The Washington herald., 1911-03-05
Nv JOHN TEMPLE GRAVES.


The last ffIibuster of a flibustering
Senate was its most striking and dra-
matte.
1nat last, lone stand of Owen, of Ok
lahoma, held the Senate in terror and
alarm Rising like a lone Indian upon
the plain of uncertainty, with chin as
firm as a rock and with an eye as keen
as a hawks, he held a whip-hand over
eighty-nine Senators for seventy-fve
minutes. and threatened for time to
let the gaveI fall upon his as the last
utterance of the session.
owen was ostensibIy lighting for Ari-
iona and the Arizona constitution New
Mexicos constitution had been received,
and in its reactionary provisions was
accepta BILE to the President and to the
Republican majority, and New Mexico
was about to be admitted alone.
Owen took the floor to fight for Ari-
zona under a constitution which was
progressive and vital. in that il con-
tanned the initiative, the referendum, and
the recall.
stood for Two Things.
He planted himself upon two PROPOSE
tions. from which the entire Senate
failed to move him. First, that the two
great forces lighting for supremacy in
this government were the forces OF
progressive and popular sovereignty rep
sented by the. Arizona constitution and
the reactionary influences of interest
and ultra-conservatism represented by
New Mexico.
His second ground was the reassertion
of the proposition which he has thun-
dered for the last five days upon the floor,
that the Sixty-first Congress since the
November elections has not been repre-
sentativa ii the people, and had no right
TO enact vital legislation rejecting the
peoples will.
incidentally. with perfect frankness, Sen
ator Owen declared the Senate majority
was about to admit New Mexico because
it would add two Republican Senators to
the list, and he refused to see Arizona
excluded because its admission would
bring in two Democratic Senators.
Planted upon these positions, the young
and fiery Senator. was absolutely immov-
able to all the influences that could be
brought around him.
Unmoved by Appeals.
Senators were in terror over the fate
of individual bills. other Senators were
in terror over the, fate, at the last mo-
ment. of certain important remnants OF
the appropriation bills.
Grave and digniied Senators swarmed
like bees around the desk of owen, of
Oklahoma, but even to the Vice Presi-
dent the Oklaheman turned smiling
face but an absolutely obdurate ear, and
went on coolly.
A message came from the President of
the United States, then in the Marble
Room of the, Capitol, offering that if Sen
ator. Owen would come to the President,
a sincere effort would be made to reach
an adjustment on the Arizona matter. At
his black eyes. and refused TO
enter into any conference looking to a
of Arizona's life.
There was never so dramatic a filibus-
ter seen upon the floor of the Senate, or
a fIibuster upon which was levaled such |
wealth and power of PERSONA and po-
ltical influence all in vain.
Finally Senator Owen, in his own good
time, agreed that if the Senate would vote |
there and then for the admission of
A rizuna and. New Mexico upon equal |
terms at the same time, he would sur |
render the floor. This was accomplished |
II 80. The vote was adverse to the |
proposition by 43 TO IS. refusing both (
states and owen gained bis point of
winning an equal consideration 'for Ari- .
IONA,
Voice Of New Democracy.
The last hlibuster of the Sixty-first |
Congress has clearly indicated to the floor |
and to the galleries that the young
Senator from Oklahoma must be reck-