The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-04-21
DAWES RAPS
SENATE RULE
IN ADDRESS
CONTINUED from page one)

power during the emo OIL SeSSton W
Congress on the part of minority,
or even at times of one, Of the 96
Senators to block and destroy legis-
lation by consuming time necessary
for decision by prolonging debate
until the session ends--a power -hc
existence of which the Constitution
of the United States does not con-
template power which at times
puts into the hands of minorities
and individuals the ability to modi-
fly or control legislation by barter?
The reserved power of the States in
the Constitution does not include the
power of one of the States to elect
jority or even all Of the other
States.
No argument is sound to the eff
the Senate and of the American peo-
pie from themselves, it is necessary
to put them at the end of session
at the mercy of either Senate min
ority or of any one United States
Senator. 1t is in effect and in
changed form the old argument up
holding the principles Of monarch
ical and despotic government the
argument that minorities or iudivi-
duals know better what is good for
the people than the majority of the
people themselves. Ali the lawful
restraints the people have imposed
on themselves should be and are
found in the limitations of the Cen
stitution and not in the rules of the
Senate. Any restraint upon the peo-
pie imposed by Senate rule is q
usurped governmental power not
found in the Constitution.
Perhaps there was time when
the discussion of incidental phases
of this question might have created
oratorical fog banks and smoke
screens around the real issue, hiding
it from the mind and conscience Of
the American people, but for years
the average citizen has had the OPP
erations Of the United States Senate
under his eye, and he understands
what is involved. He knows there is
at question the possession, in GER
tain circumstances, of power by
minorities and individual members
of the Senate which is greater, at
times, than the veto power exercised
by the President Of the United
States. He realizes that these extra
constitutional powers which have
been gradually built up and which,
from time to time, he has seen ex-
ercised, are snbversive Of the prin-
ciples Of representative constitution
al government.
This reform does not mean that
the right to be heard at length upon
any important question shall be de-
MED any Senator. The purpose is
not to prevent Senator's from fully
debating question but to make i'm
possible the prolongihg of debate to
prevent majority from settling q
question. The purpose is not to de-
prive minority of the right to be
heard, but to bestow upon the ma
jority the full right to legislate. The
purpose is not to interfere with the
protection Of all proper rights of a
senatorial minority, but to prevent
the improper use of minority right
under the Senate rules from render
ing the Senate itself impotent. It is
important that these rules give every
Senator square deal, but it is inn
perative that they give the Ameri-
can people square deal.
Under the Constitution, the two
houses of Congress make their own
rules. Since the Senate acts under
It's constitutional right in making
its rules, the Senate and the Senate
alone can rectify them. / am Of
course aware that each Senator real
ICES that to change the present rule
to provide better cloture he must
individually relinquish q potential
right of obstruction which at times
he can use either wholly to thwart
the will Of the majority or compel
an unwilling majority to accept q
modification in legislation imposed
by him. But knowing that this pow
er has ,heei built mp by the slow
crystalization Of custom into rules
for which no party or any, Individual
Senator is responsible, and With full
confidence in the patriotism and in
tegrity of Senators when they con-
front question Of plain duty Il
| feeting the interest OF the nation
/ have appealed to tham for their
fectification OF rule "a 90 o. ito
protect the majority q the Senate In