The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-06
EXTENDED BAT TIE ON.
Democrats Begin Threatened Fill
ibuSter in the House.
MEANS END OF MINOR BILLS
Object of Minority Is to Endeavor to
Secure by Coercion Legislation De-
manded by Them and in Part Rec.
commended by President.

Washington, April Leaders Of
the two parties in the house of repre-.
sentatives agree that Thursdays en-
gagement on the floor was but Skin
mish preliminary to an extended bat
tie in which the Democratic minority
expects to fight out to finish it's pro.
gramme of endeavoring to secure by
coercion certain legislation demanded
by them and in part recommended by
the president and the Republican ma
jority will abandon it's defensive atti-
tude and carry the war across the bor-
der. For the struggle both forces will
strip for action and all such impedi-
ments as private bills and minor leg.
islation in general will be cast aside
and trampled under foot.
Five of the big appropriation bills
District of Columbia, naval, naval
academy, sundry civil and general de-.
fciency-are yet to be disposed Of
and as the fighting order of the minor
ity is to compel action on selected
measures by blockading all action
neither minor bills nor debates of any
length must be allowed to consume
the time remaining. Mr.. Williams,
the leader of the minority, denies that
the ARRAY was in the nature of a fill
buster. He declared that the Demo-
Gratis were not filibustering, but "are
intent upon a serious and highly COM
mendable effort to force the Republic
ans to do one of two things either
pass certain measures which most of
them are personally in favor of and
which a Republican president has
urged or suffer themselves to be re-
corded openly and individually as op-
posed to them" The understanding,
from direct sources, is that the Repub-
l1cans are prepared to bear up against
the warfare Of the minority for linn
tied time without recourse to "the
deadly weapon of the majority-the
rules committee" but that the Demo-
Gratis will not be permitted to imperil
legislation by delaying the big appro-
priation bills. In other words, re-
course will not be had until the sands
OF the session run low in the glass to
the expedient of bringing in from the
committee on rules the without in
PREVENTION" rule, nor will the speaker
invoke the "dilatory notion decision
unless forced to do so.
Struggle Is Renewed.
There was a slim attendance of
members when the house convened,
due to the strenuous session of the
previous day., which ran far into the
night. Both Messrs. Payne and Will
Jams, the majority and minority lead
ers, however, were on hand prepared
for the further parliame ntary struggle
which was soon again under way. It
was begun by motion by Mr.. Payne
for the approval of the journal. On
that motion. usually treated as a mere
formality, a roll call was forced by
Mr.. Williams. The call served to
bring out the full strength of both par
ties. The partisans on both sides
were evidently determined to conduct
the fight to finish.
Having accomplished their purpose
of obstruction the Democrats Joined
the Republicans in voting for the ap-
prevail of the journal, the proposition
being carried, yeas 267, nays 8. Be-
cause he was denied by the speaker
an opportunity to make a brief state
ment in connection with the supple
mentary urgent deficiency bill, which
Mr.. Tawne.r (Minn.) called up, Mr..
Williams objected to it's consideration,
thereby forcing another roll CALL and
again the Democrats voted in the
affirmative along with the Republic
ans.
The filibuster was renewed when
Mr.. Tawney moved the previous ques-
ton that general debate close at once.
The yeas and nays were demanded by
MIR. Williams and the roll accordingly
was called for the third time.