The Washington herald., 1911-02-19
HOUSE FILIBUSTER
LASTS into SUNDAY
Continued fron Page One

night session when Representative Au-
gustus P. Gardner,.of Massachusetts,, de-
| fender of the sacred cod, hurled his
| manly form into the fray, the Gloucester
member taking the side OF the blockaders
BY the time the shades of night, had
! fallen only those who were factors in the
| controversy remained on the floor Of the
House. Members generally began to quit
| the Capitol to keep engagements for the
evening, but such relief was not afforded
| to Mr.. Mann and those associated with
him and the leaders Of the majority. Mr..
Mann. for example, had to recall invi-
tations sent out a week or so ago for
dinner he had planned to give last
| night in honor of the members OF the
Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce, OF which he is chairman. Mr..
Mann called OF this dinner reluctantly,
but he had to remain on the job in per
son or the filibuster would have gone to
smash.
Row Starts mt Opening.
The row began yesterday as soon as
the House was called to order. Those
Republicans who left the Capitol Friday
night firmly convinced that the support
ers of the claims bill had been out
generated had the laugh turned on them
when Speaker Cannon ruled that so far
as legislation was concerned 1t was still !
Friday in the House, and that, accord
ingly, the claims bill still had the right
Of way. So Friday it was, and Mr..
Mann and his fellows found it necessary
to go ahead with the fIibuster which
they had started Friday.
In pushing the flibuster, Mr.. Mann,
we'll informed on the rules and skilled
in their application, resorted to every
expedient to prevent action. He made
the point of no quorum repeatedly, fore
ing the roll to be called at frequent in
tervals. He also insisted that the claims
bill should be read from cover to cover. !
This consumed two hours or more. Dur |
ing the reading of the measure there were
more roll calls. Then the amendments |
had to be read.
Question of Endurance.
1t soon became apparent that the life !
OF the flibuster had developed into a |
question of endurance. The Democrats, |
many of them interested in the claims |
bill. made up their minds to fight Mr.. |
Mann to the finish. The Illinois member
had saved himself during the day, and |
when night came on he settled back into
his chair, apparently fit for a long battle.
mo wonder you want TO shut off de-
bate" Mann muttered. The bill is so
rotten it viii! not stand the light that
will be thrown upon it by discussion"
About ESQ o'clock hunger began to
gnaw at the vitals OF Representative
Macon, of Arkansas. He suggested a
recess. Few members were present,
most of them having gone to their din
ners.
There are others of US here who want
70 eat" complained Mr.. Macon. Let
us take a recess and we can all eat"
The Arkansas man got no sympathy. |
He then made the point that a quorum
was not present. This necesstated an
other roll call. The clerk began slowly,
his voice sinking to n whisper. well nigh
worn out with the labors of the day.
Members Wax Facetious.
This filibuster has gone on so long
that the clerk is losing his voice. OBJ
served Representative Hefin. of Alabama
Don't shoot the fiddler when he Is do
ing his best" remarked Representative
Clayton.
Representative Bartlett, of Georgia,
that members responsible for
the calling of the rell should be COM
PEELED to give the reading clerks relief.
Il suggest that the gentleman from
Arkansas call the roll" said Mr.. Bart
lett
Il ask unanimous consent that the gen
tleman from Georgia be permitted to
Mann.
1t was just about this time that Rep
Gardner began to take an in
terest. He had just finished a whispered
conference with Mr.. Mann. when he
leaped to his feet with a motion noting
the absence of a quorum.
''Ha! ha"' exclaimed some member,
after ALL reciprocity may have something
to do with this proceeding"
The roll was called, and the Chair an
nounced that a quorum was not present.
The Sergeant-At-arms was instructed TO
bring in absent members. Proceedings
we're suspended, and the members pres
ant sat around in conversation, mad with
one another and sore at the world.
HefIin Scores as Minstrel
The night session was enlvened by
Tom Hefin, who told coon
stories. Mr.. Hefiin frightened up his
now and then by humming rag
time. This was while the Sergeant-at-
arms and his deputies were out armed
with warrants searching for absent men,
oers.
In beginning his vaudeville stunt. Rep +
Hefin denounced the Repub- +,
leans, whom he charged with response
oility for the flibuster.
Are you nagging your President?" he
asked. rs the rumor true that you are
trying to make him withdraw his threat
Of an extra session? Let there be spe-
cial session and we will show you
things i
Representative Hefin's effort, partly
song, partly story, and partly speech,
made a hit with The House and galleries.
The audience longed for more entertain
nent. So Representative Clayton, who
had entered into the spirit of the occa- Z
sion, dashed to the rear of the chamber .
and soon reappeared with page in his !
arms The boy tried to escape, but was
inaIly hoisted on to the shoulders of two I
stalwart membeRs, and, at their sugges- !
ton, he sang a song.
The House then began to grow serious. I
Bartlett asked to be in {
formed whether the Sergeant-at-arms 1
was enforcing the orders of the House I
that absent members be arrested and /
brought to the bar. Representative Daw-
SON. of Iowa, suggested that IL the Ser
and his deputies knew I
Club was In progress, he could find a '
sufficient number of members to make
! quorum. l
Smoke Despite Rule. :
BY this time all formality had been s
abandoned. Members were smoking in
of the rules, and the Chair had Y
% announce repeatedly that the rule
against smoking would have to be en- !
'orced- Representative Rucker. of Mis-
;ouri. was responsible for the trouble on