The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-06
TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 6. 1912.
THE SENATE OBSTRUCTIONIsTs

THE SENATE OBSTRUCTIONISTS.
me country Is naturally out of patience to the
extent Of bordering on disgust with the
OF handful Of senators, who, taking advantage of
the senate rules that not recognize cloture have
defeated the overwhelming sentiment of congress as
well as the country.
The maneuver that defeated action on the Joint
resolution empowering the president to arm mer-
chant vessels against the submarine menace could
only have been successful during the closing hours
OF the short session. when the obstructionsts knew
that the session must come to an end by constitu
tional limitation. at II o'clock noon, on March 4.
As the matter now stands, not only the joint reso
luton has been temporarily defeated. but some OF
the important appropriations bills. This means
that congress must be convened within the near
future in order to provide the necessary means for
carrying on some Of the departments of government
itself
The converting of congress in extraordinary ses-
son at this critical juncture international affairs
Will work to the best interests of the nation No
matter how wise or patriotic the executive may be-
the congress should be in session to meet any
emergency that may arise.
The president has intimated that he will call the
extra session, but wishes the senate to assure him
that it will change the senate rules as to permit
Of closure of debate, before doing so.
While the immediate for aggravatior may
be great and the president and the majority of the
senate may be tempted to try and upset the century
old rule it is not at all certain that it can be done
Laying aside the present cause for complaint, which
is admittedly exasperating, the critics of the senate
rules will find that the lack of power to enforce
closure of debate has often been productive Of
good than it has Of harm.
No senate minority has ever yet carried deter
mined filibuster beyond session of that body.
1t has been used time and again to defeat measures
during the closing days of the short session. but if
the minority obstructionists become convinced that
they do not have the moral support of the country.
the fibuster has never yet been carried into the
succeeding session.
We have doubt that in the present case should
congress be re-convened. that the joint resolution.
just defeated by the action of few men, will be-
come law within 10 days Of the re -convening Of
congress. There is no doubling the temper of the
country as to its desire to the president given
the authority to arm the merchant ships in defense
OF submarine attacks. When the IL obstructionsts
fully realize this fact they will not stand out for
unseemly contest of physical endurance.
Most of the little group. not all. have delighted in
tragic legislative situations, where they can hold
the center of the lime light. More than once dur
ing his service in the has Senator La Toilette
walked into the senate chamber after days of alb
scnce from the floor, and just the vote was about
to be taken dramatically his intention OF
INDUCING in hours Of further debate.
The Wisconsin senator seems to delight in these
hstronic poses He has done much good work in
times past, but this habit is Of his weaknesses.
Senator Stone of Missouri who aided in the recent
holdup Of the Joint resolution, likewise is not avcrse
to publicity these special occasions
In discussing this matter, the Kansas city
Times says:
Senators have various uses. Some are good at
on, thing some at another Senator La Folette's
particular genius seems TO be in getting in the way
of things. In melodrama he would be the heroine
who throws herself the track to keep the express
train from running the disputed right of way
until the road should satisfy Judgment for running
the orchard the old homestead.
Ever since Senator La Toilette cast himself on tn,
Legislative track in his filibuster against the Al.
drich Vreeland bill nine years ago. the senate has
never felt quite sure, the end of a session APP
preached. that 1t going to get under the wire
The senator from Wisconsin is resolute man, un
firing and unshrinking both in the bearing and thu
inflictng of pain. He would think nothing of read
ing The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" t,
the senate IL he thought the senate needed the dis
cipline With adjournment only few hours ava!
and the senator exhibiting symptoms Of rcvoi