The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1913-06-22

ing intelligence of the American peo-
pie.
THE senate of the United States
alone remains capable of fatal OBJ
structon to the national will. The sen.
ate, under the minority veto, cloaket
under the theory of unlimited free.
dom of debate, has power to prevent
any action along any line Of reform
pledged to the people by any party
which may be in power at any time
Under the rules of the senate, of un-
limited debate, of irrelevant debate
of dilatory motions, faction by de-
batting in relays, and in being per-
mitted to read books and papers, in
Guiding Martin Chuzzelwitt and Huck-
leberry Finn, and last years almanac
can detain the senate for days and
for weeks and make utterly ineffect
i've any attempt on the part of the
majority to carry out any great con-
structive program.
Faction Can Obstruct.
Under ordinary parliamentary pro-
cedure, where bill introduced in the
by the committee referred to the ex-
ecutive department for report, consid-
cred in committee, read three times
in the house, placed upon the calen-
dar, debated in the committee of the
whole house, and finally, passed upon
by the house of representatives and,
going then through like tedious pro-
cedure in the senate, even without
artificial obstruction, the parliamen-
rules of the senate, the path is i'm
possible for any reform bill opposed
by faction.
"a senator can hold up any meas
ure Indefinitely by endless talk, by
the use of dilatory motions, moving
no quorum moving to adjourn,
moving to take a recess and repeat
ing these motions indefinitely and de-
manding roll calls on trivial questions
by which actual freedom of debate
is destroyed In the senate we see
the majority veto exercised over ma
jority rule, under the pretense of free
dom of debate, under the contempti-
BILE and odious pretense of freedom
of debate.
at is mot freedom of debate. The
minority veto is a denial of freedom
of debate. A senator in charge of
an important bill is driven to refrain
from debating the bill for fear of pro-
noting the filibuster against It.
"The venerable age of this foolish
precedent will not save it from a
just charge of imbecility.
II am in favor of majority rule.
81 am in favor of making the nation
al will Immediately effective.
Doesn't Want Hands Tied
"I am in favor of the senate of the
United States having the opportunity
to do, and in favor of the senate
of the United States doing, the things
required for the good of our great ma
ton.
81 am opposed to the minority veto.
1t is one OF the last bulwarks of cor
rupt privilege.
81 am opposed to the discourage
ment of honest discussion and I am
opposed to the invitation to minority
filibuster which this foolish rule of
unlimited debate invites.
81 am opposed to the legislative
blackmail which this rule of unlimit-
ed debate encourages for we have all
seen the senate consent to appro-
priations and to important amend
ments to important bills which ought
not to have been made, but which
were made rather than jeopardize the
bill by the hostility of a senator who
had the right of veto under this idiot
ic precedent.
The minority veto permits the ma
jority to be blackmailed on the most
important measures. in order to con-
ciltate the unjust demands of the mi
nority. The time has come to end
this evil. I believe in the freedom
of debate. The majority is often in
structed by the minority, but freedom
of debate is one thing and uncontroll-
ed garrulity and unrestrained chatter
is another thing.
Freedom of debate is honorable.
hut legislative blackmail under the
cloak Of freedom of debate is not
honorable. Freedom of debate is com
but a minority veto over
majority rule IS damnable.
Suggests Precedents.
Every one of the forty-eight states
in both the senate and the house
that is to say. in ninety-six of the
most distinguished parliamentary as
semblages in the United States. the