Evening star., 1923-02-25
CONSIDER WAYS TO STOP
~; FHIBIJSTERS in SENATE
TwoProposalsNow Pending Would Make
1t Difficult to Talk Legisla-
ton to Death.

speech during this filibuster. Finally
the measure was laid aside.
More recent Senate filibusters in
clude the obstructionist tactics
appropriation bills In the winter of
19l8-19, when they made up their
minds that the field should not be
left to the then President Wilson to
Congress not in session. The failure
Of some of these supply bills forced
the call Of special session in the
spring of 1919, and the consequent
discussion in Congress of the league
of nations
Against Another Ship Bill.
In 1915. while another short session
was in progress, the democratic ship
purchase bill was filibustered to
death by the republican opposition.
1t was during this flibuster that the
longest continuous session of the
Senate ever held took place - fifty
tour hours and ten minutes. Cots
were installed and senators slept
when they could in the cloakrooms and
the lobby.
Senator Smoot Of Utah has to his
credit one of the most remarkable
endurance performances when it
comes to long distance speaking.
during the consideration of the ship
purchase bill. He talked without in
terruption from $3.50 pm, until 9:25 the
next morning, eleven hours and twenty
five minutes.
1t was in 1917, another short ses-
sion, that the armed neutrality
resolution was filibustered to death
by the little group OF wilfui men,,
ten or dozen senators so designated
h,- D-r q
filibuster. by the way. which led to
the adoption of the two-thirds clo-
ture rule now in force in the Senate.
rule that requires two-thirds vote
been invoked only once. and that was
during the consideration Of the Yer
sailles treaty containing the league
of nations covenant
In Toilette Holds Record.
Senator La Toilette Of Wisconsin
has the record OF being the greatest
filibusterer of them all"-he held the
floor of the Senate for eighteen hours
and twenty-three minutes, during
memorable fllibuster in 1912 against
the conference report on the Vree-
land Aldrich emergency currency
bill. He was aided in this feat by
some thirty roll calls Of the Senate,
consuming four or five hours-calls
for a quorum. He was able during
these intervals to rest and take some
nourishment But today the filibus-
terer must talk straight ahead. Calls
for a quorum have been ruled out OF
order, unless some business has IN
tervened since the last call or the
roll.
Senator La Follette's great effort
was without avail, however. due 10
the fact that Senator Gore or Okla
homa, the blind senator. who fol-
lowed him. finished speaking and sat
down without realizing that Senator
Stone OF Missouri, who was TO fol-
low him, was not on the floor. The
republican leader. Senator Aldrich.
had taken the precautfon to have the
aye and no vote ordered on the bill,
and the roll call was started as soon
as Mr.. Gore sat down. That ended
the debate.
Other Notable Filibusters.
The rivers and harbors appropria- |
ton bills-criucized frequently as |
pork barrel measureS'--have been |
the subject in the past OF some meni- |
orable filibusters. too. In 1914 Sem |
ator Burton of Ohio and others talk |
ed such a bill down. The Ohio SEN
ator occupied the floor for twelve |
hours and ten minutes. He provided |
himself with lightweight coat and /
a pair Of comfor table slippers before |
he began his night-long speech. and |
paced slowly back and forth before |
his desk as he spoke.
The most scientifically conducted |
filibuster on record, SO far as the Sen |
ate is concerned, however. took place |
at the special session Of Congress !
convened last November, when. the |
sought to put through the |
Dyer anti-lynching bill. Under the
leadership of Senator Underwood of |
Alabama the democrats took advan- |
tage of every technicality In the Sem |
ate rules, keeping the consideration |
OF the journal of the proceedings un-
der discussion for whole days and |
practically preventing any discussion /!
of the lynching bill. At the opening |
OF the regular session in December |
the republicans agreed to lay aside |
the lynching bill.
Cloture static and immutable; debate |