Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-03-07
The Character" and l. essen
OF the Senate Fihbuster
THE Republican h1ibuster against
essential legislation in the closing


essential legislation in the closing
hours Of the Sixty-ffth Congress has
enabled the country to take the measure Of
the Senatorial type that is unreasonngly
opposing President Wilson's International
policies. So intent were these men upon their
effort to embarrass the Administration and
to turn grave problems Of the Government
into political capital for themselves, that
they have deliberately jeopardized the ma
tons material interests. They have prevent
ed the passage of measures Of utmost i'm
portance to commerce, to industry, to agri-
culture, to national defense and to every
province of the peoples affairs
The failure of the railroad appropriation
bill, which the filibusterers obstinately refus-
ed to let come to vote, is Of itself fraught
with serious possibilities Those responsible
for this deplorab1e incident knew that with
out the needful legislation there would be
imminent danger of the Governments having
to turn the railroads back to their owners in
circumstances almost chaotic, and that the
opportunity of workinG out a just policy to
conserve the interests both of the general
public and of the owners of the railroad
securities would be sharply haZarded If not
permanently lost. Yet in this shadow Of this
precarious situation, they babbled away the
Senate's final hours in what they considered
shrewd political trick.
Numerous other measures Of vital concern
were sacrificed to this same pygmy partisan
ship. There were the army and navy appro-
priation bills, both essential to the country s
security in these uncertain times. There was
the sundry civil bill, including an appropria-
ton for the merchant marine, on which the
future Of American commerce so largely de-
ponds. There was the annual agricultural
appropriation bill involving a fund of twenty
seven million dollars for the protection and
promotion of the country's farming interests
There we're divers measures looking to the
solution Of reconstruction problems and to
the development of natural resources, meas
ures of great moment to Ameri-a2s of all
regions and all pursuits. Never before, per-
haps, in the nations history has a political
group, bent upon selfish scheme, dealt so
wide or so wanton a blow against the peoples
common interests. "'' ,.
1t is to be taken for granted, as the Presi-
dent says, that these obstructionists have
considered the possible consequences of their
conduct and "are willing to assume the re-
sponsbility of the impaired efficiency of the
Government and the embarrassed finances of
the country, during the time of his enforced
absence at the Peace conference. Their hope
was to compel the President to call imme-
diately a~special session of the new Congress
SO that he would have to fOrego his plans for
further attendance at the Peace council, or
at least greatly abridge them. That is to
say, they hoped to bring confusion and fail
ure to President Wilson's efforts in this hour
of supreme Importance to America and to the
world. If he who sold his birthright for a
mess of oottage is remembered after thou
sands of years as a type of tragic stupidity,
what will the future say of those who in this
crisis of civilization would fling awoy their
country's dearest opportunities Tor the sake
Of scoring in petty political game?
They have served at least one good pur-
pose, however, have these myopic obstruc-
tion.sts; they have disclosed the character of
much Of the opposition to President wilson
international policies, particularly as regards
the League of Nations. And in the light of
that disclosure who that cherishes his coun-
try's honor and well-being can fail to support
the President with quckened enthusif SIN and
deepened will?