Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-01
The American Congress
IX-The Force Bill and C1oture
Rv Frederic j Haskin

held valid the various elections laws
of the southern states, the negro suf-
frage Is now so limited that 1t does not
imperil white supremacy in any state,
and practically all agitation of the
subject has ceased. But in the years
1890 and 1891 it was a very live sub
ject, indeed.
The Force BILL" as its enemies sue
ceeded in naming It, was reported in
the senate in August, 1890, having al
ready passed the house. 1t precipltated
a bitter fight at once Senator Pugh
of Alabama, for the minority of the
committee on elections, of which Sen
ator Hoar was chairman, declared 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 possi-
bic under the constitution Senator
Chandler of New Hampshire retorted
with an attack upon Pugh in which
the word rebellion" was used liber-
ally, and through which the bloody
shirt" waved wildly.
The Republicans we're pledged to re-
wise the tariff, and under pressure from
Senator Quay the Force bill' went
over to the short session to permit the
senate to pass the Mckinley tariff bill
The congress adjourned and the cam
paign of 1890 was on. The Republicans
in November met the most crushing
defeat in the history of the party, the
new house of representatives having
but eighty-eight Republicans to 2S8
Democrats. 1t is the only time since the
Republican party was organized that
there were fewer than q hundred Re-
publlcans in the house.
When the congress met in December
for the short session the Republicans
L., IAFn
flushed with victory. The death of the
Republican party was freely predicted.
The Populist PETER was chosen to sue
ceed the iridescent ingalls, in the sem
ate. Even New Hampshire was forced
"to go behind the returns" to find n
narrow majority for the Republican
candidate for governor.
With the twelve senators from the
six new states, the Dakotas, Montana,
Washington, Idaho and wyoming, the
Republicans had matoity of the SEN
ate. The Democrats determined to NIL
buster, and notified the opposition that
they would debate the elections bill un-
til congress expired on March A. They
took courage from the attitude OF SEN
ator Quay, whose enmity to President
Harrison went to the extent of giving
aid and comfort to the Democracy.
They also courted most assiduously
those western Republicans who stoutly
favored the free silver propaganda.
With the battle lines so drawn the con-
fiict began.
Senator Aldrich, as chairman of the
committee on rules, offered the famous
clouture rule, or, as the Democrats
called IL, the "gag rule" II provided
simply that after reasonable time had
been allowed for debate the previous
question might be ordered and vote
forced upon any measure, despite the
pleas of senator's to be heard further
i'm debate. Many senators who heartily
favortd the elections 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 Demo-
Gratis realized that they could not hold
out until tho end of the session. There-
fore they wrought nightly with the
western senators. one by one tne
vesterners were won over, and still
the Democrats talked on, speaking all
night, reading whole books into the
record. but always guarding the pre-
cious privilege Of the floor
Senator Ddnlti VI II eiiiih "''
charged with the task of winning over
Senator Leland stanford of California.
At last he accomplished his task, and
the word went around on the Demo-
cratic side that the day was saved, and
that there was no longer fear of negro
domination. Senator Il. o. Wolcott OF
Colorado dealt the death blow TO the
cloture rule by moving to suspend its
consideration for the purpose of taxing
nm the apportionment bill. His motion
prevaIled by a vote Of 35 to "a. Six Re
nublicans-Wolcott and Teller of Colo
RADIO. Stewart and Jones of Nevada,
Washburn of Minnesota and Cameron
of PENNSYLVANIA voted with the Demo-
Gratis. ingalls, of Kansas was paired
against the Republicans and Stanford
was absent. If the inner history or
that struggle is ever written IL VIII be
"mighty Interesting reading"
Thus ended in failure the attempt 10
change the rules of the senate, the
rules which maintain II now as the
only free form in the national legis-
latlire. 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
endeayor. for the Democratic victories
~ 1900 and 1892 came to a party which
was even then temporizing with the
silver question, upon which II was 10
snIit Since then there has been no
need of sforce bills" to insure Repub-
lican majorities.
Tomorr0w-The American Congress;
X-CleVeIand VS.. Congress.