The Washington times., 1913-11-27
PRESSURE BEHIND CURRENCY BILL.

The alternative to closure rules IN the Senate IS
and long has been the continuous session Closure,
under reasonable regulation, with ample notice gwen
in advance of the time for voting is rather calculated
to promote the kind of discussion that determine
mems minds and votes. Continuous session is q
stunt. test of physical strength, process by which
the majority grinds down and wears out the minority
1t does not conduce to real discussion. Senate
that has been in continuous session for twenyfour
or thiry-sx hours may humble through the forms of
procedure but speakers are incapable of contribut
ing anything worth while or listeners of absorbing
if it were contributed, under such circumstances.
In the matter of the currency bill the Democratic
caucus has decided middle course. Instead of
continuous session, it is proposed to keep the Senate
at work thirteen hours daily, without any recesses at
all save for Christmas Day only From 10 a. m. to
II p. m. the discussion will go until the recalci-
trants ready to vote ready not because they have
got all the talk out of their systems perhaps not be-
cause they have definitely made up their minds what
ought to be done at some points, but because they
can't stand the physical strain.
1t is denounced, of course, as various kinds of
outrage; but in the present temper of public sent-
ment there is no doubt that the country will stand at
the back of the Administration supporters who en-
forcing such rigorous methods Parliamentary debate,
diatribe and partisan play that the country little
for it, and is always glad to have less. The Senate S
considerations of large questions in truth umin
ating and useful, but illumination can't outpull par
tisanship as a motive
There are too many excellent lawyers in the Senate
gentlemen accustomed to taking side or the other
and then making vigorous and convincing presenta-
tions of that sides claims They produce not only an
interesting display of intellectual gymnastics, but also
they insure that the best possible presentation shall
be made of the facts and arguments in favor of the
side they espouse. That much is very well. The
trouble is that the community doesn't want a cur
rency bill tried" as criminal would be. 1t doesn't
care to have its legislation managed by attorneys for
the state and the defense Throughout long OBJ
servation of affairs it had discovered that the law
yers take Sides in murder cases, according they
are retained and paid Nobody expects that the
lawyer for the defense will change his position, dur
ing the trial merely because the weight of testimony
convnces him that his client is guilty.
Exactly so with the statesmen. man starts out
opposed to a piece of legislation Nobody dreams
that he is going to be changed by argument Ar
gument goes over the heads of the assembled array
of COUNSEL it is aimed at the country for political
effect.
That is why parliamentary debate weighs lightly
with the public. People feel that the debaterS are
merely retained attorneys for the opposing political
views. They suspect that if sides were reversed the
various champions could tilt just as skillfuly and
convincingly. That is why parliamentary discus
sions of affairs have less weight than they deserve.