New-York tribune., 1912-02-11


According 10 scna-
torial courtesy when
Senator has the floor, hc permitted to hold as long
heE, although IN extreme cases the presiding otycr
may the closure but Senators themselves object {"
any limitation upon their debates Senator Morgan, then
considerably over seventy years old, began his speech
which lasted technically for scvcntytwo hours that 'e
10 say he talked for three consecutive legislative day
Senator Cullom Of Illinois was detailed 10 watch senator
Morgan After Senator Morgan had stood upon his feet
for several hours Senator Cullow, friend imporci
mtorcst saving that ctclrcItJr the Senator shruH
To'hi, senator Morgan blandly replied that he bad
large capital Of health and strength % draw upon hay
ing been born and reared IN the country, having cd
life Of work and Temperance, having serve. Tour wears
IN 'hc Confederate army without Cd 90, illness, .tii
IN short be- never tr better m his l'c Senator Culow
settled back wtr IN hs chair and presently dropped
of II, Sleep Senator NIorglus ay,rE voice continued
without br,a. and poured ont facts. figures ana afEd-
wyu'. The Senate always 'alnr "u' when the iakinE
against time begins. but 'U. spectacle O the watcher
Senator Cgll5r asleep AMI the wa,,hcr Senator Nor
g4r still guirga' % gYYi steady clip brought numbers
Of Senators back 90 be amused a the sight, The effort
was then practically given up 10 head senator Morgan
off, and be- finished IN tip'op condition after three days
solid talking Th. oirc., uf this 90 get leave a.
print and o. distribute the speech m the expense OF The
Government
The Senators have many ways Of defeating non''na,
tion. and when n IS strictly plr'Ztn question, ana
the Senate D. Of different political. DoMp.A"n i" ''
administration j. can hold mp any and l. non'n"0"'o
bv declining 20 go into executive session IA, l' "'''
this was done Was IN the session that "as called lWr-
dia'eIy after President Garfield accession Inc senate
ls ALWAYS called u session soon aa an incoming aA-
mnisrr4,on enters because the Cabinet officers must
br confirmed Immediately and other nominations must
Doe determined.
Prc-ldan, Garfield bestowed high federal appoint
mcnt upon General Mahonc %, Virginia, airr".fi
Senator Nlahouc had changed Sides and the Senate,
being then Democratic, determined iaa' De sa."a MOI
fr. confirmed Assoou as his name was reached on The
lis, Of nominations and the motion was made TO gon'9
executive session the Democratic Senators refused ar'
demanded "a rYIlolll For four weeks the Democrats.
Senators kept majority in the Senate chamber.
and every motion go into executive session was Hr.
fca'pI AZ last. seeing that the Democrats meant L"
Ig1f rlr the business Of the country rather lAn nave
Mahonc forced upon them, the NOMINATION was WIN
drawn 80, long aitcrwari Mahonc was elected 10 the
Senate and the ..uc men who had fought him So bI,
rcrlv were obliged 90 receive him as an Official equal
Bu, me was steadily avoided IN other ways.
A Nd now comes the mystery Of myscuos,-ho" lhr
n proceedings Of the executive sessions are itp", '
When the Senate goes into executive session l,' ""'
are locked the galleries are cleared especially inc pre-
GALLERY, and ali are excluded except Senators ana N'
necessary officers Of the Senate. Senators gather about
the Vice Presidents desk, and the proceedings are con
Quoted with the utmost quIc'ncs5 Next morning "
ruruplatc report Of the proceedings IN the tAetu,N'
session appears in every Washington newspaper IH"'
they. are correct may be assumed from the Ni.,i COM
plants made from time 20 time by senators nc L,
Senator Iohu Sherman once sarcaSucHt iS''''r' '.
b. secret sessions were better reported than the open
80, only are the officials
Nh sworn to secrecy; but # they
,1 NES.<l8 gave out an atom Of miorna.
M1@%NN\[A tion il would mean loss Of
.~SAS&&y$<1 position for them and public
~ ~ and lasting disgrace. That
ril, the