The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-06-05

The FiIlhustsr Broken By Clever
Coup.
PRESIDENT PROMPTLY SIGNS Bill


washington, ID. e. (SpeclalJ 1t
is now the Aldrich- vreeland Currency
Law. The formidable Lafolette fill
buster was broken in the Senate Sat
urday afternoon in a twinkling. 1t
was done by a trick, the like of
which had never before been wit
messed. The dramatic scenes attend
| ing thereon were hardly concluded
before the necessary signatures of
the Speaker and the Vice President
were attached. And before the ink
from the pens of those distinguished
signers was dry the President arrived
from the White House and wrote at
the bottom of the parchment:
Approved, Theodore Roosevelt.
The breaking of the filibuster
promises to become historic. The in
trinity of the blind senator from Ok
lahoma, Mr.. Gore, was utilized to
make the coup effective. Senator
Aldrich, of Rhode Island, however,
laid the wires. Vice President Fair
banks, as the Senate's presiding Off
Ger, was an indispensable ally. For
half an hour the Vice President, pro-
verbally amiable and considerable of
senators in his rulings, welded his
gavel with an iron hand. No car OF
the House ever surpassed him. With
senators shaking their fists as they
clamored in determined tones, the
Vice President ignored all but Sena-
tor Aldrich. He overruled points of
order and thus forced the bill to its
final passage.
The Trap Sprung.
Senator Gore had been making an
impassioned speech, which held the
close attention of the galleries and
alike of numerous senators. Senator
Stone, of Missouri, who had preceded
and expected to follow him, had just
been at, the Oklahoman's elbow. He
could go on the moment Senator Gore
concluded. Senator Lafollette, hav-H
ing enjoyed a sound sleep after his
record-breakipg effort, had returned
to the Capitol, but was in his COM
mittee room. He planned to proceed
later, when Senator Stone had ex-
hausted his vocabulary. Unable to
see, the blind senator, having finish
ed his peroration and supposing that
Senator Stone was still nearby, sank
into his seat.
81 demand the yeas and nays" said
Mr.. Aldrich Ikea fash. Before any
one could get a word in edgeways
the reading clerk, who was in the
secret, had called the first name and
Senate bells were ringing for vote.
The, rules pohibit a debate while a
roll call is in progress. Once the first
name has been called-it happens
that Senator Aldrich heads the roll,
and he responded with feverish alac-
rity-the filibuster was broken.
There was a scramble to get the
other ilibusters. Senator Stone had
stepped into the cloakroom-it is
said on the invitation of one of Sena-
tor Aldrich's allies-where he was
being detained by conversation.
Senator Lafollette rushed up stairs
bristling with anger, but it was of no
avail. The opportunity had passed
TO Kill currency legislation at this
session.
The foundation for these proceed
ings had been shrewdly laid. Prob
ably no one but veteran parliament
tartan of long service as senator
could have succeeded. Earlier in the
day Senator Aldrich found a chance
to secure an order that when the vote
on the currency bill conference report
was taken it be by roll CALL That
preliminary would have given suf-
ficient time ordinarily for the OPP
position to start another speech. 1t
had been forgotten when Senator
Gore was concluding by all who were
not informed about the plot.
s -rf
The Climax.
The bill carried 43 to %. Every
Democrat voted against it. Contrary
to expectation, four Republicans,
Borah, Bourne. Brown and Hepburn,
Joined with them. 1t was announced
that Kittridge and Hansborough, alb
sentees from the Dakotas, would have
voted no If present. Senator Lafol-
lette will go down in the Record as
having voted for the bill he filibus-
tered against. He declared that he
was doing so only that he might
qualify for a motion to reconsider.
A DOuhie Tra0pdv