Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-02-04
SENATOR'S OFF TO
FLYING START IN
TALKING MARATHON
Democrats Force Continuous
Sessions In Order to Break
Down FiIibuster BY
Minority.
SMOOT SPEAKS ALL NIGHT
Gives Way TO sutherland-Re-
publicans Say They Can
Keep Up the Pace For
Two Weeks.
sMOOT SPEAKS ALL NIGHT

Washington, Jan. 3o.-Thirty hours
II continuous session in the Senate
md prospects of another all night or
deal, brought no break in the lines to-
'ay between the republicans and the
aemocrats fighting over the admins
ration ship bill.
Republicans, disclaiming a fllibuster.
We're keeping their best long distance
speakers employed in their effort to
old the floor against q roll call. and
ne foremost parIiamentarians of the
Administration forces continued their
a~nflinchins vigil for the opportunity to
'orce a fall of the vice presidents gavel
una put the bill on its passage.
Democrats Claim Votes.
The democrats claimed the neces-
iafN votes and the republicans claimed
:hey had speakers enough in reserve
20 hold the floor two weeks if neces-
.ary.
What promises to be the longest of
all historic prolonged sessions dragged
Pm during the day with republicans
!akins farms holding the fort, after
Senator Smoot had held it all night.
speaking III hours md So minutes con-
.inuously.
Washington. Feb. 1.-Senate demo-
rats and republicans ware arrayed to-
9ay in the tinal stages OF a spectacular
contest over the administration ship
pm. Not since the celebrated fight on
th" Cannon rules had such a fight been
zen in the halls of congress.
After an all night session, in which
senate Smoot had led the republican
~dlibuster by speaking continuously for
IL hours and 30 minutes and the DEM
fcratlc parliamentary shalps kept a
Vigil IN VAN for an opportunity to drop
the saVel and order q roll cali. fresh re-
publican forces trooped into the cham
Der carly today and Senator Suther-
land took up the fight.
Senators of both parties. called from
redS bauquets. had held the battle
line all night. two little arInies formed
In full dress suits. All through tho
long hours while Senator Smoot held
the floor without signs of fatigue. until
the daylight came streaming down
through the glass top of the senate
chambers. TIL" reserves of both sides
Snatched maps in the cloakrooms, on
sofas in the chamber ~ at their desks.
An array Of dropping eyed senators
with runpled clothing and crumpled
linen held their lines until fresh forces
relieved them.
Plenty of Steam.
lust before Senator Slnoot gave way
to his colleague, MI. Sutherland, he
forced q roll call. 1t disclosed a uuo-
rum and it was evident that the repub-
lican forces were ready to carry their
fight through another all night session
if necessary. and that the democrats
were holding 4 majority either in the
chamber or within rall of the bells for
the opportunity to take a vote.
The slightest relaxation or d parlia-
M To- / ~. yl,~- -, ~, - 9 tl. -.z-I
Leans might have given the democrats
their eagerly hoped for opportunity of
dropping the gavel. They claimed to
have the votes ready to pass the bill.
The republicans said they intended. by
all means at their command. to prevent
that. 1t was a battle of endurance and
wits.
Senator Kern. the democratic floor
leader. declared that the session would
he continued throughout the day and
that decision would be reached this
evening as to holding another night
session.
Senator Sutherland contendcd that so
far no ~tilihuSter had been carried or
against the bill, but he added that in
his Judgment any parliamentary power
the republicans might exert to prevent
its passage would be of mmeasurable
value to the country.
At 8 O'Clock Senator Smoot had fin
isled his 18th hour of continuous
speaking and was declining offers OF
republican arrivals for a rest. His
colleague. Senator Sutherland. entered
the chamber armed with 10 heavy
tones from the congressional library
from which he was prepared to make
n long legal argument which would re-
quire much reading from decisions.
Eats Between Sentences.
Between sentences Senator Smoot
took Il breakfast of milk brought by
colleagues from the Senate cafe, anC
said he was not yet tired.
In the vice presidents chair sat Sen
ator Hollis. Watching for the oppor-
tunity to drop the gavel and order the
hard fought for roll call, but down il
the seats of the chamber new republi.
can sentinels began arriving fresh ant
keen from a night of sleep, their droop-
ing eyed colleagues then retiring. the
full dress suits began TO disappear. anC
ut the same time fresh forces of demo
Gratis came on to replace those who lla(
kent the battle going through the night
Thus. the contest became again one
between men fresh in mind and body
Senator ia Toilette, who holds q lons
distance talking record OF is hours anc
20 minutes. was an early arrival. Sen
ator Oliver. acting as the republican
whip. declared he had two weeks con-
tinuous talking material within call.
Fresh Recruits Arrive.
Things began to freshen up on the
floor and the galleries as the contes
Q on new vigor with the beginning
of 81 new day. but Senator Smoot, show
ing no signs of fatigue; continued. tell
ing the democrats that a permanent
and not a temporary policy for up
building the merchant marine wa
needed.
At 9:25 a. m. Senator Smoot yield
ed to Senator Sutherland, after having
spoken continuously for II hours an6
25 minutes. His colleague at once
plunged into Il speech that promised
to continue all day if necessary.
Shortly after noon Vice Presiden;
Marshall took the chair, after Senators
Lodge, Borah and William Alden Srniti
had appealed to him in conference t.
preserve the integrity of the Senate,
and rule against what the republicans
characterized as steam roller tactics
The vice president told them he intend
ed to be governed by the Senate's cs-
tablished rules.