Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-12-16
FilibuStering. by States
BY JOHN T. BOIFEUILLET

gress brings to recollection that Senator
Steve Clay, of Georgia, successfully fill
bustered on a statehood bill several years
| ago.
Filibustering has not been the exclusive
! prerogative of Democrats, but has also been
| employed from time to time by the Republi-
cans. Filibustering on the part of Repub-
! lican senators marked the closing days of the
! senate, which died on March 4, 1919. The
power of filibusteriRg is at times a safeguard
against abuses, like on the Lodge force
bill" or the federal election BILL" as the
measure was technically known, and which
was designed especially with reference to
controlling elections in the south.
Henry Cabot Lodge the present eminent
; nator from Massachusetts, was a member
of the house at the time, and the force bill'
was a pet measure of his. 1t was passed by
The house in 1890, but defeated in the
senate in 1891 by Democratic fiibustering
The discussion aroused great excitement
throughout the country.
This was one of the most notable flibus-
ters in the life of the senate. 1t occurred dur
ing the administration of President Benja-
min Harrison. Under the superb leadership
Of Senator German, of Maryland, the fill
buster was brilliantly ACCOMPLISHED by the
minority Democrats.
When Filibustering FIourished
Filibustering has not been resorted to as
frequently in the senate it has in the
house AS is generally known. filibustering
is the employment of parliamentary dilatcry
tactics TO defeat a measure by raising frivo-
l"us questions CT order, calls of the house
motions to adjourn, speaking against time
etc. etc, N order to weary out the opposite
side, or to gain line
The house Of representatives reve,ed in
fiihustering during the '7Os. The practice
was i'll full flower at that period. One of the
most historic fil1busters in congressional an
nails occurred during the term of 1S73-1S74
1t was then that Samuel J. Randall, of Penn
sylvanla, as the Democratic leader, boldly
sklllfully and defianty occupied the floor of
the house for Y hours and compelled the
Republican majority to abandon their efforts
TO pass the measure which was also known
II political history as the force bill"
1t was generally believed that RandaH's
Skllltul management of the situation greatly
contributed to his election as speaker of the
house in December, 1876, to succeed Michael
Z. keer, deceased.
''PeriheliOn of Idiocy
The great John G. Carlisle. of Kentucky,
was one of the most accomplished, adroit
and skilled speakers the house has ever
known. While he occupied the chair fill
clustering flouriShed luXuriantIy It is re-
corded that durin one of his terms this
torn of parliamentary tactics reached the
perihelion of idiocy" Some newspaper
described 1t as "filibusterng run mad" Con
gresham Weaver, of Iowa, a Republican,
blocked the business of the house for prac-
tlcally two weeks by series of dilatorv mo-
IONS, on which votes were had in alternating
succession That Weaver was able to con-
Sest and delay the proceedings was prin-
elpaIly due to Speaker Carlisle's refusal to
consent to change Of rules.
While Thomas B. Reed, of Maine was
speaker, set of rules was adopted which
were intended to stop filibustering but thew
won for the speaker the name of Gear"
When Democratic congressman, who had
become greatly irritated under the enforce
ment of the rules, asked Reed What he
Somes of the rights of the minoritv?" tho
speaker answered, The right of the minor
lty IS 10 draw its salaries and it's function is
to make quorum
Stormy Period
Though Samuel J. Randall successfnl1v
conducted the filibuster on the "force bi1I
yelerred TO above and participated in other
! illouSters, he changed his tactics when he
became speaker. He occupied the chair dur
I4s the sensational and stormy period of the
Hayes-IIden presidential contest before CON
sieSS: A splendid opportunity was presented
70 THIS master flibuster to prevent the com
pletlon of the ELECTORAL count Inv norn,it+ino
llllnusterlng on the part of Democrats and
mus nave defeated the Inauguration of HAYES
as president. He refused to encourage the
"oulo-pe obstructiOnists, and brought down
upon hlnset a storm of abuse from manv
OF ms party associates He refueed to rocog
lor dllatory purpose. most aYciting
scene ensued. Finally, Randall secured order
ana IN the following terms announced his NO.
sition as speaker: iAi' po-
Inc chalr rules that when the constitu
lion OIL the united States directs anytbing 70
De done, or when the laws under Tho corsti
luton OF the United States enacted in o%edi
eli'e tnereto direct any act by this house if
IS not IN order to make any motion to Oh
struct or impede the execution of that in
Junction OF the constitution and the laws, "
democrats Were Furious
i,,+a us ueA'erance Iashed the Democrats
INTO 1ury' and the bitterest denunciations do
Iuged Randall. He was charged win CO.,
raplon, and it was intimated that he hoa
PloIlted financially by taking this nositinr
Out he stood unmoved amid the storm ~
some gigantic oak in the forest abont whnso
rolled. ~ INC tnuhderS
Inc swell and roar of the turhulanoo o.o.,
louoer and louder and more fierce Tho no..
o'onS OIL men were leaping and dashing lilo
q nouHtaln torrent in the wild sween of its
,,'LI!' ana subsldence only care when Re-
ebou1d @h H. assurance was given that there
tiooa 'G oe no interference with the state cleo
Ina h',+ N t, Florida and South Caro-
i hn put mat these commemorative shonld
oe permitted to enjoy their own Local oar
ernments. "h iocal gov
randall continued speaker for at least
TOUR years after the close of this bittarost
OF all contests in the history of the Ameri-
couraged filibusterng. eA
When Randall became sneaker bo b5 :;
James u. Blaine an illustrious examnle for
inc encouragement Of fiIibustering r. ic
SAID that no one ever presided over tba boneo
VINO encouraged the practice moro tbao
opeaher biaane He manipulated and engi-
heered the rule against the minority with a
601jf