Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-03

ContinuOus Performances of Noted
an.nA.-. In Ennnra.a


Continuous Performances OF Noted
Speakers in
In no quarter Is there a disposition TO
toss a pop bottle or smother with cushions
the umpire who has awarded to Senator
la Toilette the game OF long-distance
taking, He won easily. Senator'S who
scored in former years and won the APP
plause Of the bleachers are now outclassed
outfielded and outwinded by the pompa-
dour statesman from Wisconsin,
The continuous talking score stands:
May 80. 1908, Senator La Follstte of
Wisconsin. is hours. 40 minutes
March 3, 1901. Senator Carter OF Nom
tana, . hours 20 minutes.
October IL. 1893, Senator Allen OF Ne
braska, IA hours, 90 minutes
January %, 1891, Senator wolcott of
Colorado, Z hours,
Senator La Follette's achievement was a
notable one. though the effort was fruit
less. He attempted to prevent the adop-
tion OF the conference report on the COM
promise currency bill and spoke from 1880
Friday afternoon until 7:03 Saturday
morning. his flow Of words broken only
by roll call. a parliamentary rule which
failed. entirely during the last half of his
performance. Senator stone of Missouri
followed with four hours Of talk and
Senator Gore of Oklahoma was outwinded
in two hours.
The previous record for long speech in
the senate was made by former Senator
Allen, Of Nebraska, who opposed the
repeal Of the silver purchasing clause OF
the Sherman act, and was aided by other
senators, who took much of the strain
from his voice by frequently reading
extracts from
There have been a number Of famous
filibustering episodes in the history of the
senate, but none, perhaps, ever has been
supported by so small a body Of men as
the lone filibuster" of Mr.. La Toilette.
Never yet has the senate failed to finally
act on a measure when a majority OF
that body favored such action.
President Cleveland summoned congress
in extraordinary session, and the fight was
then made to repeal the purchasing
clause OF the Sherman aw. Congress met
August I, 1898; the law was approved
November 1, following. and adjournment
was taken November 8, 1903.
On October IL the senate met at IL o'clock
in the morning and did not adjourn until
Las on the morning of October l2. About 6
o'clock on the night of October II, Senator
w. v. Allen, a populist, took the floor, and
began q speech in opposition to the bill. lie
held the floor uninterruptedly until a few
minutes after 8 o'clock the next morning,
speaking all the time. ave when points Of
no quorum were made or he was spelled
by some one else for a few minutes
through the reading of newspaper and other
articles with which his speech was inter-
polated.
Mr.. Allen was on his feet for fourteen
L.,,-. "a 49,. 80 1aNn he hnIA fha AanOrI
for. long-distance speaking in the congress
Of the United States. At the time 1t was
stated It had been exceeded but once, and
then only by a couple Of hours, in the
British House of Commons. Mr.. Allen was
materially aided by Senators Pfeffer and
Kyle.
Senator Pfeffer will be remembered as the
possessor Of the longest whiskers that ever
obtained a seat in the United States senate.
He was on his feet most of the succeeding
night. and to refresh himself drank copi-
ously and frequently from a large bowl Of
Cruel that stood on his desk.
The ~fillbuster conducted by Senator Car
ter against the rivers and harbors bill. in
1901 had the approval of the president. 1t
came at the end of a short session. and the
idea was to wear out the term OF con-
gress. Mr.. Carter talked whenever talking
was necessary, waving his privilege for
the transaction of other business. When a
breach occurred. however, he was always
on his feet, and when the clock indicated
the term had expired by law he had been
talking for several consecutive hours.
Senator wolcott of Colorado made his
reputation during the consideration OF the
force" bill by the Fifty-first congress.
After the bill had been before the assembly
for about a month, Senator Wolcott moved
on January 2, 1901. that the senate proceed
to consideration Of the apportionment bill.
The republicans sought to table this motion,
recognizing that It's success meant the per-
manent holding up of the force" bill, but
Mr.. Wolcott's measure finally prevailed
by a vote OF IS to "a.
The conditions which Senator La Toilette
encountered were as rigorous as they could
we'll nave been made. After the senator had
availed himself Of the privilege OF calling
for a roll call to determine whether there
was a quorum present an old ruling I'm
voked years ago at the suggestion of David
B. Hill of New York, was revived. This rule
made 1t impossible to demand any further
roll calls after the thirtieth, and La Fol-
lette was obliged to talk straight through
without a break.
During this time the senator sustained
himself by nibbling a chicken sandwich
and drinking frequent glasses Of milk
brought to his seat from the senate res
[ taurant. To save his strength he sal
/ perched on the arm OF his chair and talke
for the most part in a conversational tone
breaking now and then into a full-throated
utterance that made his words audible ir
the remotest parts OF the senate chamber
| When It is borne in mind that he talke
r absolutely without the sympathy of his
party. his task is all the more remark
able.
sONAL totes,