The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-06-01
FILIBUSTER MAY
LEAVE ITS MARK
Continued from Page One.

Continued from Page One.
opener in the way OF preventing d.iatory
procedure, and looked like an entirely new
thing until Mr.. Aldrich showed that a
similar point, raised by David B. Hill in
the Fifty-fourth Congress. when he was
Senator from New York, had been sus-
tanned
Mr.. Aldrichs point OF order was adopt
ed-yeas. IS; nays. O. That was seven
less than a quorum. Mr.. Foraker drew
attention to the fact that a number Of
Senators were present, but refused TO
answer 10 their names, and the Vice Pres
ident directed the Secretary to call the
names Of Senators who had not voted
When Mr.. Culberson's name was called
he did not answer. and Mr.. Hopkins asked
that a record of Mr.. Culberson's pres
enco in the chamber be made.
Then the Vice President read a Senate
rule. which required a Senator to state
why he would not vote. and gave the
Senate authority TO say whether he
Democrats answered mo" or here" and
the Vice President did not have 10 count
silent Senators 10 get a quorum. II was
evident from Saturdays proceedings that
hereafter Senators cannot prevent the
Senate from doing business by trying to
break quorum through refusing to an
swer to their names.
Makes Another Precedent.
Another thing settled during the ani-
buster was that no Senator can speak on
one subject more than twice in a single
legislative day without the consent Of the
Senate. There Is a rule 10 that effect.
but under the freedom Of debate allowed
in the Senate II was honored in the
breach, instead Of in the observance. The
rule was not enforced, but Il was the
purpose Of the Republican leaders TO IN
sist on its enforcement II Mr.. La Toilette
attempted TO renew his filibustering
speechmaking effort Saturday afternoon.
They were to contend that he had al
ready spoken three times on the currency
bill. He had lost the floor once through
being called 70 order for rejecting on
Mr.. Aldrich. they intended TO hold. and
the resumption Of his remarks constituted
a second speech. But. in addition. It was
to be argued that he had once yielded the
floor 10 Mr. Aldrich. and that when he
resumed that constituted speaking three
times on the same subject within one
day.
No effort to apply the rule was neces-
sary for the reason that the filibuster
collapsed through Mr. Aldrich's superior
generalship before Mr.. La Toilette could
attempt TO resume his speech in the after
noon.
Cannot Explain the Failure.
The Senate nlIbusters cannot explain
how the end happened. All they know
Is that Senator Gore stopped talking.
and before any one had time to think.
Senator Aldrich had gained the floor.
made a motion. and voted aye" him
self. his being the first name alpha
betically on the roll call, and no parIia-
mentary tactics could then stop the pas
sage Of the emergency currency bill
Senator Gore explains the sudden
smashing OF the filibuster this way:
I understood that Senator Stone was
TO relieve me whenever I got ready 10
stop. 1 had no agreement to speak any
definite length Of time. l could not
promise TO speak any longer than an
hour and a half. or an hour and three
quarters. Senator Stone, somehow, got
the impression that I was 10 speak until
8 o'clock. but 1 had no time fixed IN my
mind. and no time had been stipulated
When Senator Aldrich had n recess de-
clared for thirty minutes, while Senator
Stone was speaking I sent word to Sem
ator La FOllette's room 10 look out, as
thought something was brewing
Senator La Toilette sent word back
that he was watching the floor. so when
my turn came l gave no further thought
TO my relief, assuming that ~ would be
there whenever I ceased speaking. All
could do was address myself 70 the sub
jet and keep on until I had exhausted
It, While l was speaking. word reached
me TO keep going twenty minutes more.
and l kept going forty-flve minutes, 10
be safe.
stone Did Not Desert.
Some talk is going the rounds that
Senator Stone was called of by his
Democratic colleagues during the half
hour recess, and that that is why he
was not on hand when the blind Senator
had done. Both Senator La Toilette and
Senator Gore acquit Mr.. Stone Of such
perfidy. No one can be blamed, they
both say.
1T was a slip 'twixt the cup and the
lip" said Mr.. Gore on this point.
1T was just a fiuke." said Mr.. La Fol-
lette
And Senator Stone-he said nothing.