Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-21

continually ready to take lip the task
should he falter. On concluding he
had spoken a total Of ten hours and
forty five minutes, and continually
for six hours and forty minutes. 7.
Proponents of the shipping lagis-
lation, powerless to stop the flow Of
words, conferred from time to time,
but for the conferences for the most
part came to naught.
The speeches listed to he made in
blocking the ship bill were varied.
Senator Mcclellan, Democrat, Ten
nessee, was prepared to read the
eleven-hour address made in 1915 by
Senator SmOot, Republican, Utah. q
supporter Of the pending bill. in the
famous filibuster that killed the Will
son administrations bill to authorize
q government apitaliZed corporation
to buy, to build and operate ships
in foreign trade, and said he propos-
ed to intersperse the reading with
frequent endorsements Of my own"
Others planned addresses varied
from the discovery of King Tutenk-
hamuns tomb to the history and
principles Of cooperative market
ing.
Senator Sheppard opened the &C
tive filibuster last night. Senator
Sheppard spoke slowly and In a
moderate tone, never moving more
than two or three feet from his desk.
He waved away pages who offered
to bring him q glass of water. and
refused offers of his associates to
make a point of no quorum, thereby
allowing him respite. He sat Down
for a minute or two several times
during the day, when by unanimous
consent. conference reports and sev-
eral minor bills were taken up and
passed without debate.
The Texas senator, on concluding
his speech, was congratulated by
Senator LaFollette, Republican,
Wisconsin, the leader in many his
toric filibusters, and q number of
other senators. After a quorum call
Senator Williams, Democrat, Mis-
sissippi who retires from the Senate
next month after twelve years of
service in the body, took the floor.
Throughout Senator Sheppard's
long address, the Republican side OF
the chamber was. for the most part
deserted. Senator Jones, Republi-
can, Washington, who, as chairman
of the commerce commission, is in
charge of the bill. remained contin-
ually in the chamber. however, and
Senator Curtis, of Kansas. the Re-
publican whip, seldom was absent
The galleries were only partially
filled.
Senator Williams said that flibus-
tering was justifiable In two situa-
tions; to protect state rights and
when an accidental, incidental
temporary majority tries to fore
stall the future and defeat the will
Of the people as expressed at the
last election"
The Mississippi senator referred
to the flame ducks" as "mis-repre-
sentatives' owing to their defeat
and said that everybody knew the
shipping bill could not pass in the
next Congress.
Attacking the recent speech Of
Senator Underwood, of Alabama, the
Democratic leader. in favor of the
| majority right to have a vote in the
measure, Senator Williams said Mr.
Underwood's position was "illogica
and would lead to unethical results.
Referring to the right of lame duck
senators to vote. he declared:
1T is unethical and immoral tc
put this legislation over. 1t is treas.
on to democracy. We should pre-.
vent it by every means within oul
| power"
The cry Of filibustering was hurl.
| ed back at the Republicans by Sen.
! ator Williams. who said that Senator
| Jones. in charge of the shipping bill
was the "chief and head of the fill
| busters by denying other Legislation
| that the people are in favor off,
An endeavor to bring about a re
cess through an offer to vote at /:
o'clock tomorrow on the pending
| I.add motion to displace the ship
| ping bill with the filled-milk meas
ure was made by Senator Robinson
| Democrat. Arkansas. but Senator
| Jones objected. saying he believed
the Senate should continue in SEES
sion.
Senator Reed. Democrat. Missouri
then took the floor after instructine
| pages to bring in two large mars
| and began discussion of his resolu
| tons authorizing the president t.
negotiate with Great Britain an(
! France for the purchase of theil
| Caribbean possessions.
The proceedings tonight attracted
! crowded galleries and long lines o.
persons unable to get seats extended
! far down the corridors.
NI1TNED nGCTDEE