The Topeka state journal., 1908-06-01
Aldrich and Fairbanks Put Up
a Job on Democrats.
ELKINS HELPED THEM
BY Interesting Stone Out in the
Cloak Room
Until Gore ST. pped Speaking g
and Took His Seat.

=
er or cleverer, judged purely from the
standpoint Of success was ever seen In
the senate chamber than the trick
which Senator Aldrich played to WIN
the passage of the currency bill The
plan was laid and only a convenient
opportunity was waited to put it in ac-
tion. A veteran employe of the senate
remembered that quarter of CEN
tury ago. a similar trick had been
worked. 1t was decided to try it again.
Not a very complex or difficult game,
but one requiring the completely of sew
eral persons, including the presiding
officer to a certain extent. Under the
rules of the senate once roll call is
begun it cannot be interrupted by any
other business whatsoever. The charm
of the trick lies in catching the NIL
clustering squad mapping just mo-
ment just long enough to start the
calling of the roll by the clerk, ana
the thing is done.
Senator La Toilette gave way to SEN
ator Stone of Missouri few minutes
after o'clock Saturday morning, hav-
ing held the floor for little more than
seventeen hours most of the time be-
ing on his feet and either reading or
talking. He was wonderfully fresh to
the end, and if he could have foreseen
the outcome of his rest, it is doubtful
If he would have yielded the floor so
soon so determined was he to -prolong
the struggle to the bitter end. But
having the assurance OF Senator stone
that the flor should be held, the man
from Wisconsin went home and had
good sleep Senator Stone held the floor
with a rambling speech several hours,
occasionally interrupted, when he gave
way to Senator Gore. The blind SEN
ator had no intention of engaging in a
filibustering expedition. He only want
os,- t,,e x-ta
tariff. the Capitalization of wealth. the
manner In which government FUNDS
are farmed out to the interests in New
York and a variety of other questions
He made an effective speech. which
was listened to by one of the largest
audiences of the session His voice
strangely resembled that of William
Mckinley, and his shrill but not un-
pleasant tones rang through the senate
chamber for more than two hours.
While he was speaking Senator stone
whispered to him that he was in the
cloakroom ready to come on duty at
moments notice. The alert Aldrich
noticed this maneuver and straightway
sent oily Steve Elkins to show the man
from Missouri something nice in the
way of a hold-up conversation.
Hair Trigger Sprung.
As soon as Gore sat down Aldrich,
standing in the center aisle. only
few feet from the presiding officers
rostrum, quickly moved that vote
be taken on the motion to adopt the
conferees report on the currency bill
and on that he demanded the yeas and
nays Before the vice president could
more than half finish a statement of
the question and while the words were
still falling from his lips the hair
trigger clerk having received his in
structions from the leader of the sem
ate. began singing out: "Mr. Aldrich!"
"Yea!" "Mr Allison" "Mr. Ankeny"
Mr.. Bacon"
In a twinkling the senate chamber
was in a great uproar. Senators rush
ed to and fro. Men came running out
of the cloakrooms among them the
lank form of Gum Shoe Bill" fol-
lowed by the rotund and smiling face
of Steve Elkins. Three or four men
We're prepared to protest and to de-
mand the floor. But 1t was too late
everlastingly too late. The magic roll
call had begun. and, under the rule, if
enforced with an iron hand, nothing
on earth could interrupt that. And
there stood Aldrich and behind him
the old guard of Republicans. victor
ious in a score of great trays. deter
mined that they should be enforced.
For a moment and a moment only
the result was in doubt. This was when
Senator Hepburn of Idaho rose and in
terrupted the roll call and demanded
the floor. He was reminded by the pre-
had begun, and that it could not be
interrupted.
but / rose in my place" shouted Mr..
Heyburn,n now thorouhly angry" ,"and de-
manded the recognition of the chair in
a loud voice before the call of the roll
was begun"
Regular Order.
Regular order" shouted the Repub-
lican leaders and the clerk was going
on with his call of names. Mr.. Pres-
dent" said Senator Hepburn, in voice
ringing with Indignation and determi-
nation. Il rise to a question of per-
sonal privilege. We shall see who can
be deprived of his rights in this cham
ber." The latter remark was address
ed to Aldrich and the other Republi-
cans who surrounded him and begged
him to sit down.
Vice President Fairbanks hesitated
"The chair has no recollection OF
hearing the demand of the senator
from Idaho for recognition" he said
but II the senator states that he did
address the chair, he will be recog-
nized."
But that cannot be done. Mr.
President" urged Aldrich. Because
under the rules roll call cannot be
interrupted for debate or any other
business, and the call of the roll had
begun and several senator's had an.
swered to their names" And Hale
and Foraker and others murmured il
echo. THAT cannot be DONE
This was the crucial moment. L
Hepburn were recognized and mad,
his short speech explaining why he a.
a Republican voted against the bill
all would be lost, the trick would fail
Senator Stone was now in the cham
ber ready to stand guard. The vic
president hesitated again, cleared hi
throat and in a voice which Shove,
how little he liked the part tn
exgencfes Of the case called upon hin
TO play said: 'The clerk will pro
ceed with the roll CALL
Again the nimble clerk needed n
urging. Like a flash he was OFF agai
with his "Mr. Bailey, "Mr. Bank
head" "Mr BeYeridge" Mr. Rorah