, 1923-03-05
he souAREST CRY
By Indirection

ALTHOUGH the Democrats in the senate led a
n successful filibuster against the shipping bill,
such tactics cannot be said to be creditable, and
no matter which party employs them there is moth
ing in the achievement. If a bill is bad kill it ruth
lessly, if there is honest difference of opinion, kill
it or pass it by the direct vote of members COM
missioned to carry out that purpose; but simply
r. because the measure is proposed by one or the
other party 10 make of it q political football re-
gardless of its merit and defeat it by indirection is
one of the many things that is disgusting the
American people with their legislative bodies.
Sentiment among members of the Democratic
: party was not unanimous against the bill nor was
it unanimous in favor of the filibuster. Senator
8 Ransdell of Louisiana, believes in an American
II merchant marine and could see no practicable
method of insuring the permanancy of a merchant
q. fleet under the American flag without resort to
the means of encouragement proposed in the mea-
sure.
There were others who, although opposed to the
shipping bill, could not give their sanction TO the
filibuster as a method of delay or defeating final
action on the bill. Among them Senator Under
wood of Alabama. In discussing his attitude on
the subject he said;
81 am opposed to the shipping bill; I have never
voted for a subsidy of any kind. I have never voted
for a protective tariff on any article. 1 have never
voted for any other subsidy in that class of legis-
lation, and l don't believe in it. / am opposed to the
present shipping bill for that reason although 1
should be very much delighted if the great shipping
of the country could be developed and made to
/. function along legislative lines for which 1 could
afford to vote.
"But 1 am opposed to the defeat of the ship
ping bill by indirection. There are certain great
principles that may be involved in votes in the SEN
ate where human rights and human liberty and
fundamental principles of our government are at
stake when l would not hesitate for a moment to
use any legislative power l possess to prevent the
passage of a bill. But when it comes down merely
to a question Of dollars; when it is purely an eco
nomie question, l thing a majority have a right to
register their position. I believe the shipping bill
is fundamentally wrong but being n purely eco
nomic question | am willing to have q vote on it.
The majority have the right to register the re-
suit of their conclusions because they are the ma
jority of the congress. II you can command a ma
jority you are entitled to have the will of the ma
jority placed on the statute books"
The view expressed by Senator Underwood was
practically the view expressed by the president
when he went before the congress and urged action
on the bill. He asked that it be brought to n vote
so that il a majority favored it 1t might be enacted
and if a majority opposed it it would be defeated.
and the shipping board thus be advised what the
attitude Of the government would be toward the
merchant marine problem, which has been ban.
died about congress for more than thirty years.
Notwithstanding the broad view taken by Sen.
ator Underwood, a majority of the Democrats in
the senate were not only opposed to the shipping
bill but opposed to a vote on the question Of its
passage. Hour after hour they continued to debate
every matter under the sun in order to prevent the
matter coming TO a vote.
If this sort Of thing is anything else than horse.
play that school boys would be ashamed to engage
IN then pray tell us what it is?