Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-02
Some Things You Want to Know


election law. Since that time the supreme
court OF the United states has held valid
the various election laws Of the southern
states, the negro suffrage is now so limited
that 1t does not imperil white supremacy
IN any state, and practically all aEita-
tlon Of the subject has ceased. But In the
years 1870 and 1891 it was a very live sub
ject. indeed.
The force BILL as its enemies succeeded
In naming it, was reported in the senate
In August, 1880, having already passed the
house. 1t precipitated a bitter fight at
once. Senator Pugh Of Alabama. for the
minority Of the committee on elections. OF
which Senator Hoar was chairman. de-
clared that the passage Of the bill would
mean the shedding Of blood and the end OF
peace, and that it would be resisted by
every parliamentary method possible under
the constitution. Senator Chandler OF New
Hampshire retorted with an attack upon
Pugh, In which the words rebellion was
used literally, and through which the
bloody shirt" waved wildly.
The republicans were pledged to revise
the tariff and under pressure from Senator
Quay, the force bin went over TO
the short session to permit the senate
to pass the Mckinley tariff bill. The con-
gress adjourned and the campaign Of 1890
was on. The republicans in November
met the most crushing defeat in the
history Of the party, the house of repre-
sentatives having but lightweight republi-
cans to 2S6 democrats. 1t is the only time
since the republican party was organized
that there were fewer than 100 republi-
cans in the house.
When the congress met in December for
the short session the republicans were
bitter in defeat, the democrats flushed
with victory. The death OF the republican
party was freely predicted. The popullst
Peffer was chosen to succeed the rides
cent Ingalls, in the senate. Even New
Hampshire was forced to go behind the
returns" to find a narrow majority for
the republican candidate for governor.
With the twelve senators from the six
new states, the Dakotas, Montana, Wash
ington, Idaho and Wyoming, the republi-
cans had a majority Of the senate The
democrats determined to flibuster, and
notified the opposition that they would
debate the election bill until congress ex-
pired on March T. They took courage from
the attitude of Senator Quay. whose en-
nifty to President Harrison went to the
extent OF giving aid and comfort to the
democracy. They also courted most as
siduously those western republicans, who
stoutly favored the free silver propaganda.
With the battle lines so drawn the con-
flict began.
Senator A!drich, as chairman Of the
committe on rules, offered the famous
cloture rule, or, as the democrats called
1t, the gag rule" 1t provided simply
that after a reasonable time had been
allowed for debate, the previous question
might be ordered and a vote forced upon
any measure, despite the pleas Of senators
to be heard further in debate. Many
senators who heartily favored the election
bill were in doubt about this rule. Even
Senator Hoar wanted cloture to apply only
to the one measure.
There was much speaking and many
parliamentary tricks. The democrats for
two days debated the question of the
APPROVAL of the journal. But as the crisis
approached In January the democrats
realized that they could not hold out until
the end of the SESSION. Therefore they
wrought nightly WITH the western sena-
tors. One by one the westerners were won
over, sim the democrats talked on, speak
ing all night, reading whole books into
the record. but always guarding the
precious privilege Of the floor. rrr.
Senator Daniel Of Virginia was charged
with the task OF winning over Senator Lee
land Stanford of California. Al last he
accomplished his task, and the word went
around on the democratic side that the
day was saved, and that there was no
lorger fear Of negro domination. Senator
E.. o. Wolcott Of Colorado dealt the death
blow to the cloture rule by moving to sus-
pend its consideration for The purpose OF
taking up the a-pportlonment bill. His mo-
ton prevailed by a vote of So to "a. Six
republicans-Wolcott and Teller OF Colo
RADIO, Stewart and Jones Of Nevada, Wash
burn Of Minnesota and Cameron of Pen
sylvania voted with the democrtes. In
gals of Kansas was paired against the
republicans and Stanford was absent. II
the inner history Of that struggle is ever
written it will be mighty interesting
reading"
Thus ended In failure the attempt to
change the rules of the senate, the rules
which maintain 1t now as the only free
forum in the national legislature. Thus
ended, also, the era Of reconstruction, for
since that time no considerable effort has
been made to interfere with the southern
states. In fact there has been small need
OF such endeavor, for the democratic VIC
tories Of 1880 and 1892 came to a party
which was even then temporizing with the
silver question. upon which it was to split.
Since then there has been no need Of
force bills" to insure republican matori-
ties.
~ FEEDHRIC J. AAsRu,
Tomorrow-THE AMERICAN CON-
GEEss-Cleveland Versus Congress.