it was, 1t aided
the effort to talk down the currency
bill. 1t was, in fact. one of the ablest
speeches delivered in the senate this
session, touching upon all present day
Issues of Democracy. and will make
one of the best campaign documents
the Democratic nationaS committee can
1t Is not probable that even had the
Democrats as a whole Joined La Fol
lette, Stone and Gore the bill could
have been beaten. A fil.buster can
only be completely successful when the
day of adjournment is arbitrarily fixed,
as in the case of the short sessions OF
congress. There was absolutely moth
ing to prevent this congress sitting
until next December unless 1t We're
the anxiety Of senators to get to the
Chicago convention. But hard fight
might have compelled the amendment
of radically vicious bill and perhaps
the concession by the Republicans of
the pJrlicity bill. upon which the
DemoC rats are q unit.