Evening journal., 1915-02-20

American people. even though the fili-
busters might be able TO muster a
majority TO block him."
Continuing, the Senator from Mis-
souri, said
In an emergency like this believe
Democrats, every man of us should be
on the firing line and fight Il out at
the point of the bayonet. For one.
want the test made. that we may see
how many grenadicrs OF the guard arc
left"
Mr.. President when few days ago
] called the attention of the senator
from Missouri to that most cNtraordi-
nary language ha said that he had not
said that and replied that pre-
sumcd il was figure of speech and
rot intended as il was uttered But,
Mr.. President. there have been occa-
sions during the history of the Sen
ate and OF our government when vio-
lencc has been threatened on the floor
of the Senate when attempts such as
arc now being made 20 abridgc the
I freedom of debate have been advocated
and those threats were made by
/ Democrats
Senator Linn continued.
But If tho lash was to be applied.
! he would rather IT was applied at
once than to he always threatened
with il. There is great complaint of
delay. but who was causing the delay
now growing out of this threat. Had
IL NOT been made. there would Ice no
necessity for ropclling &c. Ho know
of no disposition on the part of his
friends TO consume the time that
ought 10 be given TO the public busi-
ness. He had never known his friends.
while I'm the majority. TO complain OF
| discussion He knew very we'll and
could make allowances that the Scna-
tor from Kentucky was placed in a
very trying situation. II he brought
forward measures that were question
able. he had TO encounter resistance.
But he was in the predicament that he
had pledged himself to carry those
measures, and if he did not It would
be his political ruin. lie had every
thing on iho issue. hence his inn
patience to pronounce Judgment
against the right of the minority 10
discuss his measures"
In 1880 Senator Stephen A. Doug
las introduced q resolution providing
for the previous question, which. ~
ter debate. was laid ON the table on
motion of Mr. Atchsou. aud that end
ed tho matter. so far as the effort OF
MI Douglas was concerned.
The next time was on April 4. 1862
when Senator John p. Hale, cf Now
Hampshire. attempted TO secure a
cloturo rule TO be operative during
the period of the Civil War
Mr. President those were tryini
days in the history of our Government
+ There we're men in the Senate cham
/ Der who opposed legislation rolatini
10 the war and did all i'm their powc
- to prevent the passage ot appropria
; tions for the conduct of the war ol
the Union side. Senator Hale al
: original free-soil advocate. impatien
r at delay. thought the Senate ought Z
q be permitted to vote without much dis
C cussion on those great questions. an
+ he offered what is now called clC
S ture rule II was in these words
s Resolved. That the Senate may q
any time during the present rebel
] lion. by a vote of the majority Of th
r members present iX a time whe
D debate on any matter pending beiOr
the Senate shall cease and terminate
and the Senate sEall. when the i'm
fixed for terminating the debate ar
e rives. proceed 10 vote without debat
- On the measure and all amendment
pending that may be offered"
,, Mr. President, opposition deyelope
- 10 that resolution. senator Davis. q
Illinois. and Senator Collamer of NeI
j. mont. a Republican. vigorously on
posed the proposition. and IL was abar
dOncd before 10 was put to a vote.
!. On March 10. 1870 Senator HamliI
! of Maine. submitted resolution I
:. close debate. which was couchod in
milder form. and on the 25th day {
the same month Senator Wilson. {
! Massachusetts. offered the foliown
y order
q THAT the Select Committee on Rulf
q be instructed 10 consider the ineNped
o ency of adopting a rule for the r'
n mainder of the session. providing IN;
Il whenever any oil has been consider
q ed for two days the question OF oil
Il dering it TO a third reading may Z
= ordered by a 'two-thirds vote of Nh
n Senators present and voting"
d That attempt like other previor
l. ones, tailed
IT In 1873 Mr. Wright. Of Iowa. mad
II similar attempt but that also enc
It ed in failure. Senators Thurman.
IS Ohio. and Bayard. of Delaware. Ol
r posed the proposition most vigorous
C ly. and it was not agreed to. In dl
r batting the question. Senator Tho
d man. OF Ohio, one of the ablest me
n who ever occupied a seat in this bod
is a Democrat Of Democrats. used the.
d words
ID Sir. begin this In the Senate. Gu
S. tail debate here i'm some imp3ticl
N haste Of a majority that cannot be;
b TO hear even discussion of question
in that spirit OF dcspotism that Won
lr stop all debate whatsoever. IN thi
l. spirit that says that delihcratito boz
les in which public measures arc di
T. cussed arc nuisance. aud that II
lo best TO have no discussion at ALL
10 that very day the decline of the infl
a. enco OF the Senate i'm this country wi
begin
AZ Senator Carpenter, Of Wisconsi
of one of the ablest lawyers that ev'
y graced this body opposed the resoll
r. tion i'm these words:
le - entirely concur with the Senate
~ from Delaware"
k That was the great Democratic Sc
ator Bayard who had previous
Dc spoken against the resolution
C. II entirely concur with the Senat
ar from Delaware. who has just talk
!, t.s- -.,4 rrl,rro ,,,,o,l,f -. bo ono II a